making Christmas magical ideas

[NoFucksImAQueen]

ds1 is 7 so this year is possibly the last year he'll believe and I want to make special and as magical as possible. I'm looking for ideas on where to go and what to do. we live in Nottingham. we did look into lapland but because I'll be at university we can only go towards the end of December and it's £99 per person! I can't justify nearly £500 on a few hours out. I thought it would be more like £65pp which was doable. any other amazing day out ideas or things to do around the house, stuff to buy etc

have you had an elf on the shelf? my kids love theirs. you move it every night and make it do funny or naughty things (eg:spill out cornflakes to write their name ). the elf comes on december 1st and leaves on xmas eve. also, we have been once to Dobbies garden centre ( i think the nearest one to nottingham would be about a 40 minute drive) to go and have dinner or breakfast with santa. both my kids really enjoyed it. but honestly i wouldn't worry, unless you plan on telling your ds then i think you have a few years left of belief yet.

If you go visit Santa have a word with the “elves” and see if they’ll pass on some information to Santa. Even something as simple as Santa saying that he spoke to his teacher Mr Smith and knows he’s been working extra hard at his spellings this year, or that he’s been very good at feeding Rex the dog ...just something simple that Santa couldn’t possibly know unless he is really real!

Make Santa’s visit realistic. Scatter a bit of coal, leave sooty finger prints around the fireplace, knock over a chair or knock something over on the mantle piece. Jam an extra present up the chimney with just a little bit showing and see how long it takes to notice. Leave reindeer hoof marks in the garden.

I love the contrast between cold (brisk winters walks) and warmth (snuggling under blankets, sipping soup and hot choc). Christmas can be a feast for the senses - fires cracklings, candles flickering, back ground music, the smells of baking, oranges drying, pine.

We do a North Pole breakfast on the first weekend in December where the elf appears and we go get our tree - it’s just a fancy breakfast - on Christmas plates and tablecloth - love it!!!