I want magic and wonder ALL THE DAMN TIME, DAMMIT

[Cappuccino]

I am in a post-Christmas mood - well, semi-post Christmas (I know we are still in the 12 days and all that) mood

My Christmas breakfast cake is all eaten up and we will have to go back to Cheerios and porridge

I don't want to wait 12 months to see Santa Claus-type wonder on my kids' faces again

I want a magical life the whole year round

does anyone have any ideas?

Make another cake?

I was thinking only this morning about whether it would be acceptable to put up sparkly christmas lights all year round.My tree looks so lovely (apart from the bare bit all round the bottom that's about the same height as BabyDragon can reach...)

@ just the bottom of the tree being bare... Flameboy gets a stool

I have a friend who has fairy lights up all year round and it makes it all nice and welcoming.

Well, I did find one of the glass "high up" ornaments hanging on the bottom branch this morning which, given the 2 SmallDragons are not here to have done it and I didn't do it, does not bode well.

Generally she's been occupied by the "unbreakable" solid wood decorations which are within reach. Of which she's broken about 8 now.

Make up some family rituals for other yearly events. For example, we are having a little bonfire (in a fire bucket!)for new year's eve and writing down our resolutions - and also writing down negative stuff from last year we want to be rid of and burning them. We will make a wish as we burn them and have hot chocolate and roasted marshmallows. We will have a buffet of some fave things and crackers.

Plan somthing for each month (make special valentine's cookies, plant some flower seeds in March, have a designated PuddleJump day in April etc

I keep some white fairy lights all year round - I plummet into depression when all the xmas lights come down

Invent a birthday for your cat/goldfish/teddy and have a mini party

Have a blessings tree (a potplant will do and each week, write down something lovely which has happened or that you are thankful for and hang it on the tree.)

I reckon plan ahead and always have plenty of lovely things to look forward to

yes think you are right WWW - because I've been ill for half of 2007 there hasn't been much looking-forward-to action; maybe that's why I'm feeling like this

we are going to make New Years Resolutions with the fancy paper and pens that dd1 got for her birthday

actually Using The Fecking Craft Kits is one of my resolutions, since I keep finding lovely kits that i haven't used because I don't think my kids will do them justice

they are not Artistic Types

FMF has some good ideas.

Have a look at this website for some ideas, for example things to celebrate in February

I know how you feel Cappuccino, and I can't even claim to have had a very good Christmas this year. Perhaps that is why I am wanting some more magic in my life - because there wasn't enough in the first place.

Anyway, the New Year celebrations sound like a good idea, as long as you can then face January 1st!

yay we are having a fire for new year's as well

having birthdays for favourite toys is a hit here as well

indoor picnics wildly exciting for some reason, with dollies tea set tea

indoor picnic this afternoon went terribly wrong

watching a clothful of cream cheese sandwiches get crawled around the house

one thing I am doing is stopping saving stuff for a special occasion

dh bought me some gorgeous bath stuff and I realised I hadn't used up the stuff I was bought after dd2 was born - she is 3 on Friday

certainly treating myself is going to be further up the agenda

baths with wine for example

(in a glass, not in the bathwater!)

Don't knock the bathing in wine.

You're right - drinking it is better.

oh yes Capp, definitely with you on not saving stuff for 'special', It never happens!

I am special

I am special

We are having fireworks tomorrow night at midnight, as is the German tradition.

We have agreed to let the DCs get up for them. They are very excited about this.

We then have Karneval to look forward to.

Then Easter (house gets decorated for that)

Check out the traditions in some other countries and steal them. You can always say that you believe in teaching your children see the cultural diversity in the world.

ooh yes, I spent a year in NRW near the dutch border, and was begeistert when the Christmas decorations came down and the carnival stuff went straight up!