All this talk of Christmas is bringing a tear to my eye. I love Christmas and we have many traditions lots of which other MN do as well.
New Pj's and slippers for when DS gets out of the bath,reindeer food, santas footsteps with flour, advent candle, beautiful nativity I bought when Ds was 2 months old - now 10 and still believes.
Mince pies, carrots and Boddintons for Santa.
We also have a lovely felt advent calendar, each day Ds gets a little note from Santa, these have got more complex as he has got older, they might be clues to find a small gift (paper chains, cracker making kit,stamper, glitter, chocolate,nothing expensive and often things I would have bought anyway.)He loves the challenge. All throughout the year I collect little things, esp straight after Christmas.
Operation shoebox - our PTA made a suggestion for people to send items as not everyone has a shoebox or the opportunity to fill one.
We have a tree from the Christmas tree farm, such an adventure,and we get to plant one in its place. Its the start of Christmas. We have a tree for the porch. The year before last a robin nested in it, we had to leave a note for the milkman, paperman etc to leave stuff in a box so as not to disturb the robin. And A tree for DS in the kitchen with all his ornaments that he has ever made. The cotton wool is looking a bit tatty now lol.Makes me cry everytime I see it.
We use ordinary poster paint and paint on the kitchen windows, stars, reindeer all sorts of things, it washes off very easily (DH's face was a picture the first time. lol
Lots of snowflakes hung from the ceiling everywhere.
Coloured fairy lights in DS room since he said it was the most important place for santa.
Christingle on Christmas Eve.
Champagne and Archers for Christmas morning (helps keep me cool - the IL's and my M all stay for a week a DS is only grandchild (v stressful).
Homemade biscuits and sweets. DS makes sweets as gifts for all his teachers (bah humbug at that one!!) and wraps them beautifully. I remember doing that as a child with my mum.
Secret santa with the mums at school (we all fill in a form with likes, dislikes etc and vow not to spend more than a fiver) Great laugh. Came home from church and my car was beautifully clean and the house was covered in ballons and a sign to tell everyone I was so idle I dont wash my own car!! Creativity is the best gift.
Lunch with the mums after the nativity play at school before we go back to collect the kids.
A new crystal snowflake each year, we have everyone since DS was born, we hang them in the window and DS says when the sun shines on them they look like mutli coloured measles.
Must go and fetch Christmas books and magazines, I love it all, the planning, the excitement ...