earlyexerciser39
Cathlete
The way I look at it, there is so much in our society that rushes our kids to grow up too fast. I am trying to keep the spirit of Christmas alive for my kids for as long as possible.
If you don't believe in Santa for your kids, please start another thread about that (and the whole idea of lying to your kids...this thread isn't about that!).
We wrote letters to Santa and asked if some of the elves can come to visit us (elves I got through a recommendation on this forum years ago www.elf-magic.com )
It worked! And we got 2 elves who run into all kinds of mischief! They leave us little notes and remind us to be good. Sometimes they leave messes and we have to clean it up (Once they put away all the dishes overnight, when Mom was too tired to do them and just went to bed)!
The elves are a TON of fun and the website has ideas of what to do to with your elves. They come alive at night, beacuse we sprinkle magic flakes on them when we put them into their elf beds.
**We also do the Advent calendar and count down to Jesus' birth. This comes with discussions and some small gifts, too. This year we are making our own out of recycled paper bags and old Christmas cards.
**At Thanksgiving, the kids receive money from my brother and they have until Christmas to give it away to someone anonymously. It can be as simple as the red kettles for the Salvation Army (when they are little), but as they get older they are expected to be a little more creative. Last year my DD (8) wrote a note to a classmate and we arranged for the letter to arrive with the money in the hands of the needy classmate (completely anonymously).
**We do the whole cookies and milk for Santa, too, but also make food for the reindeer (or the elves leave it for us), and then sprinkle it on the lawn (The reindeer can smell it for miles!!). Then on Christmas morning, we go outside and see that there are hoof prints around the food! We also see Santa's bootprints around the fireplace!
**The elves bring us a new pair of pajamas Christmas Eve and we get to wear them (for nice pictures Christmas morning!!)
**We have a specific Egg dish each Christmas morning. That is sooo yummy!!
**Santa's gifts are never wrapped. They are the ones just sitting out (all put together, all the batteries in, all that crazy packaging gone already)...Mom and Dad just sit and watch the kids play with the gifts, drinking coffee or tea!
**Do I probably overdo Christmas a bit? Yes, but I try to keep a balance between the fun and the basic idea of giving for others (which we do more of, too, but my post is already pretty long!!)
What are some of your ideas to keep Christmas special for your family??
**edited for typos!! oops!
Jenn
If you don't believe in Santa for your kids, please start another thread about that (and the whole idea of lying to your kids...this thread isn't about that!).
We wrote letters to Santa and asked if some of the elves can come to visit us (elves I got through a recommendation on this forum years ago www.elf-magic.com )
It worked! And we got 2 elves who run into all kinds of mischief! They leave us little notes and remind us to be good. Sometimes they leave messes and we have to clean it up (Once they put away all the dishes overnight, when Mom was too tired to do them and just went to bed)!
The elves are a TON of fun and the website has ideas of what to do to with your elves. They come alive at night, beacuse we sprinkle magic flakes on them when we put them into their elf beds.
**We also do the Advent calendar and count down to Jesus' birth. This comes with discussions and some small gifts, too. This year we are making our own out of recycled paper bags and old Christmas cards.
**At Thanksgiving, the kids receive money from my brother and they have until Christmas to give it away to someone anonymously. It can be as simple as the red kettles for the Salvation Army (when they are little), but as they get older they are expected to be a little more creative. Last year my DD (8) wrote a note to a classmate and we arranged for the letter to arrive with the money in the hands of the needy classmate (completely anonymously).
**We do the whole cookies and milk for Santa, too, but also make food for the reindeer (or the elves leave it for us), and then sprinkle it on the lawn (The reindeer can smell it for miles!!). Then on Christmas morning, we go outside and see that there are hoof prints around the food! We also see Santa's bootprints around the fireplace!
**The elves bring us a new pair of pajamas Christmas Eve and we get to wear them (for nice pictures Christmas morning!!)
**We have a specific Egg dish each Christmas morning. That is sooo yummy!!
**Santa's gifts are never wrapped. They are the ones just sitting out (all put together, all the batteries in, all that crazy packaging gone already)...Mom and Dad just sit and watch the kids play with the gifts, drinking coffee or tea!
**Do I probably overdo Christmas a bit? Yes, but I try to keep a balance between the fun and the basic idea of giving for others (which we do more of, too, but my post is already pretty long!!)
What are some of your ideas to keep Christmas special for your family??
**edited for typos!! oops!
Jenn
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