dec7
December 7th 2015
I am pretty disappointed with my accomplishments today but I did manage to help get some TO DO list stragglers finally done.
John managed to rehang all the living room photos. I am not a randomly hung and or spaced kind of person. I like order and reason. I managed to get a couple of the trees for the dining room set up, just hunting out new lights for them.
Judy and I had a lovely barbeque chicken dinner for supper. We managed to organize her computer and phone calendar.
Now although I did not accomplish near what I wanted, I am exhausted.
Christmas thought for the day: having a Merry Christmas
If you're a Mom like me, you're probably always looking for ways to connect with your kids and family - despite your busy schedules. You want to make your family's Christmas special and memorable so years later they will look back and treasure those memories... And even continue the traditions you've begun! Well, I have some ideas for you that could be just what you're searching for.
Take it from me, celebrating Christmas (and other holidays) became hugely important to me after I got sick in 2011. It's the perfect opportunity to grow closer by spending time doing things together. Whether its Christmas decorating to create a warm, inviting and festive atmosphere in your home for you and your family to feel comfortable and loved, or spending time with kids making easy crafts so they'll always remember you were around them, or cooking a delectable Christmas dinner (easy) to impress your family and guests, or taking a Christmas vacation together, (because families that play together stay together). Many other Christmas activities can establish a bond between you and your kids into their teen years and beyond. I know from life experience, that holidays you do not forget as a child, create a love of spending Christmas time with family and friends, and traditions for a lifetime!
Christmas activities with your family and friends are what make your Christmas special and memorable! Spending time doing these activities will make your kids feel closer to you and remember that you were there for them. And isn't that what we Moms truly desire? So pick the Christmas activities that you all enjoy the most and make those your Christmas traditions. Your family will grow closer and stronger and will make lasting memories of Christmas time spent with YOU. A favorite Christmas activity can become an annual Christmas tradition.
Judy and I had a lovely barbeque chicken dinner for supper. We managed to organize her computer and phone calendar.
Now although I did not accomplish near what I wanted, I am exhausted.
Christmas thought for the day: having a Merry Christmas
If you're a Mom like me, you're probably always looking for ways to connect with your kids and family - despite your busy schedules. You want to make your family's Christmas special and memorable so years later they will look back and treasure those memories... And even continue the traditions you've begun! Well, I have some ideas for you that could be just what you're searching for.
Take it from me, celebrating Christmas (and other holidays) became hugely important to me after I got sick in 2011. It's the perfect opportunity to grow closer by spending time doing things together. Whether its Christmas decorating to create a warm, inviting and festive atmosphere in your home for you and your family to feel comfortable and loved, or spending time with kids making easy crafts so they'll always remember you were around them, or cooking a delectable Christmas dinner (easy) to impress your family and guests, or taking a Christmas vacation together, (because families that play together stay together). Many other Christmas activities can establish a bond between you and your kids into their teen years and beyond. I know from life experience, that holidays you do not forget as a child, create a love of spending Christmas time with family and friends, and traditions for a lifetime!
Christmas activities with your family and friends are what make your Christmas special and memorable! Spending time doing these activities will make your kids feel closer to you and remember that you were there for them. And isn't that what we Moms truly desire? So pick the Christmas activities that you all enjoy the most and make those your Christmas traditions. Your family will grow closer and stronger and will make lasting memories of Christmas time spent with YOU. A favorite Christmas activity can become an annual Christmas tradition.
Pick a weekend night close to Christmas, when the tree is all decorated and lit, and camp out under the Christmas tree! Place sleeping bags under the tree, bring along our favorite Christmas stories and Christmas Poems, some hot cocoa, and we read and drink till we get sleepy. Then all lights out - except for the sparkling tree lights.
Another great Christmas activity to look forward to is join the other tourists in your closest BIG CITY. Everyone and their family should experience Christmas in a BIG City at least once in their lives! There is such an air of excitement, and so much to show your family and do with your kids!
Take a Holiday vacation. The time together on vacation drew us closer together, created unforgetable memories, and taught our kids family values that I know they will carry with them into their own families someday. The staff made it an especially festive, inviting atmosphere with the Christmas decor, the traditional holiday foods, and their overall jolliness!
Having a Christmas Party is another favorite Christmas activity! It's a great way to celebrate the joyous season with friends and family - young kids and older folks too.
Make a Christmas Activities Jar
Cut out squares of Christmas wrapping paper about 2 x 2 inches. On the back side (the non-decorated side) write an activity you and your family would like to do at Christmas time. Fold the wrapping paper and put all the pieces in a clear Mason jar. Schedule some time each week before Christmas to pick an activity from the Activity Jar and go and do it together! You don't have to get to every activity in the jar. They're just ideas to do something together as a family in a fun, interactive way.
Go Caroling Your neighbors would love it (maybe)- or go visit some elderly or sickly people who can't get out! They would surely appreciate it - and what a lesson to teach your kids!
Go for a Magical Walk or Drive. Gather the kids together when its dark out and the Christmas lights are on in the neighborhood. Go for walk to admire all the beautiful Christmas decorations. Or ,if it's cold out get everyone in the car and drive through the streets. If you know of an especially elaborately decorated home, have the kids close their eyes till you get there. Then when you're right in front, tell them to open their eyes!
Make Homemade Christmas Ornaments or Homemade Christmas Gifts These are terrific Christmas activities to do with your kids that fosters teamwork and connects you to your kids. Isn't that what Christmas Activities are all about?
Go "Dollar Store" Shopping with your kids. Teach them to give to others by having them shop for a shelter or the homeless. The value of learning to give will stay with them their whole life.
Have a Family Christmas Movie Night Schedule a couple of hours to watch a Christmas movie together with all the snacks included. Some favorites include: The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, Jingle All The Way, Elf, Christmas Vacation, Christmas with the Kranks, It's a Wonderful Life and of course all the Santa, Frosty and Rudolph cartoon classics!
Have a Cookie Baking Concert Bake cookies to music! Play a long piece of music like Handle's "Messiah" or Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" over and over until all the baking is done! It's inspirational and will keep you going. If you don't bake from scratch, you can still do this Christmas Activity with ready made sugar cookie dough from the supermarket. Remember music only stops when you're all done.
Set up a Nativity Set together. You can purchase an inexpensive toy set for the younger kids so they can handle it without breaking, a large outdoor light up one or a collectors version for a table top. Leave the crib empty for now (until baby Jesus is born on Christmas Day). I know someone who keeps a small pile of hay near the nativity. When someone does something kind, she picks up a piece of straw and puts it in the crib. By Christmas morning there is a nice, soft bed for baby Jesus to lie in.
Make an Advent Candle Wreath. The 4 tall candles in the Advent Candle wreath represent the four Sundays before Christmas or the Advent Season. Take turns with your kids each week lighting one candle. The large center candle symbolizes the Light of the World - Jesus- who came from Heaven as a baby. On Christmas morning, make it a tradition to light the center candle!
Buy a Goat or a Chicken. Organizations like World Vision invite you to donate money to buy a farm animal or other practical gift for an impoverished family living in a third world country. A goat will help a family have milk, yogurt and cheese to eat or to sell to others. World Vision even sends a Thank You card for the donation to display with the Christmas cards. It's a great lesson to teach kids- to give to others in need and to be grateful for whatever they have.
Give Something Nice To a Struggling Family. You may know of a family going through some difficult times. Reach out in Christmas spirit and give something you would give to your own family member. A new coat, new toys that the kids always wanted. Let your blessings flow through you to others.
Quiz your family with Christmas Trivia Questions during long holiday dinners, decorating, baking or any Christmas travel. Test their knowledge (and yours!).
Dinner by Tree Light. Pick an evening to have your dinner in front of your lit Christmas tree. Do it picnic style or set up snack tables or a card table to admire your beautifully decorated tree!
The Gift That Will Not Go Away! This is a great idea to keep your family connected through the years. Buy a gift that can be for either girls or boys. This gift will be re-gifted to a different family member each year. Wrap it beautifully so no one will suspect it is THE gift. You can use a sweatshirt, tee shirt, silly hat or scarf, a Christmas apron, a novelty gift from a joke shop... No matter how far or near family lives as the years go by or how raggedy looking the gift gets after years of use (or non-use), give the "gift that will not go away". It will be fun to see who ends up with the gift each year.
Attend a local Christmas concert, play and or a Candlelight Christmas Eve Service. Keep the true meaning of Christmas alive and lets celebrate it!
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Your loved ones will never forget those special and Merry Christmas' that you made happen.
Good night from John Street
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