Christmas is coming....

The goose is getting fat, please to put a penny in the old man's hat!

All the presents are bought and wrapped, the decorations are hung and the wish list have been sent to Santa.

If you are like me you want to share the spirit of the season with your children. The magic of Santa and his reindeer and the beauty of the nativity scene just add to the excitement in the air, the anticipation of Christmas!

My children and I have been counting down the days with the advent calendars and sharing together in fun holiday activities. Here are just a few of the fun things we have been doing:


Reindeer food
combine 1 cup of oatmeal with 1/4 cup colored sugar. Sprinkle in the yard for Santa's reindeer.

Wreath with sweetened condensed milk paint
Cut out the center part of a paper plate and have the kids paint the ring with the paint. To make the paint add green food coloring to sweetened condensed milk. It will be sticky, but will dry very shiny. Best of all it tastes good and if they eat it, no harm done! Add red ribbon or pom poms to complete the wreath.

Popcorn Chain
My kids love eating the popcorn as I thread it on a long string...this requires needles so you will have to do it.

Cereal Chain
add a bit of tape to the end of a piece of yarn and thread the cereal (I use Froot Loops, because the holes are large and easy to thread.)

Mitten Craft
Cut out a mitten shape in foam and put your child's handprint in the "mitten" with white paint

"Gingerbread" House with cone trees
You can use the premade kind or make them out of graham crackers. You will need Royal frosting to hold it all together. Add candy, marshmallows, pretzel and dried fruit to decorate. Take pointed sugar cones and decorate to look like trees for your houses.

Cottonball Snowman
cut out a snowman shape from a paper plate. Apply glue to entire surface. Allow your child to place cottonballs to the surfase. Add eyes and a carrot shaped nose.

Glue Ornament http://video.about.com/familycrafts/Christmas-Magic-Ornaments.htm]

Handprint Wreath http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/christmas/handwreath/]craft

Hand print Tree http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/christmas/handtree/

Christmas Tree Cookies
These cookies follow the rice krispie treat recipe except you use Corn Flakes and green food coloring. Shape into trees or wreaths and decorate with mini M&Ms

Christmas tree stamps
cut a Christmas tree shape into a sponge and dip into green paint (see sweetened condensed milk paint recipe). Let your LO paint on a large sheet of paper

Egg Carton Snowman
cut an egg carton into 1x3 pieces and let you LO either paint them white or glue cotton to them

Star Ornament
cut out different colored stars and have the kids glue them on top of each other then thread onto a pipe cleaner

Glitter Pine cones
coat a pine cone with glue and let them sprinkle glitter all over it!

Other cool sites with crafts!
http://www.amazingmoms.com/htm/christmas_page.htm
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/christmas
http://www.first-school.ws/theme/occasions12.htm
http://holidays.kaboose.com/winter/index.html
http://www.nickjr.com/crafts/all-shows/seasonal_winter-holidays/all-ages/index.jhtml
http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/holiday-seasonal-crafts/winter-crafts/
http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/holiday-seasonal-crafts/christmas-gifts-cards-decorations/