Holiday Family Fun

 Holiday Family Fun

Throughout most of this year, we have had A LOT of family time.  This kids have been home from school, some of us have been working from home, activities that we normally would go do in the evenings have been canceled or postponed.  The following is some fun, low cost activities to do with your family for others in your community. 

 There’s No Place Like Home

Although clicking the heels of your shoes to transport you home is pure fantasy, finding magic this holiday season isn’t.  Here’s a little secret….your life is now!  So when planning a home made get-together, remember these four things;  be together, be kind, be optimistic, and believe in the magic of friendship.

Be Together.  The holidays give us a huge excuse to capitalize on one of life’s most important elements—socializing!  So naturally, the most important things to concentrate on are the guest list and your budget.  When gather the elements of your party, include things that encourager socializing:

·         Arrange a co-ed poker game.  Gather a deck of cards and a jar of coins and you’re set.

·         A Karaoke contest.  Pull out some old clothes and dress-up and sing like you favorite artist.  Award fun certificates for best costume, best vocal performance, and funniest interpretation.

·         Create a family mural.  Start with canvas, get out the paints, and ask everybody to doodle and sign holiday messages.  When it’s dry, roll it up and send it to out of town family members, asking them to complete your holiday work of art.

Be Kind.  Work a charitable element into your gathering. Instead of picking names out of a hat for the family gift exchange, make donations to charitable funds in that family member’s name.

Be Optimistic.  Ask guests to come prepared with a holiday toast about why there’s no place like home.  Take Polaroid’s of guests as they enter the party and paste them in a photo album.  Throughout the gathering, ask guests to finish the following sentence and write it down to include with their photo, “I’m thankful this holiday season for…..” 

Believe in the magic of friendship.  There’s a certain spark that happens when the right group of people get together.  They exchange ideas, talk about current events and ultimately, celebrate friendship.   

·         A gift of a pair of gloves is thought to strengthen a friendship.  In the Victorian era, women could not accept gifts from men except for gloves or flowers.  It’s believed that gloves bring good luck and happiness tot he recipient and there’s no one who doesn’t appreciate a beautiful bouquet.

·         Throughout history, turquoise has been symbolic of friendship and believed to contain enough power to turn enemies into friends.  Turquoise jewelry or stones with a handmade card explaining the meaning of turquoise makes a perfect gift.

Your home is the heart of the holidays and the place where the warmth and joys of the season begin.  Most important of all, give yourself time to enjoy this most special season of the year with the ones you love

 

You’ve Been Jingled

This Christmas, we all want to practice social distancing, but you may want to also share the holiday spirit with friends, neighbors or family!  Many of us may have done the door bell ditch in our younger days, but here is a fun “ditchs” to try out this holiday season.

The theory behind this is fun and exciting!  Simply make up a plate of goodies, and deliver it. The fun is doing in anonymously and watching the recipient’s reaction!  As you look on Pinterest you may find it by other names “You’ve Been Elfed” or “You’ve Been Snowballed”; but you can always add your own name to it and keep within the spirit of the holidays. 

Here is what you need to do!

1.      Make a list of the people you will be delivering items to.

2.      Print out a cute little poem or write your own.  Below are some websites that offer free printables for this activity.

3.      Make up your goodies.  These can be your choice—maybe a batch of cookies, a festive bread, some soup mix with homemade bread, a Christmas movie, popcorn and goobers.  The list is endless. . . . .

4.      Wrap your goodies and include the printout of your poem. 

5.      Begin delivering your goodies, stand back and watch their reactions. 

Free Printable Websites:

You’ve Been Jingled                Poem & Printable Graphics   

https://mothersniche.com/youve-been-jingled/#_a5y_p=4639492

You’ve Been Tinseled              Printable Graphics

https://www.howdothejonesdoit.com/youve-tinseled/

You’ve Been Elfed                   Printable Graphics

http://caffeineandsaltwater.com/youve-been-elfed-work-version-free-printable/

Create a Holiday Bucket List

Some of us may have created our very own bucket list years ago.  But what is a bucket list?  For some it is a list of goals they want to accomplish in their lifetime, for others it may be things they want or places they want to go.  A bucket list is very personal and holds special meaning to the person who created it.

Have you ever thought about creating a Family Bucket List?  The holidays are the perfect time to create one!  Especially with everyone together.  You can always create a general bucket list for your family—vacations, home projects, etc.  But how about some fun activities to do this fall and winter?  Here are some fun Family Bucket List Ideas to try out!  How many can you check off?

Family Fall Bucket List

Drink Apple Cider                               

Visit a Corn Maze                    

Carve a Jack-O-Lantern                        

Eat/Drink Pumpkin Flavored items     

Step on Crunchy Leaves                      

Wear a Scarf

Curl up with a Book on a Cold Day     

Roast Marshmallows              

Bob for Apples

Warm Your Feet by a Fire                   

Make Soup & Grill Cheese      

Make a Fall Wreath

Go to a Haunted House                      

Tell Ghost Stories                    

Watch a Scary Movie

Play Football in Your Yard                  

Press Leaves in a Book            

Roast Pumpkin Seeds

Make Bird Feeder from Pinecones     

Knit a Scarf                              

Fly a Kite

Make a Pumpkin Pie from Scratch     

Bake for Family/Friends          

Jump in a Pile of Leaves

Go on a Bike Ride                                

Thrift a Sweater                     

Plant a Chrysanthemum

Take a Drive to See Your Fall Colors   

Decorate Your Porch               

Make Popcorn Balls

Make a pot of Chili                             

Camp in the Backyard             

Outdoor Picnic

Eat Candy Corn                                

Can Home Grown Veggies      

Stargazing

Watch a Halloween Movie                 

Make Stew                              

Thanksgiving Craft

Visit a Farmers Market                       

Watch a Sunset/Sunrise          

Collect Acorns

 

Thanksgiving Bucket List

Start a Gratitude Journal                    

Collect Pinecones                    

Drink Apple Cider

Make Pumpkin Spice Pancakes          

Take a Family Photo                

Light a Fall Scented Candle

Watch a Football Game                      

Play Football in Your Yard       

Press Leaves in a Book

Make a Pumpkin Pie from Scratch     

Eat Carmel Apples                   

Warm Your Feet by a Fire

Performa a Random Act of Kindness  

Find a Unique Pumpkin          

Cook a Family Recipe

 

Winter Bucket List

Make Hot Chocolate                           

Have Snowball Fight              

Bake Cookies

Go Sledding                                         

Cut out Snowflakes                 

Take a Nap by the Fire

Make a Blanket Fort                            

Take a Bubble Bath                 

Have a Family Game Night

Make a Snow Globe                            

Polar Bear Plunge                  

Make an Outdoor Fire

Make S’mores                                     

Make a Snowman                   

Put a Puzzle Together

Shovel a Neighbor’s Driveway           

Make Snow Angels                  

Make Kits for Homeless

Start a New Show Series                    

Wear a Stocking Cap               

Cuddle under a Blanket

 

Christmas Bucket List

Decorate a Gingerbread House          

Visit a Christmas Tree Farm    

Make an Ornament

Buy an Ugly Christmas Sweater          

Bake Cookies/Goodies            

Watch the Nutcracker

Do a Random Act of Kindness             

Write a Letter to Santa           

Make a Christmas List

Hang Christmas Lights                       

Volunteer in your Town         

Make Hot Chocolate

Drive around to Look at Lights          

Eat a Candy Cane                   

Kiss Under the Mistletoe

Watch “It’s a Wonderful Life”           

Sing Christmas Carols            

Send Christmas Cards

Wear Christmas Pajamas                    

Listen to Christmas Music      

Take a Family Photo

Donate a Toy                                       

Wrap Gifts                               

Hang Stockings

Make a Handmade Gift                       

Make Fudge                            

Sit by the Fire

Take a Photo with Santa                    

Read a Christmas Story           

Start a Family Tradition

Decorate Your Porch                          

Make Eggnog                          

Wear Christmas Socks

Pick out a Live Christmas Tree           

Hang an Evergreen Wreath   

Make a Christmas Shirt          

Holiday Stress Busters

Hurry, rush, one last day …….

We have been hear to these words often during the holiday season.  What are we hurrying for?  Why do our televisions blare at us?  Well, because it’s the holidays; it’s suppose to be fun, enjoyable - - - -or is it?  As mothers we are the holiday elves.  We plan the plan the parties, carry out our traditions, decorate the house, and buy all the gifts.  This is no easy task.  Yet we do it every year and every year we feel tired and stressed out by the first day of Christmas.  We mumble, no more in our sleep, as we dream about the sale that got away.  We love t
he holidays but feel exhausted once they leave us.  Every year we say there’s got to be a better way.  A better way for US the holiday elves, to really enjoy the festivities without all the stress.

How can we cut back on the stress?  And still make a wonderful holiday season for our families?  How can we relax and eat one of the hundreds of dozens cookies we bake?  How can we remember who gets what gift and still remember OUR names?  And wait a minute, isn’t this about family and togetherness?  Moms want to see their kids and maybe snuggle with my hubby, just once, during this the grandest of all seasons.  Here’s ten stress busters which will help us have a terrific time with our families:

·         Shop on the weekdays, not the weekends.  Instead of spending Saturday afternoon at the mall trying to find Aunt Tillie some dusting powder take your kids to the park.

·         Don’t pack your calendar so there’s no room for unexpected events or free time.  Leave a few days completely unscheduled.

·         Remember to get a gift for yourself and put it under your tree.  It’ll make a wonderful surprise.

·         You can’t do it all, so don’t try.  Just volunteer for the activities you enjoy.  No one is keeping track of the overachievers.

·         Try not to be driven by unfulfilled expectations and perfectionism.  Not every house is supposed to be out of House Beautiful magazine.  The holidays will be enjoyable because your family will be together.

·         Save diets for later!  Enjoy the delicious foods and holiday desserts.  January first will be here soon enough.

·         Take a bubble bath, even in the afternoon.

·         Get plenty of sleep.  If you feel tired take a nap, this will re-energize you and you’ll feel refreshed.

·         Only buy gifts for those you really care about.

·         Gifts are not only bought but also found by giving of yourself.  Perhaps there is a friend you haven’t seen in a while, invite her over for tea and cookies.

·         Relax and remember the real meaning of the holidays- family, love, and faith.