Category — Seasons & Holidays

This is a fun & easy decoration to make with your grandchildren or children.
All you need is:
Paint stirring stick, tongue depressor, black & white paint, buttons, googly eyes, fabric scraps (scarf), orange marker or felt (nose), black marker (mouth), ribbon (for hanging) and hot glue.
Directions:
1. Paint stick & tongue depressor & glue as shown.
2. Add face, scarf & buttons.
3. Attach ribbon on back with hot glue.

My grandsons made these.

You’ll need:
Paper for the antlers & nose (you can cut them out of colored paper or use white paper & color with crayons or markers).
black marker to draw eyes
Paper sack (lunch size)
Rolled oats
Glitter
Directions:
1. Color and cut-out antlers, nose & eyes.
2. Fill the bottom of the paper sack with rolled oats mixed with glitter.
3. Fold the top of the paper sack down and into a point.
4. Glue antlers, nose and draw eyes.
4. Glue down so it’s secure. Don’t forget to include the poem.
5. Keep until Christmas Eve.

Poem
On the night before Christmas every year,
You leave Santa a snack but not his reindeer.
So this year on Christmas Eve,
Don’t forget a reindeer treat to leave.
Sprinkle the reindeer food on your lawn,
Then Christmas morn it will be gone.
The magic glitter and oats did surely guide,
Santa’s reindeer to your house on his long ride.

This is a cute and easy way to display your photos on the Christmas tree. I had a darling photo of my niece Libby, holding my granddaugher Kate that I wanted to display. I just cut a circle from some cardstock with a Christmas design. Then I cut a smaller circle using a contrasting color and the last circle was the photo. I punched a hole and added string for hanging. Now I have a lasting memory of special family members and the great thing is, it only took a few minutes. Wouldn’t it be fun to have a tree with photos of all your grandkids and other loved ones.

The women in my family have a fun Christmas tradition that has be going on for 10 years. The first Saturday in December we gather for a pot luck lunch and a service project. Most years we make items to donate but this year we all brought food for the local food bank. We also made cards and gifts tags. It was fun to see how creative everyone was and to catch up on life events.


Share a holiday tradition and I’ll send you a package of 6 Mini Memory Books.

This is a fun and easy idea from Susan Kaupscinski Gaylord.
Get directions and more book ideas.

Each December, in my school class we talk about many celebrations. When we learn about Hanukkah we always play the dreidel game. The kids love it.
We also make potatoe latke (potatoe pancakes). I’ve included a recipe that I have used so you can try it with your children or grandchildren. This is a simplified recipe.

5 large potatoes peeled & grated
3 eggs
salt & pepper
oil for frying or you can just use vegetable spray & fry them as you would hashbrown potatoes
1. Make sure you strain out all excess water from potatoes.
2. Combine potatoes, eggs, salt, & pepper
3. Fry until golden brown on each side.
4. Let cool slightly while they drain them on a paper towel.
5. Serve with applesauce, sour cream or jam.

Get Original Recipe

More About Hanukkah

Celebrate Hanukkah, which is December 1st – 9th, by playing the Dreidel Game. Print the easy Dreidel pattern and have fun with you kids and grandkids. Traditionally you play with chocolate coins but I use unshelled peanuts.
Get Pattern & Directions

This fragrant pomander ornament is great to do with an older grandchild. It’s fun and easy to make and will keep the house smelling like Christmas.
You’ll need:
Oranges or limes
Whole cloves
Cinnamon
Ribbon
Tape
Plastic bag or container
Directions:
1. Apply tape around the fruit where you will place the ribbon.
2. Push the whole cloves close together in the space around the tape. If you’re are using a lime it gets a little messy when the juices run out. It’s not a problem with an orange because the skin is thicker.
3. Place the fruit in a plastic bag or container for about 2 weeks. The fruit will shrink and the cloves will be very close together. The plastic bag keeps the fragrance.
4. Before putting the ribbon around the fruit, add cinnamon to the plastic bag and shake. This will cover the fruit with cinnamon and add to the fragrance.

This is a different kind of countdown chain because each time you take off a link you solve a math problem.

You’ll need: Scissors & glue
To assemble:
*Use colored paper or paper with Christmas designs to print the links.
*Cut out each of the links and glue together in a chain.
*Begin on December 1st cutting off link number 1 and do the math problem.
*Continue removing a link each day and doing the math problem. When there are no links on the chain left, the next day will be Christmas.
Download Chain Links

Download the Favorite Food Bar Graph. The bar graph activity will be fun for Thanksgiving or any other time during the month.