Hard to believe we are only 17 days away from Christmas? Are you enjoying the holiday season so far? Are you going around frantically trying to get your shopping done? I hope by now you have your Christmas tree up and you are enjoying the ambience it gives off! Since our babies are growing up (shocking I know) and no longer have a newborn this Christmas I have been really intentional about trying to do fun different things with them to make memories and maybe even start some traditions. There are always those traditions that you bring with you when you start a family of your own but I think its important to make your own too. My babies are still little enough that it can be simple things like reading a Christmas story that is special and fun for them. I always want them to remember the true meaning of the season. It is about Jesus birth its not about the gifts or Santa Clause. But I also want them to love this season to always stare in wonder at the beautiful lights, to beam with pride as the shop for toys to give to other children, to find joy in spending time with family. I thought today I would give you 10 Things that you could do in the next few weeks. Some of them you could do together but have fun with it – make memories they are the pictures we hold in our hearts for a life time.
1. Buy a New Scarf. I am a scarf lover so this is an obviously fun thing for me but have you seen how cute a little one looks in an infinite scarf? Come on!! Maybe your not a scarf person – why not buy one for someone in need of being cheered up.
2. Snow Day – hopefully we will get some snow again soon so you can do this. Build a snow man, snow fort, have a snow ball fight.
3. Christmas Lights Tour- we did this the other night. Once the sun had gone down we packed the babies up in the car and hit the local donut joint first (since one is still too small for hot chocolate) and got a delicious treat and then drove around looking at all the beautiful lights. The babies loved it and it was so much fun being together as a family with Christmas music playing and enjoying the hard work some people put into their lights display.
4. See Sanata- Its not that hard to find him these days I think just about every local mall has one. I always enjoy a good santa picture whether they are smiling or crying its a picture to keep and show them when they are 16.
5. Host a Christmas Cookie Exchange- Since there are so many delicious recipes out there it makes it impossible for one person to try them all. Why not grab your girlfriends and each bake your favourite cookies and then each guest brings some to share and you all swap and try them.
6. Donate to Charity- We are a blessed people and we live in a country where we have so much. Find a charity that is something that you can be passionate about and can identify with and donate to that charity. You not only will be helping financially to a good cause but you will feel good about doing it.
7. Decorate a Gingerbread House – You can do one together as a family or do them individually and make it into a contest or a friendly neighbourhood of house. And the best part is you get to snack while building them. Why not put your jammies on, pump the Christmas music and get to work.
8. Read a Christmas Story – cozy up with some hot chocolate, a new Christmas story and sit by the Christmas tree and read your new book. You could even do a book a day or a new one a week. There are so many great books out there and we only enjoy Christmas season for such a short period of time.
9. Do a Random Act of Kindness – do something nice for someone. You can bake cookies for fire fighters, police officers, ems and drop them off at their stations. You could pay for the person behind you in line at the coffee shop, you can hand out teddy bears on the peds floor at your hospital, you could write notes of encouragement and leave them on peoples car windows. The list is endless – just get out there and bless the socks of some people.
10. Buy Christmas PJs- we usually save this one for Christmas Eve. It is one of those old family traditions I brought with me to my own little family. But you don’t have to wait till Christmas Eve to enjoy yours.
With the holidays being such a busy time it is easy to get stressed out and forget to enjoy the season. Take time to slow down and enjoy the people around you.
