The holidays are here. Christmas is finally here! Oh, what fun! The food, the presents, the time with family and friends. What a great season of joy.
But, after tonight, and once the holiday hype has called down, parents everywhere will be thinking, “What do I do with my kids for the remainder of school break?”
I completely understand. Without school filling most of the day, how do you keep a kid busy for a week or more?
Here are five great ways to survive the school break. Today I want to focus on giving a project. Here are 12 days of projects that can help you celebrate the season and enjoy great a product.
Buffalo Plaid Christmas Wreath; Credit: Carrie at Lovely Etc.
Buffalo Plaid Christmas Wreath: This project brightens any door in a classy way. This is fun way to liven up the holiday décor for this year and next.
Let IT Snow Wall Decor; Credit: Blooming Homestead
Let It Snow Wall Décor: I love the simplicity of this design. This can hang wonderfully in any room or on any wall and bring immense joy.
Joy Wine Bottle Table Topper: Reuse those empty wine bottles from Christmas by adding a touch of beauty to your holiday décor. Reduce, reuse, and recycle with this fun craft.
Mosaic Tree Table Topper; Credit: Handyman
Mosaic Tree Table Toppers: This fun display will make your home photo ready and the talk of the family reunion.
Grinch Table Scape; Credit: House of Elynryn
Grinch Table Scape: What is the Christmas season without the Grinch? Bring in this fun Who-Ville inspired décor to the celebration.
Snowflake String Art; Credit: DIYonthecheap
Snowflake Sting Art: No matter what part of the world I have lived in, there is something about snow that makes the holidays – even when I live in the heat at Christmas. Add a touch of winter wonderland to your home with this fun craft.
Snow Frosted Candle Holders: Lights and lanterns are a tradition the world over for the holidays. Enjoy these beautiful candle holders as you prepare the way.
Joy Farmhouse Christmas Serving Tray; Credit: Create and Babble
Farmhouse Christmas Serving Tray: Holidays mean family entertainment and travel. Add a touch of hospitality with this fun serving tray craft.
Giant Christmas Ornaments; Credit: HGTV
Giant Christmas Ornaments: Decorating our yard is such a fun tradition. Add these simple ornaments and be the talk of the neighborhood.
Santa Wine Glass; Credit: My Paper Craze
Holiday Wine Glasses: New Year’s is just around the corner. Adding these fun glasses to your entertaining will bring smiles and laughter galore.
I hope these fun crafts help you find time to slow down and be intentional with your family. Families that create together, make memories together, stay together.
I love Christmas. You cannot come to my home and not see Christmas in every room of the house (yes, even the bathrooms). But I also love culture. I got my master’s in political science with an emphasis on international relations. I love learning about other cultures and traditions. If you spend time at my house, it would be normal to watch documentaries on culture, anthropology, and archeology from all around the world.
Although I celebrate Christmas in the Christian way, I also like to see how the rest of the world celebrates. I like sharing this with my son, so he is more inclined to understand other people in the world and all the beauty they bring.
Toward this endeavor, we look at a different culture every week of the season and learn about their traditions, songs, stories, and food.
These are just some ways we have incorporated other cultures, traditions, and fun into celebrating the Christmas season.
Shen Dan Jieh (Holy Birth Festival): Families decorate their homes in evergreens, posters, and bright paper chains. The tree is decorated with flowers and red paper chains that symbolize happiness. Color is a big part of this celebration. We sometimes like to use the bright colored chains as our advent calendar to help count down to the big day.
Ta Chiu: This is a celebration of peace and renewal. The Chinese will make offerings to saints and read the names of everyone who lives in the area. We chose this time to find a non-profit to give to, give to our church, and remember those we love near and far.
Christmas caroling is a big tradition here. People give carolers little treats (little fruit and nut pies are especially delicious). All the wrapping of presents, baking cookies, and hanging stockings happens Christmas Eve. This is one fun tradition we do. I wrap (my husband builds toys and things), and we watch Christmas movies with a nice cup of Egg Nog, wine, or spirit-filled fun drink.
Writing Letters to Father Christmas: English children write letters to Father Christmas then put them in the fire, so the wishes go up the chimney. We tweak this tradition by having a mailbox to Santa by the fireplace. Our son puts his letter in the box on Christmas Eve and Santa writes by Christmas morning.
Ganna: Ethiopians celebrate Christmas on January 7 as the Ethiopians follow the ancient Julian calendar. For Ganna, people fast and dress in white, usually a traditional shamma (a thin, white cotton wrap with brightly colored stripes across the ends). They attend church at 4 am. We incorporate this tradition by dressing up on Christmas Eve in our finest clothes.
The Ethiopians do not exchange gifts during Ganna. If a child receives a gift, it is a small gift of clothing. To incorporate this, we do Elf-ing with our son. We find a family that needs a bit of extra love, and secretly help make the season better for them with food and small gifts.
Fasting: Christmas Day is a day of fasting and midnight mass. After mass, they come home and enjoy le Réveillon (nighttime feast). Growing up, I enjoyed attending the Christmas Eve midnight service. We move so much; it sometimes is hard to find one. So, we adopted my father’s tradition of bring coffee. and donuts to those security forces (local police) who have to work the holiday at midnight.
Christmas shows: Plays and puppet shows are popular entertainment (especially in Paris and Lyon). We always try to find a local production to watch (dance schools are great for this) to help get us in the spirit.
Advent Calendars: There is something fun about counting down to Christmas. In Germany, they use an advent calendar where children open a little number flap to see the Christmas picture hidden there. We do this with pictures, sometimes tiny candies, and verses for the season.
Christmas Tree: The tradition of the Christmas tree started in Germany. Under the decorate tree, they arrange a manger scene. Instead of stockings by the fire, in some places children leave their shoes outside the front door filled with carrots and hay for St. Nicholas’ horses. We leave carrots and celery out for Santa with his cookies.
The Letterbanket: This is a letter cake made in the shape of the family’s last name. Some families give a little “cupcake” version to every member. We do this, but instead of our cake in our initial, we bake one for Jesus.
Poems: During the gift giving, the giver also recites a poem written by the giver about the recipient. We love this. We decided to do this all year round by having a dedicated notebook to little notes and encouragements to each other to read and enjoy.
The Italians use the manger scene in a lot of their decorations. We incorporate one in the center of the entertainment, so we are reminded of the true meaning of Christmas.
La Befana: Legend has it, La Befana was too busy cleaning house to help the Wise Men on their quest to find the King, so now she spends January 6 (Thee Kings Day) wandering through the air on her broomstick looking for the Christ Child on the eve of Epiphany leaving gifts and candy in the shoes of little children. We do not do this, but we do watch movies about La Befana in the original Italian for fun.
Las Posadas Buena Noche: Christmas Eve the children lead a procession to the church and place a figure of the Christ Child in the Nacimiento (nativity scene) and attend midnight mass. To incorporate this, we attend a city children’s parade.
Farolitos: This little tradition is when family members cut intricate designs in brown paper bags to make lanterns. Families then place candles inside the bags, and the lanterns are set alongside sidewalks, in windowsills, and on rooftops outdoor to illuminate the community with the Christmas spirit. My family lights the entire yard with lights. My son also makes additional decorations for the tree (or anywhere).
Christmas Day Reunion: This is a day for families to come together and enjoy a great feast (having fasted Christmas Eve. As we cannot always travel for the holidays, we use this day to call, text, and zoo family across the world.
Urn of Fate: Names are written on cards and placed in a bowl. Then, two names are drawn at a time. Those two people will be friends to each other throughout the coming year. My large family does a similar thing via excel spreadsheet. Each name rotates so a new sibling gets to think about and take care of the other for Christmas the following year.
St. Lucia’s Day: Christmas really begins here on December 13 with St. Lucia’s Day. The Swede celebrate the patron saint of light. The oldest daughter will get up before dawn, dress as the “Queen of Lights,” and go from bedroom to bedroom serving coffee and treats to each member of the family. The younger children help. We like this tradition, but we serve each other cinnamon rolls and coffee after getting the house beautiful for celebration. We work as family helping with chores, making breakfast, and enjoying a slower morning.
The Jultometn and Julbokar: This tiny Christmas gnome comes on a sleigh drawn by the Christmas goat, Julbokar. In some families, a family friends dresses up in a red robe and wears a long beard to bring toys for children. In other families, gifts are left behind on the tree. After gifts are open, the families dance and sing around the tree. We incorporate this little tradition by leaving notes for our son throughout the season and singing and dancing is a part of our life, so we listen, sing and dance to Christmas carols.
Perhaps there is something here that you might do? May want to try? Let me know.
How easy is it to get lost in the planning, gifting, and chaos of the holiday season? Do you find yourself exhausted? Overwhelmed? Anxious? Is the holiday season taking over your life (and not in a good way)?
I completely understand. The demands placed on people during the holiday sometimes seemed completely unrealistic. This can be especially true for deployed or separated families, single parents, parents of special needs children, and single people. It is so easy to get lost in the chaos.
How do we get out of the funk the demands can place us in? Change our focus. Stop thinking of “me”, and start thinking of others. If you are still having a little trouble getting into the season, try some old family traditions.
Part of the fun of the holidays is the books and movies that get pulled of the shelf and dusted off to enjoy. Growing up, my mom used to read The Best Christmas Pageant Ever to kick off the season. My dad would read Luke 1 to us prior to opening any presents. It was in these calm moments the real meaning of the season came alive.
I have continued this tradition in my own home. It is so special to pass this on to my kid and husband. These memories require no money, just quality time with those you love. When my husband was deployed during the holidays, this was one of the things he missed most about not being home. This is also what helps me stay grounded in the chaos when things start to get overwhelming.
So, I invite you to slow down with us this Christmas season. Enjoy a cup of hot cocoa, snuggle up (perhaps by a fire), and enjoy these fun movies and stories. May they bring you as much joy as they have our family.
The original Christmas Specials Collection including: Santa Clause is Coming to Town; Frosty the Snowman; Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer; The Year Without Santa Clause; The Little Drummer Boy
Kids home most of the year. Routines completely out of whack. Families apart for the holidays.
It seems like Christmas 2019 was a different world. This year peace seems so much farther away than usual. But it doesn’t have to be.
Here are some of the things my family does year-round to help us remain in peace. May these simple tips help you and yours this Christmas season.
Deep Breathing exercise
Deep Breathing: Breathing is essential to life. Deep breathing is essential to self-control and calmness. Along with regulating blood pressure, helping relax muscles, deep breathing decreases the stress hormone cortisol – and who doesn’t want less stress? When things seem out of control, take a deep breath. Recite a favorite verse or proverb and remind yourself, this too will pass. Here is a great article for Harvard Health on how to make deep breathing a routine. this more a routine.
Jimmeny Cricket prepares for sleep
2. Go to bed on time (maybe even a little early): For my followers, you know how much I value sleep and the many benefits it gives. In addition to improving concentration, lowering health issues (like heart and diabetes), sleep is good for emotional response. A study done on this by the Mental Health Foundation found that people that didn’t get enough sleep were four times as likely to suffer from lack of concentration, have relationship problems and 3 times more likely to be depressed, and 2.6 times more likely to commit suicide.
3. Go outside: Something is calming about being out in nature. Seeing the colors, feeling the warmth of the sun, or the comfort of a cool breeze, it a sensation unlike any other. More that, being outside lowers depression and stress, is social, and increases short-term memory and concentration. But, more than that, it gives the brain a minute to take a break and process the day. For those who need it, it is also a safe way to take a break from family members or use it as a way to talk through a situation.
5. Read/watch something uplifting: What we put before our eyes affect what we think and feel. Ever walk out of the theatre after watching a suspense movie and take extra precaution walking to the car? This year there has been so much negative news and more movies and shows of intense drama, fear, and, call it what it is, poor behavior. When I talk to friends and family who have been reading and watching these things, their anxiety and fear are much higher than those who have chosen to spend that same time watching and reading positive and uplifting things. Positive words are healthy for one’s body and mind.
6. Listen to uplifting music: Some of us do not have time for books and TV shows. Instead, we spend our days working and running the household and driving kids to this appointment or that. But, during that time, we are still taking in messages. Use this time to listen to what is uplifting. In the car, limit how much news and talk radio you listen to. Set a specific time frame and then move on to uplifting audiobooks or music. At work, create a playlist or station on Spotify or Pandora that is designed to help focus and still brings in good vibes.
7. Write down your worries…then burn them: This is one of my favorite things to do. There is something powerful about writing down the worries. It gives them a concrete feeling. And concrete can be destroyed. Once they are written down, it allows me to see the worry as a challenge with limits. Once there are limits to the fear, that means there is a way to conquer the fear. Once I can see the worry is not abstract, I then pray over them and then – burn them.
8. Spend time with a close friend: When we are busy (or quarantined), it is easy to forget to invest in other relationships. We forget to do things that bring us joy and help us relax. But something is refreshing about spending time with people we love. As a military family, we have lived all over. It is still my favorite thing to screen time family and friends, not near us. The apps Marco Polo and Whatapp are particularly great for this because you can send video, text, and audio no matter the time of day for them to open when it works for them. But, there is something wonderful about sharing a cup of Joe and playing a game or watching a movie together (either in person or on a Zoom). This also helps us carry each other’s burdens and reminds us we are not alone in this.
Healthy food fast
9. Enjoy a delicious, nutritious meal: I love food! I also believe it has a major impact on our health, behavior, and attitudes. Health food helps my body to operate better. But, more importantly, I feel better. When I feel better physically, I feel better mentally. I also respond to information with more logic and less emotion. When we are pressed for time and/or overwhelmed, it is easy to let good healthy habits fall by the wayside (especially with the holiday goodies at every turn). However, taking a little time to eat nutritiously, will change the impact on your life and the life of those in your household.
10. Be playful and laugh a lot! This year, more than most, it has been easier to forget to laugh and play. But these two things are so important to our relationships, heart, and mental health. Adults need recess too! Play is both fun and motivating. Studies show that people and leaders who laugh are more composed in the face of adversity and have a “bright side” mentality.
This Christmas and holiday season, as we are celebrating with new traditions, different people, and face the coming New Year, let’s remember we can be at peace in the face of adversity. May these tips help you, as they do me and mine, this season and year to come.
It is the most wonderful time of the year. Hot cocoa. Chestnuts on the fire. Family and friends and loved ones.
Kids around the world have begun shouting at commercials, “I want that!” Toy catalogs are being circled with hopes and dreams of young and old.
But, for many, this year has brought heartache, fear, and darkness. Families and friends seem farther away than ever before. Fear clutches the hearts of even the most stoic.
But, it does not have to be that way. We can embrace the real and true meaning of Christmas – the greatest gift of all time. To celebrate this gift, my family has incorporated one of my favorite holiday traditions. I thought I might share with you how we have changed our house from a “Give me!” to a “Give them” household.
Elfs ready to help
Elfing: It is better to give than receive – especially when you go out elfing. This is similar to “Booing” (a Halloween tradition). Many do this for friends and family, but my family likes to find those in need. We like to find the families struggling to get by, but would never ask for help. We like to find the families that feel so overwhelmed with fear and anxiety, that the simple act of love changes their life. Some years we choose a single-family and “elf” them weekly for the month of December. Some years we “elf” a different family in need every week. But, it is a weekly part of our Christmas tradition. All you need is a goody bag – or – stocking. Fill them with Christmas fun! Things like coloring sheets, crayons, candy, card games, elf hats, and ornaments are great. Cookies are a favorite of ours. **Tip: The Dollar Tree is a big money saver for small trinkets and fun children’s toys. Have the kids help choose the filling. Then wait till dark, load up the kids, and leave the gift on the porch. Ring the bell and RUN! RUN! RUN! The best part of “elfing” is no one “knows” it was you.
Peanuts Caroling
2. Christmas Caroling: Music is powerful! I spent years studying how music is used to create culture. But, of all music, there is something unique about Christmas music. The way it brings peace, hope, and love to even the darkest places is incredible. This year, with so many shut-ins, senior citizens, and families in quarantine, it is easy to think this tradition is out date. But, it doesn’t have to be. We have traditionally caroled with our Rotary Club and church groups, but this year, we are doing things, well, differently. We are caroling via the internet. Simply record yourself singing and send it to the same places you would normally go in person. If possible, make this a family event – my family loves singing together.
Ways to Give
3. Give: This time of year is always a bombardment of “give me” from charities the world over. Having spent more nearly 15 years in the non-profit sector, this is often the time of year where most of the budget comes in. It can seem like everyone wants something. We have learned to use that as teachable moments. We present the different ways to give to our son, then we let him pick which ones should be a part of our giving. He also saves all year a tithe (see my article on finances for more) and this time of year is when he chooses where to put it. I highly recommend you look at the charities and non-profits in detail to know how they will spend that money – we ensure a majority of giving goes to the need (not the CEOs). Charity Navigator is a great place to start.
Child getting reaady to give his presents
4. Out with the Old: As a military family, we move a LOT. In 15 years alone I have moved 13 times. We have discovered in moving, there is a lot we don’t use or need. So, about five years ago we started a new practice (partly out of wanting to make moving easier and not having to purge a lot). We decided that for every Christmas and birthday, for every 1 thing in, we donate 1 thing out. This helps keep our house manageable but also allows our little to understand that the needs of others are year-long – not just once a year.
So, whatever way you celebrate this beautiful time of year, I hope you find these simple ways to give away to remember what Christmas is all about. May it help take off some of the “keeping up with the Kardashian” mentality at bay and bring us back to the heart of Christmas.
I love the holidays. I love the crisp air. I love the tradition. I love the colors. I love the music. I love the time with my family. I love spending hours trying to find the perfect gift. I love the smells of great food only served during these special occasions.
But, I hate traffic. I hate to travel. I hate crowds. I hate the demands of my family time. Add in some COVID, a touch of election discussion, a dash of natural disasters, a splash of special needs, and the longer nights, and I find my exhaustion can (and sometimes does) lead to an attitude of complaining. I can lose focus on the good; I can (if I am honest), sometimes, even ignore those blessings right in front of me.
I am so grateful for a husband who has helped me see this reality and the tips and tricks he has taught me to overcome this. I also know this is a year-round problem. This is a lifestyle choice. This is a daily choice. So, here are some things my family uses to be grateful for the family and build our relationships.
Count Your Blessings: The first step to having a gratitude attitude is to count your blessings. As the old adage goes, name them one by one. For some tips on how to make this a daily practice, take a look at these simple steps. Recognizing that, even though this year has been exhausting, challenging, and all around, awful for pretty much everyone, there is still so much to be grateful for. Take some time to name all the reasons you love your family; how they help; how they have grown; how far you have come toward goals.
Building Lego Airplane and Airport
Spend Quality Time with your Family: We make it a practice to spend at least an hour a night hanging with our little one. It doesn’t always happen, but we try to make it a priority most nights. This is the time our son picks what we do (the things that interest him). We get down on his level. We laugh with him. We celebrate with him. As he has grown, this time has become more and more essential. We often spend time cooking together or doing art together. This is an intentional time we spend learning who he is and how amazing he is. It is a reminder, especially on harder days, that there is so much light, love, and life to give to him and that he gives to us.
Family Game Night
Family Fun Night: These are my favorite nights! My husband is usually in charge of planning these nights. And he is so good at it! Of course, we do the family game night, but my husband doesn’t stop there. Having the same routine can become monotonous if that is all you do all the time. So, we build Lego as a family or spend a night reading to each other. Around the holidays, usually the first week of December, my family loves to read The Best Christmas Pagent Ever. But here is a list of some books we have enjoyed reading together as well.
Community Serve Day: Sending cards to those in senior homes
Family Work Days: I have a love-hate relationship with these days. I hate getting started and how some tasks take WAY longer than they should do to teaching and training. I love how we accomplish things as a family, I love seeing how my family grows in communication, strength, and bonds. We set a goal for the day. Sometimes it is getting the garage clean. Sometimes it spring cleaning (dusting, wall cleaning, re-organizing). Sometimes, it is a community volunteer day where we volunteer at a local organization for someone else. We really like these events being able to do things from helping the elderly to yard work for a non-profit. We love being able to serve together. This opens the door to so many life conversations that get missed in the daily chaos.
Family Work Out Night: 2 mile run and Card Deck Strengthening Game Night
Family Work Outs: I know what you are thinking…“No way! Working out is for me to have a break from my kids” or “Nope, I don’t do that.” Although there are numerous reasons to work out for your health and wellness, there is something more rewarding when you work out together as a family. love to long-distance run together. I am slow…very slow compared to my family who can run 2 miles in under 17 minutes. But, we start as a family, and when they are done, they come back and finish with me – as a family. I love the deck of card nights. We use a traditional deck of cards and shuffle. Each draws a card. The number on the card tells us how many of the activity, the suite tells us what activity (hearts are abs, diamonds are pushups, spades are squats, and clubs rotate burpees, heavy ropes, punching bags, kicks). There is so much variety with this, and it becomes a game. We are completely out of fun ideas or need to get out of a rut, we find a new workout on Tubi, Amazon, or Youtube.
Family Fun Hiking Day
Family Fun Days: My husband and son are as manly as they come. They love to fish, hike, dig in the sand, and play in puddles. I am as girly as they come. I love to read, write, and paint. We could not be farther apart on the spectrum. But I love these days. My boys will take me hiking into a beautiful wood, then stop for hot chocolate and smores before hiking back. They have taken me fishing, while I bring a book, and enjoy watching them bring home dinner. I love it when we go to the beach and play in the water, build sandcastles, and attempt to catch fish with our hands. But, they love me too. So, sometimes we find the free days at the museums and aquariums and learn about history and art for a day. Zoos are great places to go as a family and spend time out in nature able to talk with each other. Check out next week’s blog for more ideas on how to build your family relationships on a budget.
Some Where Over The Rainboots 