I absolutely love the magic of the Christmas season! Each year, I'm just like a little kid again, except that I swear it's ten times more fun when you're a parent and able to enjoy the fun and festivities of the season with your kids!
However, with everything that happens in these brief few weeks (such as shopping for gifts, wrapping those gifts, planning and going to parties, planning and serving Christmas dinner, hosting family in from out of town), it's really easy to lose perspective of the season. This particular post is really a compilation of multiple thoughts but what it boils down to is how to organize your Christmas calendar with events, activities and have everything nailed down, so us mama's don't stress (as much!).
However, with everything that happens in these brief few weeks (such as shopping for gifts, wrapping those gifts, planning and going to parties, planning and serving Christmas dinner, hosting family in from out of town), it's really easy to lose perspective of the season. This particular post is really a compilation of multiple thoughts but what it boils down to is how to organize your Christmas calendar with events, activities and have everything nailed down, so us mama's don't stress (as much!).
First, I created a simple and cute calendar to use for December. I strongly encourage you to use this or another month-style calendar to list out and help plan for the month's activities ahead of time. I am using this as my comprehensive go-to, and it will include any of our kids' special school events and all of our parties and out-of-town outings. I'm also going to include some pre-planned events as well as some simple craft activities to do at home, so we always have something going!
I’m also really loving the idea of the kindness elves, as seen at The Imagination Tree. Christmas is really not about the presents that we receive. The true spirit of Christmas is about what we can give to others and how we can serve others. The Kindness Elves move around each day (and still can be fun and mischievous), but every day is a new suggestion of what we, as a family, can do to serve others - from simple cookies to the mail man, cards to a nursing home or even toys to a children's hospital. Anna, from The Imagination Tree, has put a lot of thought into this and come up with some wonderful ideas. I plan to use some of these and come up with a few of my own along the way. I will be using the calendar to organize what the elves are going to recommend for each day.
I know this sounds like a lot, but for me and my family, it helps keep the stress at bay since everyone is in the know, for the most part, about what is going on.
I also love my Advent Christmas tree! Each day has it's own ornament to hang on it, but I will be using these Christmas Countdown Scriptures (from kikicomin.com) and putting with the ornament, so that each day we hang the ornament and read the scripture that tells us the story of Christ's birth.
I know this sounds like a lot, but for me and my family, it helps keep the stress at bay since everyone is in the know, for the most part, about what is going on.
I also love my Advent Christmas tree! Each day has it's own ornament to hang on it, but I will be using these Christmas Countdown Scriptures (from kikicomin.com) and putting with the ornament, so that each day we hang the ornament and read the scripture that tells us the story of Christ's birth.
Some of the events that we look forward to each year:
Some Christmas events that we like to do:
· Texas Christkindl Market – Arlington, TX
· North Pole Express @ Grapevine Vintage Railroad – Grapevine, TX
· The Trains @ North Park – Dallas, TX
· Parade of Lights Christmas Parade – Grapevine, TX
· Prairie Lights @ Joe Pool Lake – Grand Prairie, TX
· Outdoor Ice Skating @ Panther Island Ice – Dallas, TX
Charitable organizations that we like to help at:
· North Texas Food Bank
· Angel Tree in our hometown, benefitting children in our community
· Stewpot in downtown Dallas, serving meals to the homeless community
· Toys-For-Tots
· Salvation Army
· Wounded Warriors
Things to do during winter months, when the kids are getting antsy from being inside all the time:
· Going Bonkers
· Indoor trampoline parks
· Special exhibits at museums
What are some of the ways that you find to manage your holiday calendar? What else do you do to keep your kids active during the cold, winter months? I would love to hear from you!
© Cruzin' Thru | 2014
· Texas Christkindl Market – Arlington, TX
· North Pole Express @ Grapevine Vintage Railroad – Grapevine, TX
· The Trains @ North Park – Dallas, TX
· Parade of Lights Christmas Parade – Grapevine, TX
· Prairie Lights @ Joe Pool Lake – Grand Prairie, TX
· Outdoor Ice Skating @ Panther Island Ice – Dallas, TX
Charitable organizations that we like to help at:
· North Texas Food Bank
· Angel Tree in our hometown, benefitting children in our community
· Stewpot in downtown Dallas, serving meals to the homeless community
· Toys-For-Tots
· Salvation Army
· Wounded Warriors
Things to do during winter months, when the kids are getting antsy from being inside all the time:
· Going Bonkers
· Indoor trampoline parks
· Special exhibits at museums
What are some of the ways that you find to manage your holiday calendar? What else do you do to keep your kids active during the cold, winter months? I would love to hear from you!
© Cruzin' Thru | 2014