Making Christmas Memorable

[limace]

Thanks so much forthat icing video-that was just genius. I've also seen the idea of using kids' medication syringes for little ones to decorate with-just fill with colored frostings. Easier for little hands to manage.

We now do fondue for Christmas eve. It's easy but feels really festive, and everyone ends up laughing.

I've been keeping track of killer coupons and deals on sites like krazy coupon lady and slickdeals, and grabbing gifts and stocking stuffers and tree of joy gifts. Got a Transformer at Target for $2 recently, instead of 8; my little guy is too small so we'll donate it.

Love the idea of wrapping all the books, and of the movie night with candy and popcorn.

 

[Deffenm]

There are some great ideas posted here. Most of ours have already been said. Every year we do the following:
Take a drive and look at Christmas lights
Watch Christmas movies and I plan snacks/activities that match the movie
Read Christmas book each night
Have a family game night
Kids get new ornament every year
New PJ's for Christmas Eve
make reindeer food and sprinkle on front lawn on Christmas Eve
Last year we had snow on Christmas Eve so we spent the afternoon at a local park sledding. We had such a blast. Even the dog had fun, she would jump on the sled with the kids.
The kids help me make cookies and candy every year
We buy an ornament each year that represents an event that year. When we decorate our tree we always take time to share what we remember about that event.
We cut down a tree the first weekend in Dec. We always seem to have to go to 3 or more places to find that perfect tree.
We provide gifts to those less fortunate every year. My kids love helping me wrap those gifts.
We make homemade pizza on Christmas Eve for dinner. The kids love making their own pizza.
Christmas Eve is also our DDs Birthday so we don't do anything Christmas Related until she has opened her presents and we sang Happy Birthday to her. Once we are done with her family party then everyone is ready to begin preparing for Christmas morning.
We go to local zoo and look at Christmas lights
I take each child to Toys r Us by themselves with a pen and paper and we make their christmas "wish" list. They can put as many things on the list they want but they need to tell me their top 3 things. After we are done we go to lunch. I really enjoy getting to spend 1:1 with each child.

 

[mafibisha]

Thanks so much forthat icing video-that was just genius. I've also seen the idea of using kids' medication syringes for little ones to decorate with-just fill with colored frostings. Easier for little hands to manage.

We now do fondue for Christmas eve. It's easy but feels really festive, and everyone ends up laughing.

I've been keeping track of killer coupons and deals on sites like krazy coupon lady and slickdeals, and grabbing gifts and stocking stuffers and tree of joy gifts. Got a Transformer at Target for $2 recently, instead of 8; my little guy is too small so we'll donate it.

Love the idea of wrapping all the books, and of the movie night with candy and popcorn.

I just checked out that site - not sure how I feel about it. Can you tell us more about it? Not sure I want them to have my store card numbers....

 

[ariamac]

hmm as for our traditions?

My mom would always let us open one present Christmas Eve (before bed).

BF and I had our own Christmas last year and I'm pretty sure we opened all our presents Christmas Eve. But I suppose that allowed us to wake up early and head to my parent's house at a decent hour. Not sure if we'll be doing this again, I did enjoy having our own then doing the big day with family... but it's a little dissapointing to wake up Christmas morning and having everything already opened.

I bake a TON of cookies every year.

We are not religious whatsoever but we have an inside joke about Charlie Brown so I bought us A Charlie Brown Christmas DVD last year and I anticipate watching it every Christmas Eve.

Of the 2 of the 4 Christmases we've been together (not including this year) we've done a 1 or 2 night getaway to Niagara Falls. So I'm contemplating making a surprise trip for Christmas #5 since the bus fares are SUPER cheap. (Plus, they have really cool light displays around various parks including 21 Disney ones!!)

And this year I'd like to do an activity advent calendar for us.

 

[hipchickie]

So many GREAT ideas!!
I love this:

You know how so many folks write a "newsletter" to put in their Christmas cards each year? (Not really sure if that's still popular but I used to get these from a few people.) You could do something similar for each of your kids - a personal letter from mom and dad to remind them of the highlights of their year. You could write about the family's big events of the year but also include any special things that child did throughout the year, any special moments you shared with them, things they did that you were especially proud of, their accomplishments, etc. Now that both my parents are gone, I know I would cherish a handwritten account of their thoughts of me as a child. And this is something you could do each year and let the kids add them to a scrapbook or give them a special box to store the letters in.

My oldest son recently had to do a project at school and we dug out his baby album - he loved reading it! I know he would love to have letters like these too. Plus, my youngest is adopted and has no baby pics, etc - I think he would really love this



and to answer to OP, we do a lot of the things mentioned here, the biggest thing is spending time together. I know my kids would a million times more love spending a day together making presents than a day shopping, watching a movie snuggled on the couch than going to the movies, etc etc
We always go to the local santa parade, tree lighting, etc. We also leave plenty of time for new things to try - this past year we went to a special historical christmas "candlelight stroll" at a nearby historical village (we actually made gingerbread houses for their gingerbread contest which was free to enter AND they gave us Free tickets to the event!) http://www.strawberybanke.org/calendar/candlelight-stroll.html
It was so lovely and I think we made a new tradition

keep you eye out for things like this, you may be surprised at what you find!

 

[DVCBELLE]

For the past few years, I have made my mom videos of a trip or soemthing special from that year. On Christmas morning we all gather around the tv together and watch the video - it is so fun to remember the fun we had!! Last year's video was a compilation of 18 years worth of Disney trips - she has been with every one of her grandchildren at least once! It so fun to see them all growing up at Disney and some of the pictures that we had for each one of them that were the same - i.e. Minnie's couch, the Sword in the Stone, the Carousel, characters, etc. The video was 1.5 hours long set to Disney music - and we had a blast watching it! I made the video using photos and free software from Windows. Maybe you could do this for them.

 

[EllenFrasier]

I posted this over on the Community Board, but I think my Budget Board friends have great budget minded ideas!

I'm need some ideas to help make this Christmas just as memorable if not MORE than ones in the past and I'm looking to all my Dis friends for help.

My DH lost his job last November and has just now found a part time job and we simply don't have the money to have the "Big Christmas" we typically do. And ya know what? I'm really ok with that! I know it's not about the gifts, but in our past we've made it seem that way.

My kids don't get presents throughout the year. They really only get them for their Birthday's and Christmas, that's it...so we've always really "done it up" during Christmas, and I've never once felt guilty about it.

Well, this year will be very different. The kids know money is extremely tight, and they will be getting only a few gifts this year. One "big" thing, and maybe a smaller "want" and then probably a new outfit. Kids are DS17,DS12,and DD10. The youngest still believes!

My parents always give generously so they will still get more than a lot of children in this world, but I think this is a wonderful opportunity to reinforce the REAL meaning of Christmas.

If all my DIS friends could maybe give me ideas of traditions they have, or inexpensive or free things they share with their families, I would greatly appreciate it.

I want them to grow up and tell their families about the year that even though they didn't get a lot of gifts, the memories of that year are worth more.

I know plenty of others are in the same boat we are, so I'm hoping we can share great ideas!

As far as traditions go, we always bake cookies together. Then we share them with relatives and neighbors.
Sometimes we go Christmas caroling with our church.
When the kids were younger we baked a birthday cake for Jesus. This tradition did not stick because Dh's birthday is in December and then I had twins that have a December, so that ended adding another cake to the month.
I'll try to think of more later.

 

[Princess_Meghan <3]

One thing that we do that costs nothing is that we have in excess of 25 Christmas books (everything from the Grinch to Polar Express). They only come out at Christmas time. I wrap all the books up and put them under the tree. The kids take turns unwrapping one book per day and we read it together.

I absolutely love this idea! Even though my roommates and I are in college, I think I may have to do this- I can see us having a blast with it!

 

[mermaidwannabe]

Sorry if this has been mentioned but we started having a Holiday Tea with my 3 DDs and their Grandmas and any other family in town. I have some fine china that was my Great Grandma's and a silver tea set that we put tea in. It's special to use something like that and yes, I get worried about someone breaking a cup, but so be it! We make scones, have tea and get dressed up. The past two years I've used the chocolate fountain with cut up fruit. We usually do a craft, like paint ornaments, but this year I might just have us decorate a ginger bread house. Last year, the girls' Great Grandma really dressed up complete with hat and gloves, which of course, we all loved.

We also always get our tree the day after Black Friday (which is another tradition lol) no matter what the weather and have hot chocolate in the car on the way home.

Oh, and this is kind of silly, but every Thanksgiving now, we wait and have our pie that evening while we watch Elf. I don't know how that started lol!! But that's what makes traditions fun, I suppose.

Christmas lights while we drive around, donating to Food Bank, making cookies, and putting out the three Wise Men decorations that my Mom made years ago out of foil and baked. They are really trashed, but I just have to put them out.

Stockings in the morning first, then we have Christmas Morning Bread, then presents with everyone in their pjs.

These are the things I think my kids will remember...not the presents. Thanks for starting this thread.

 

[mermaidwannabe]

Oh my gosh, thank you for that link to that video!! I make a BUNCH of diff frosting colors and this will save so much on clean up!

 

[limace]

I just checked out that site - not sure how I feel about it. Can you tell us more about it? Not sure I want them to have my store card numbers....

Crazy coupon lady? I have never had to enter card numbers there; I just use it for the best deals at local grocery stores. She's hardcore, but gives lots of great tips re combining coupons and store sales.

 

[Tinknalli]

So many GREAT ideas!!
We also leave plenty of time for new things to try - this past year we went to a special historical christmas "candlelight stroll" at a nearby historical village (we actually made gingerbread houses for their gingerbread contest which was free to enter AND they gave us Free tickets to the event!) http://www.strawberybanke.org/calendar/candlelight-stroll.html
It was so lovely and I think we made a new tradition

keep you eye out for things like this, you may be surprised at what you find!

We will be at Strawbery Banke this weekend for Ghosts on the Banke! Looks like fun.

 

[diznee25]

Sorry if this has been mentioned but we started having a Holiday Tea with my 3 DDs and their Grandmas and any other family in town. I have some fine china that was my Great Grandma's and a silver tea set that we put tea in. It's special to use something like that and yes, I get worried about someone breaking a cup, but so be it! We make scones, have tea and get dressed up. The past two years I've used the chocolate fountain with cut up fruit. We usually do a craft, like paint ornaments, but this year I might just have us decorate a ginger bread house. Last year, the girls' Great Grandma really dressed up complete with hat and gloves, which of course, we all loved.

We also always get our tree the day after Black Friday (which is another tradition lol) no matter what the weather and have hot chocolate in the car on the way home.

Oh, and this is kind of silly, but every Thanksgiving now, we wait and have our pie that evening while we watch Elf. I don't know how that started lol!! But that's what makes traditions fun, I suppose.

Christmas lights while we drive around, donating to Food Bank, making cookies, and putting out the three Wise Men decorations that my Mom made years ago out of foil and baked. They are really trashed, but I just have to put them out.

Stockings in the morning first, then we have Christmas Morning Bread, then presents with everyone in their pjs.

These are the things I think my kids will remember...not the presents. Thanks for starting this thread.

Us too, but we have our pie while we watch Home Alone. Back in the mid 90's Home Alone used to come on ABC (I think) on Thanksgiving night. So we'd always have pumpkin pie and watch Home Alone!

Alas, ABC no longer airs Home Alone on Thanksgiving but we have it on DVD so we can continue the tradition!

diznee25

 

[mermaidwannabe]

Us too, but we have our pie while we watch Home Alone. Back in the mid 90's Home Alone used to come on ABC (I think) on Thanksgiving night. So we'd always have pumpkin pie and watch Home Alone!

Alas, ABC no longer airs Home Alone on Thanksgiving but we have it on DVD so we can continue the tradition!

diznee25

We watch that too and the whole family enjoys it. My DMIL has us watch A Christmas Story with her sometime before Christmas too.

 

[disprincessatheart]

I remember as a kid we would always go to my grandmothers on Xmas eve and she would have bunch of finger foods to eat - the tiny bread and meats, shrimp cocktail, etc. We would listen to Christmas music and play games. I remember going to midnight mass too, so must have been after we left grandma's. When we got older and grandma was no longer with us, my parents would host something similar for any friends and family that wanted to come over.

We always do the neighborhood lights but I think we will try to add a tree lighting for ds this year.

 

[kpm76]

So many great ideas!! Our kids are really young. DD is 4 and DS is 14 months but I recently said to DH that I am not going all out buying lots of toys they really don't need. DS has an August bday so he just got lots of new toys. Strange as it may sound, DD4 really doesn't play with toys. She has a wild, and I mean wild, imagination so her "play" is creating situations, i.e.parties with her tea set, dolls and using dress up clothes. She also packs up suitcases and pretends she is going on a vacation. She does love arts and crafts so for bdays and Christmas, I buy a Rubbermaid container and fill it with supplies from the Dollar Store. She LOVES it!! She loves theater so her big gift is going to be tickets to Mary Poppins.

DS is still too young to "get" Christmas so he's getting some clothes and perhaps a few Curious George related items since he is so in love with the monkey. Seriously, I am NOT going overboard this year and it has more to do with not wanting or needing anything. I don't understand why parents spend boat loads of money on things their kids will hardly use. We are making a few strategic purchases that we think the kids will love and focusing more on quality over quantity

 

[lovehoney]

We watch that too and the whole family enjoys it. My DMIL has us watch A Christmas Story with her sometime before Christmas too.

We always watch A Christmas Story with my Dad on Christmas Day - after the presents and before the Christmas lasagna.

 

[nycdisneygal]

I just posted on another thread that we dont buy many gifts for xmas...
We...
Bake cookies
Go see the xmas decorations around the city (when i was a kid my parents would always take us to see the lord and taylor windows and then we would each get new pajamas from the store)
We try to get a new ornament whenever we travel/go to disney so its fun to decorate!
Try to find free things in the city-there was a free holiday train show for a while
Watch xmas movies!!!! ( I LOVE THIS!)
Listen to my holiday CDs.

 

[hipchickie]

We will be at Strawbery Banke this weekend for Ghosts on the Banke! Looks like fun.

That looked cool! We can't go this year, but I would love to hear how it was, maybe we can do it next year

 

[Janepod]

I wanted to second the St. Nicholas idea! I grew up in Belgium and we did that every year. It's very inexpensive and great fun.

So many terrific ideas in this post - lots of things to try this year.