Christmas Eve Cosy Box

I have seen the idea of a special 'Christmas Eve Box' quite a lot over the last couple of months and I couldn't resist adding it into our own family traditions.  As Christmas day is usually spent with my family and Boxing day with the bloke's, I love the idea of the box giving us a special day as a family of four, our own mini Christmas.

I plan to have the box downstairs in the living room when we wake up, with everything we need for a festive family day.  With new pyjamas for everyone, a special film and bedtime book, snacks for the day and some crafty goodies to do together, I think Dylan will love it and I hope that it becomes something to look forward to for Archie as well as he grows up.

I still have a couple of bits I want to add.  I made Dylan's stocking for his first Christmas and I really need to get a move on and make one for Archie too.  I am also planning on buying a festive plate for the mince pies and carrot we will leave out for the big guy in red, and in fact some mince pies will make it into the box too, but buying them now I know full well they will not still be here in two weeks time.  I am planning some simple toddler friendly crafts (if you have any suggestions then please leave me a comment!) and there will undoubtedly be glitter!

Dylan's attention span for TV is not long and so The Snowman and The Snowman and The Snowdog is perfect for us; long enough for a snuggle and a snack and not too long he is running round the room pretending he is walking in the air.  A new book full of Christmassy scenes will let us talk about what we have seen, what will happen and hopefully help prepare the little guys for the big day.

You can never have too many pairs of pyjamas and we were kindly sent these for the boys from Mothercare.  (The white pair is part of a two pack but Archie has already been rocking the reindeer pair) Our family is a little penguin obsessed and I know they will look gorgeous on Dylan and Archie and will be perfect for the obligatory Christmas morning present opening Pics!

I love this idea and I can't wait to start our own tradition that the boys will look forward to year after year!

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December 1st Advent Box

This year for us is about starting our own traditions.  Dylan will understand so much more than last year, and I can't wait to show him how magical and fun the festive time can be.  From putting up the tree and covering the house in festive red and gold to watching those classics like Miracle on 34th street and Elf.  This year we will be visiting Santa, seeing the reindeer at the zoo and making gifts for family and friends.  It will be Archie's first Christmas too and I want to make it perfect for him.

For me, December 1st marks the beginning of Christmas, and from that day on, anything is acceptable. Christmas music, films and socks, decorations and glitter.  This year on December 1st, there will be an advent Christmas Box waiting for us when we wake up.  A box to symbolise that our festive fun is just beginning.

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The contents will be what we need to put us in the mood for everything December has in stock.  We will each have a pair (or three) of festive socks and the littlest member of the house has a lovely penguin bib that I bought from Funky Giraffe when I was pregnant.

I have included a picture bauble to make with Dylan, and a First Christmas decoration for Archie that I picked up at the Baby Show.  We have some crafty bits; stickers, festive sprinkles and paper chains to keep us busy for a few days as we decorate the house.

There is a seasonal film to get us in the mood, perfect for those cold and cosy evenings and I want to add in a new story book too, but I haven't found the perfect one yet.

Alongside this box, will be the homemade advent calendar that I have been busy creating and a Playmobil advent calendar that we were sent as part of our role as Playologists.

Last but certainly not least, I want to fill the box with ideas of things to do together in the month of December.  From creating Christmas cards, finding the best Christmas lights, decorating gingerbread men to making snow angels.  I want the box to be the beginning of a month of celebration in every sense.

It is only something little, but I hope that it will be something big to my boys, the promise of magic to come, the start of an exciting month and a little cheer on what will undoubtedly be a chilly day.

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Christmas Magic

Whether we choose to embrace it or not, Christmas is a magical time.

The darker afternoons mean you can't fail to spot towns and cities lit up and the giant Christmas trees which adorn every high street and shopping centre are bright and glowing.  There are carol singers all over the place and our TV screens are full of those heartwarming adverts which remind us of family times and excited children.

I have grown up with my own family traditions and we are making new ones for Dylan.  This year he is excited every morning to open a new door on his advent calender and although he may be clueless as to what it symbolises, it won't be long until he is counting down the days in excited anticipation.

This week I took the little dude to a lovely local church which hosted a Christmas tree competition.  31 local organisations and groups each decorated their own tree, and the public are invited to come in and admire their work, vote for their favourite and leave a donation to charity whilst they are there.

We loved the church cleaner's effort as they had handmade all of their decorations.  The crackers were rolled up dusters and their shiny baubles were made from scouring pads.  The guides and play groups had drawings and crafty bits on theirs and Dylan and his friends loved racing from tree to tree admiring the lights and colours with lots of ooohs and aaahs.

On Friday, I took Dylan to Canterbury and we waited until the sun went down before exploring the Christmas market.  The smells and sounds were amazing but it was the lights that captivated us and we crouched down and pointed at the shapes and colours that lit up the sky.  He got to practice his new favourite word 'circle' and we spent some time just watching the world go by. 

 He may only be 16 months old but Christmas is already becoming a magical time of year for him, and with our tree going up this week, he will be able to enjoy the lights and colours from home as well.  We are attending a Christmas party at the Children's Centre where he gets to meet Father Christmas again and we have the perfect family day planned for the 25th, where we already know he will be the centre of attention.  I am looking forward to Christmas crafts and letters to Santa in the coming years but for now he are admiring the simple and free things that December has to offer.

How are your little ones enjoying this magical month?

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