This year, I am doing a Christmas Countdown with Sam and Campbell (click here for Part 1).
Here are activities 7-12. Stay tuned for parts 3, and 4 for the rest of our Christmas Calendar activities!
Day 7: Watch a Christmas Movie
This was so much fun, and we will definitely do it again before Christmas. We got all ready for bed and then let Sam stay up late (while Campbell went to bed) to watch a Christmas movie with us. We popped popcorn and snuggled up on the couch. Sam was so excited to have such a special privilege, even if the movie wasn’t that great!
Day 8: Breakfast with Santa
Sam’s preschool does a great Santa breakfast every year. They have lots of crafts for the kids to do and of course breakfast and Santa. The kids had a blast (well, Campbell had more fun once she was done sitting on Santa’s lap)!
Day 9: Latke Dinner with Friends
Since we celebrate Hanukkah too, the next few days were focused on Hanukkah activities! We kicked off Hanukkah with a latke dinner with our friends the Mandells. They invited us to their house for a delicious dinner, lighting the menorah, and presents. Sam and Campbell had a great time and Sam had so much fun playing with sweet Micah!
Day 10: Buy Presents for Needy Children
Sam’s preschool runs a Christmas giving program with specific toy requests from local needy families. We picked Lincoln Logs and a stuffed animal. Sam came with me to pick up the presents and then we dropped them under the tree after they’d been wrapped up! I hope Sam is learning how important it is to give to those in need (although I think it will take a few years for that lesson to really set in).
Day 11: Read a Hanukkah Book
This is one of my favorite Hanukkah books and I was happy to share it with Sam (I first discovered it when I was still teaching). It is very simple and sweet.
Day 12: Make a Dreidel
This was a big fat fail. I bought this kit at Michael’s and was really excited to try it out. However, the plaster mix was completely the wrong consistency and leaked out the sides of the mold. Oh well! We had fun mixing!
and I hope there was some special Hanukkah ice cream chez Mandell?!
LOVED the post! Sam’s expression in the movie night picture is one his mom favored at that age…very cute. Lots of great pictures! also, everytime I look at this and the last post I’m struck by how beautiful the ornament-advent calendar is.
A lot of work for Mama, but you are creating wonderful memories for those lucky kids!
I forgot to ask about the Breakfast with Santa. I ended up suddenly going out of town and Brett didn’t take the boys. I wondered if it was good.
Looks like fun! Too bad the dreidel song doesn’t specify how LONG it takes to be “dry and ready.” 🙂
Great pictures!