make xmas fun again

louj101

hi everyone x

I love xmas and really miss the feeling of having small children in the house at xmas....


I have 3 children 13, 17,18 and feel really sad this year because I feel the spark of xmas is slipping away How can I try and make it feel really fun again? putting the spark back in xmas x


I make the crackers for the table with extra special gift in them with a note telling the person how special they are to me


some ideas would be most welcome x thank you x

Alidolly

What about family games? Something silly - yes they will be embarrassed to start with but once they get going, should be fun. E.g. twister, operation, mousetrap...

DomRavioli

Why not do what you did when they were smaller? It seems that you have changed as well as the kids - if you want to bring back how it felt for you, then you have to do what you did previously.

Failing that, start new traditions reflecting their maturity.

ciderwithrosie_2

I know what you mean, I miss it too.


Would they be interested in putting up the decorations and trimming up the tree? Might get them in a festive mood.


Mine still get a pillowcase of presents and usually manage to get up on Christmas morning to open them even though they are 24, 23 and 20 and have probably been out the night before!


Definitely daft family games or wind up racing toys will get everyone joining in. A couple of Christmases ago we had the musical crackers with the numbered 'pipes' in and we were all sat round the table including the grandparents trying to get a recognisable tune going and laughing about it.


Christmas Eve afternoon/early evening is open house at ours so along with relatives popping in they invite their friends round and this usually ends in some noisy communal game on the playstation/X-box

louj101

Alidolly wrote: »

What about family games? Something silly - yes they will be embarrassed to start with but once they get going, should be fun. E.g. twister, operation, mousetrap...

thanks that's something to think about

louj101

DomRavioli wrote: »

Why not do what you did when they were smaller? It seems that you have changed as well as the kids - if you want to bring back how it felt for you, then you have to do what you did previously.

Failing that, start new traditions reflecting their maturity.

thanks....I think its because I got them so much when they were little but it was all in the sales/bargains and now they want things that cost a lot and don't look much


.........maybe its time to start something new like you said

louj101

ciderwithrosie wrote: »

I know what you mean, I miss it too.


Would they be interested in putting up the decorations and trimming up the tree? Might get them in a festive mood.


Mine still get a pillowcase of presents and usually manage to get up on Christmas morning to open them even though they are 24, 23 and 20 and have probably been out the night before!


Definitely daft family games or wind up racing toys will get everyone joining in. A couple of Christmases ago we had the musical crackers with the numbered 'pipes' in and we were all sat round the table including the grandparents trying to get a recognisable tune going and laughing about it.


Christmas Eve afternoon/early evening is open house at ours so along with relatives popping in they invite their friends round and this usually ends in some noisy communal game on the playstation/X-box

haha....that's a good idea musical crackers lol


im finding it really hard to find little gifts for them too I look around the shops and all that it jumping out at me is things like....colouring books, silly hats and all things for younger children would like

cheeswright

I'm in the same position this year
and am considering all of the following

sending the kids advent gifts of gross christmas tshirts / jumpers gloves hats...
Through December we might well be
having a very bad shelf elf....
mines definitly going to wrap up the batteries for the tv remote
glue the lid down on the opened too early Christmas chocolates

reindeer poo included in alsorts of fridge desserts...or elf poo...?

popping candy in the mashed potato anyone ?

toilet roll wrapped bed?

silly gifts...maybe puzzles with really really bad photos of themselves on them

and as usual we will not be doing a roast dinner on Christmas day..we will have something that means we can play games and go out if the weather permits...so lots of small lush snackage and "mocktails" for the kids.

might even get them to organise a game each...

louj101

cheeswright wrote: »

I'm in the same position this year
and am considering all of the following

sending the kids advent gifts of gross christmas tshirts / jumpers gloves hats...
Through December we might well be
having a very bad shelf elf....
mines definitly going to wrap up the batteries for the tv remote
glue the lid down on the opened too early Christmas chocolates

reindeer poo included in alsorts of fridge desserts...or elf poo...?

popping candy in the mashed potato anyone ?

toilet roll wrapped bed?

silly gifts...maybe puzzles with really really bad photos of themselves on them

and as usual we will not be doing a roast dinner on Christmas day..we will have something that means we can play games and go out if the weather permits...so lots of small lush snackage and "mocktails" for the kids.

might even get them to organise a game each...

haha...I have been talking about this today with my hubby, I think its a great idea and think my 13year old would love it
.....there is a thread about the elf thing have you seen it?? x


can I ask where are you going to get your elf from?

cheeswright

I found a picture of one...not unlike this one
and it occurred to me...that my elf was going to be a homemade sock elf...from one of last years vile christmas socks..
he might have a sock reindeer too...
however..perhaps not so cute as this one...after all hes going to be very bad !
and possibley with one hand stitched to a clothes peg for added positioning value....he must of course be caught nearly in the act

I havnt seen the thread but I shall have a look...;)

cheeswright

in fact his entrance act might be to appear amongst the remains of his "new clothes" and lots of glitter somewhere...having cut up some of the kids old socks to make them..