Christmas Traditions (Part 1)

Well it's that time of year again, Christmas is coming :)

I love the thought of making memories and family traditions with the boys, they  don't always play out as idilic in reality as they are in my head when I plan them! I suppose that's part of the memory too! lol

Decorations

Each year we try to make one new Christmas decorations and this year we have been very productive. My eldest, L - 8 years old, has out done himself with Lego creations.

Some More Of This Years Creations:

We are running out of time but not ideas! 

Some of my favourite sites for ideas:

http://happyhooligans.ca/

http://www.inlieuofpreschool.com/

http://rainydaymum.co.uk/7-days-of-christmas-crafts-and-activities

http://www.theimaginationtree.com/search/label/Art%20and%20Craft

http://crafts.slides.kaboose.com/326-christmas-crafts

http://icraftdaily.com/?s=christmas+craft

http://zakkalife.blogspot.ca/search/label/Christmas

http://allsorts.typepad.com/allsorts/2005/12/tiny_button_tre.html

http://kidsonthegrand.com/2010/12/20/cute-as-a-button-christmas-ornaments-2/

A few decorations made in previous years:

Visit Santa

We always go to see Santa in his grotto each year. The past two years we have gone to The Cocoa Bean Factory (http://www.thecocoabeancompany.com/) and been very happy with the quality and price. For £5 each they got to see Santa (we could take our own photos), get a gift (L got a summersaulting car, S got a Toy Story board game, Little Boy Blue got a teddy & they all got chocolate buttons), the older ones had a quiz sheet to fill in to get a prize (more sweets), a rub on tattoo and face painted! Well worth it. 

Little Boy Blue wasn't sure what to make of Santa that is until he got a gift!

The two older ones loved the Christmas Themed face paintings, Little Boy Blue wouldn't sit still long enough.

Best Christmas Lights Tour

Each year we always drive around to find the house with the best Christmas Lights. I know the boys would love it to be our house all lit up but this is way easier! Little Boy Blue was amazed and kept saying WOW! all the time. Here is the best we have found:

Winter Activities

So far this year we have not had snow just some frost but it hasn't stopped us from doing some winter activities like (trying to) sledge and ice skating.

(S is desperate for it to snow)

(Ok it was at an ice rink but still very cold!)

Setting Up Your Toddle School & More Busy Bags

I'm experimenting with different set ups for our Toddle School. This school year has involved us adapting to fit the situation and manage to get our work done, one of the things that have either helped or hindered this is how we set up! 
Our best days so far have been when Little Boy Blue has had plenty of choice available to do & that are ready to go. Our living & dinning room are open in an L shape so setting up the centre of the living room with 8 to 10 busy bags in a circle while we sit at the dinning table near by works quite well. This way we can all interact with each other and take turns to help with Toddle School. 

Following advice from some other home educating mummies I have learned that preparing for Little Boy Blue first helps our day go a lot smoother. So taking a little time the night before or at the start of the day pays off even if it means starting a little later than we use to.

More Busy Bags

1. Puzzle in a Bag

      

Wooden Fire Engine Puzzle Board - this is a good easy puzzle as the board has a copy of the finished picture on it and all the little one has to do is match the correct parts.

2. Threading Cotton Reels

 Coloured plastic cotton reels and a lace. Bought in bulk and divid into different bags for different tasks, this is just a straight forward fine motor skills lacing activity.

3. Wooden Animals

 This was a bag with wooden animal toys to play with, make animal noises and identify. However it looks as if Little Boy Blue has added to it with his toy Chameleon!

4. Links

 Multi coloured linking teddy bears which can be linked altogether or in colour sets, also good for counting. Bought these second hand over the internet.

5. Sock Pair

 For this busy bag I found some socks that no longer fit Little Boy Blue and mixed them up in the bag for him to pair together (hope this one will pay off later when it comes to household chores, lol).

6. Basket Ball

 A collection of different size & coloured balls and the basket used to collect all the busy bags in for Little Boy Blue to try and throw the balls into the basket. Daddy hopes this will foster a love of Daddies favourite sport Basket Ball.

7. Jigsaw Puzzle (Mix & Match)

This is a good first puzzle each Robot is made from 3 pieces and can be mixed & matched. Little Boy Blue loves this one. Bought from Marks & Spencers.

Dress Up Days

I just love the days when the boys dig into the dress up box and role play, so much imaginative things going on. Little Boy Blue has been included in these days since very early on and seems to love every bit of it.

So what do you think Little Boy Blue wants to be when he grows up?