Christmas Eve Activities

Listen to an excellent audio drama about the story of Santa Claus. This may not hold the interest of little ones but it's a great family activity. You will need to create an account before you can see the entire 8 part series, but it's free.

The Christmas Chronicles: A Christmas Radio Drama in 8 Episodes

Series produced by KBYU

At last, a true and complete history of everyone’s favorite Yuletide character, Santa Claus. Listen to this magical Christmas radio drama and learn the long held secrets that occupy every child’s mind during Christmas time. Here at last is the real Santa Claus we have always cherished.

http://www.prx.org/series/31814-the-christmas-chronicles-a-christmas-radio-drama

Couldn't find Gak at the store? Me either! Let's make some!
Recipe:

1 cup Elmer's glue
food coloring, your choice of color (optional: coloring can stain!)
1 cup liquid starch

Pour glue and coloring in plastic container.

Stir until color is thoroughly mixed in.

Add starch a little at a time, stirring with a spoon or with your fingers as mixture thickens.

Stir until mixture holds together like putty.

Test it with your fingers and if it's too sticky, add more starch in small amounts until it becomes smooth and rubbery.

Store in a ziplock freezer bag.




 Don't know what Gak is?  View the commercial here:

http://youtube/kgST63f6x88

Catch up on the lastest Christmas news and find out what's happening at the North Pole.

Visit Santa's Village:
http://www.claus.com/village.php

Stop by the Naughty or Nice meter for a last minute check.
http://www.claus.com/naughtyornice/nn_hmpg2.php

Check out the history of Christmas as told in Judaism
http://www.simpletoremember.com/vitals/Christmas_TheRealStory.htm

Read about the meaning of Christmas from the Christianity viewpoint.
http://www.christiananswers.net/christmas/home.html

God Bless you and I hope everyone has a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Merry, Merry Christmas and God Bless Us All!

I have been cooking today, exchanging presents with my husband whom I love with my whole heart; yet, an empty nest is still empty. Then I got the surprise phone call and my Christmas Eve was complete. My daughter said, "Mom, will you read us a story?". I read the story as I have so many Christmas Eves before. This time to a 4-year old granddaughter with my own daughter listening on her cell phone with the speaker on. "Twas the Night Before Christmas and all through the house ..... ". My heart was full. I read it from here Twas The Night Before Christmas

I have 2 daughters. One lives down the street and the other is in the service. She lives on base with her husband and my other 2 grandchildren; far away it seems today. One calls to read a story and can't wait to give me my present. The other ... far away.

I found a website to share. As a Christian, I am a little confused about this site, but also very excited to find it. Please comment and share your impression. Hillman Christmas

God Bless You All This Christmas! Thank God for our Savior, whose birth we celebrate. For the gifts we give to each other are only a shallow imitation of the gift we were given at his birth (and his death).

Oh Yeah and here's some Friday Funnies.

Merry Christmas to you and yours. May the Peace of Jesus Christ be the fullness of your heart this Christmas day and all through the year to come.

Wordless Wednesday

'Tis The Season For Giving

Time is short but, it's not too late to help:

Toys For Tots

Salvation Army

Empty Stocking


Office Max has this for cute little christmas web toy.
Elf Yourself

Walgreens Offers this little Christmas treasure where you can upload a photo and send an email.
Free Personalized North Pole News from Santa

I found some Christmas Audio Drama for adults and kids
Christmas Drama

I found "Father Christmas" Cartoon (which I love) on Youtube

Father Christmas Part 1

Father Christmas Part 2

Father Christmas Part 3

Friday Funnies

More Christmas Freebies

Another crazy but cute Christmas game for your computer --The Other Side of Claus

See Santa's Dancing Deer here (This is very cute)

One of the coolest sites. Watch 101 Classic Videos Online Watch

Funny 3 Little Pigs Christmas



Get great Christmas wallpaper for your computer here: Wallpaper

Granddaughters and Gingerbread Men

I am having so much fun this Christmas with my 4-year old granddaughter. She is so enthusiastic about everything! She helped pick out the christmas tree. She practically decorated it herself (minus the lights) and she wrapped presents.
She would wrap as many as I would give her! So much energy and excitement!

The best part of the weekend was the gingerbread men! She did a great job.




She was obviously pleased with the outcome.

We just used one of the $8.00 kits from Walmart. If you want to make your own, here's Rachel's recipe.

Gingerbread Men
1/4 c. boiling water
1/2 c. butter
1 tsp. Baking soda
1 tso. cinnamon
1 tsp. ginger
1/2 c baking molasses
3 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1 egg
1/2 c brown sugar

Melt butter in boiling water. Add all the other ingredients. Then chill the dough for 2 hours. Roll out and cut into shapes. Push red hots (buttons) into the men before baking. Bake at 350 degree for 8-10 minutes. Cool and decorate with frosting. Makes 24 cookies.

Also here is a Kraft recipe: Gingerbread People

Aside from my own "personal" treasures, I do have some web loot to share.

You can get free and legal Christmas music directly from the artists.
Feels Like Christmas

Santa's Christmas Ride Game

You can download the exe and play the game on your computer.
Santa's Christmas Ride




You can chat live with Santa for free Chat With Santa

It's The Holidays!

It's the holidays and there's so much to do and so much to see. If you like to do home-made items for gifts or decorations; it's time to get started. Here are a few sites I found helpful for me.

What's Cooking America

There's lots of great Thanksgiving links on this page! Thanksgiving Links

Here's something to keep the kids busy while you are busy! Nick Jr. has a cool website for kids (I like this one too!) Kids Thanksgiving

Holiday games for kids here

Make Christmas Cards, Ornaments and get some good recipes here



Kaboose is an all around good website for the holidays

I found these great glitter graphics on Just Good Tunes.