So what about an advent calender?

Some of you may remember that I made an Advent calender for the kids? I know quite a few of you loved the idea.(click here to see full post)


This year I am making it again - I am however going to be a bit more creative - I have some stickers for some days in stead of sweets, as well as those temporary tatoos and a looking for other small bits to add. I am also going to for instance put a picture of an ice-cream in one day and that day we will go out for one etc.






 So I am thinking of being festive and sharing - if you would like to make this for your kids, I will mail you the A3 pdf file - you need to print it out in colour and buy one of these (the Big Jim 350mm Organizer available of Game for R59,95) and fill with whatever you might like. If you can get to me in Pretoria, I will even print one for you to collect. Full instructions in the original post. I have swung it around into portrait frame this year because the tag to hang it is in that direction.

So if you are interested, leave me a comment with an email addy and I will send it on to you.
Happy festive season!

A Custom build Advent calender

I love Christmas, not only because we are celebrating the birth of Christ or because it is the end of the year and holiday time, but because I love to create the best Christmas I can for my children. For the memories, the family moments and the love we share.

I have always loved Advent calenders and the count down to Christmas. When I was a kid the standard chocolate one were no available here, or very expensive, but one year, my dad got one from overseas and really, the joy of opening each day, will never be forgotten. Christmas pretty much disappeared after his death, to be revived when I made my voice heard at about 10.

So I have made a point to get the Princess a calender to count down. Last year was the first year that the boys took any interest. This year the levels of sibling rivalry is so high, that I am doing my best to avoid it - hence, I had to get 3 of the standard chocolate ones. Then I saw the lovely wood re-usable ones at Woolworth, but alas, expensive and sold out! So, I decided to make my own, and to make it portable to take on holiday, if we have the space.

So this is what I did:
Take 1 compartment box (from Plastic warehouse etc) - I had this one lying around in my office.

Find Christmas images on Google - measure your box and set up on Photoshop or such to fit over the container. I had to divide two compartments with board to get 24 boxes.

Buy sweeties and goodies to fill the boxes.

Fill and stick paper over - the kids will break the paper at the appropriate date every evening.

And done - totally portable, unbend able and breakable. I will add a ribbon to hang it on the wall.
It took me about and hour and 10 minutes to complete, including popping out to the nearest Quick shop for the sweets.

Fun in and around Pretoria (and at home)

As many of you have read our December holiday has been anything but what we planned. In stead we spent it mostly at home - and a while without electricity too. I was not prepared for entertaining the kids for the holiday at home, but we did some great things - worth sharing I think.

We went to the movies - being on Discovery with the kids' movies for free (and limiting the snacks we buy) this is a very affordable outing for us. We saw all 4 of Ster Kinekor's kiddies movies this season. By far the kids' favorite was :

 By far my favorite was:

We spent a day at Zambibush. The venue has had some criticism after one slide broke and about overcrowding etc but we went after they imposed their bookings only rule and spent a lovely Friday there and never felt crowded or such. The kids had an absolute ball between the slides, lazy river and zipline into the water. I would definitely go there again but not sure if the weekend are too busy.

We played a lot of board games and cards - everything from Trump cards to Uno to Ludo and Chess. When the kids got Cluedo for Christmas it turned into many many Cluedo games.

Our Lego friends Advent calendar was a huge hit and daily distraction. We also build lots and lots of other Lego creation - I think most time in the holidays were spent around Lego (as was most Christmas gifts)

 Our completed Lego Friends Advent calender

 And a meetup of the advent calendar girls with all the other Lego figurines in the combined Christmas gifts.

The kids made lunch or snacks - like they wanted.

 A's idea of a light lunch (it's mussels in the small bowl)

C's idea of a fruit snack plate

We did a bit of crafting - I forgot to take pictures of the completed projects but it was fun.

We tried to get the kids to read  - L read his first ever chapter book on his own, C read his first Roald Dahl in English on his own and A read and read (she is a bit of an addict like me). I am not quite sure of her final count but it must be well over 15 books.

I bought the Rolad Dahl collection as a family gift. A has read through half of them this holiday - re reading many she has read before in Afrikaans. C has just started and L can not wait to start.

We coloured - mostly in adult colouring books.

We build a 1000 piece puzzle - well I build most but the kids helped a lot.

We went to Acrobranch - what a lot of fun! The kids all adored it and with friends in tow it was huge fun.

We went to Monte Casino and saw Swan Lake on ice with the Imperial Ice stars. Not only did we enjoy the absolutely wonderful breath taking performance, but the kids have also never been to Monte Casino and was quite taken by the little artificial bit of Italy.

And of course, being high summer we swam - as much as possible. (and painted funky nail colours for the girls).

We made the best of the situation and really enjoyed all of it.

The Christmas and holiday spirit is upon us.

Gosh, the kids seem to be totally over this year. Every morning I have to explain to Mr L that we are still going to school and not on holiday yet. I am at a fail to try and explain that we will only be physically going away after Christmas. I am trusting though, that our Advent calender will do some of the count down for me. 

A look at the contents of this year's calender - sweets, stickers and a few small toys - mostly from CNA's party favours

The Princess just wants to put up the tree, but this has to wait for at least the 1st of December. And Mr C, well, he is complaining that he wants a green Christmas tree as our tree just is not a "real" Christmas tree. On this I will stand my ground - I love out little many years used wire tree and we are certainly sticking to it. I am contemplating doing some fun craft things with them in the holiday to add to the Christmas decorations etc. Christmas Father will be visiting the boys' school on Friday morning and on Friday evening we will have their Carols by Candlelight with a small show prepared by their sports teacher. Apparently someone we know is the Olympic games flag bearer.

We are really going to have a nice and quiet small Christmas - just us and my mom and my cousin and her dad. I am looking forward to that after our huge entertaining the last two years - which although fun and rewarding, is also great to have a break from this year.

 So what are you planning for Christmas?                           

Oh Christmas tree...

 

So the Christmas tree is up, the nativity scene was build. I would love to paint a picture of smiling happy kids decorating to the tune of soft Christmas music. Hec, even  the picture of smiling happy kids decorating to the tune of Boney M Christmas music would be great. But no, we had fighting and shoving by Little man C and the Lil Miss to the tune of "Bob the builder" on which Little man L insisted.

But at the end, after decorations were hung and re-hung and a shepherd was saved after being flung across the room, peace and quiet descended, some sibling love rekindled and wonderment over the lights assumed.

Now, mommy need to get herself into the festive spirit - the birthday and Christmas spirit, pronto! If I can just get past the tiredness.

Btw, the Advent calender is working brilliantly, and I re-used the little old tree.

Today.....things I know

• I am still so very in love with the beautiful anniversary roses my hubby gave me (he often does, on or close to the 10th of the month). They are truly stunning and smell great too - not often the cut roses smell great. But sadly die so soon in the heat.
• I am busy making photobooks for the grandparents for their Christmas gifts - it's going to take a lot of effort but I know it will be the best presents ever.
• I am a bit at loss for a present for the hubby - we always do books, but he has so many to read.
• The social schedule for the next few weeks is hectic - speeding towards the end of the year. 4 Kiddies parties, one concert, one charity Christmas tree, one grade R graduation and concert, two friends socials, one birthday and one anniversary.
• I can not believe I am going to buy school clothes for the Princess today. Gosh, she is really going to grade 1.
• After a lot of thinking and asking around, I have ordered some labels over the internet to mark those hundreds of pencils, etc in the school pack we bought for grade 1. I hope they are worth it, but for sure they will save time.I ordered from Staystuck over the internet and they are beautiful.
• I am excited to have Christmas at home this year with all the grandparents and some more family to share the day. We have done it the last 2 years and we love it.
• I have all the little bits to make our advent calender and will post the pdf to all soon. Excited to start with the Christmas excitement.(If you do not have one yet, look at my post  - still prepared to mail the template)
• 3 weeks, and my work year is over! For a glorious full 4weeks of holiday. 

So, what's happening in your word?

Christmas re-cap no 1

I have not even shown you one little bit of our Christmas and the New Year is already 3 days old. So, we put up our tree rather early this year - on the 28th and int he middle of the day to avoid the tired children unpleasantness of years past. Once again, my little perfect moment in my head - kids gently adding decorations with Michael Buble's Christmas album playing in the background did not come true. In stead of him gently singing "It's beginning to feel like Christmas" I had 3 kids singing "Silent Night" and "we 3 kings" on top of their voices. Not what I imagined - but perfect in every way unimagined. It was so sweet - but so loud.

Our little wooden menagerie serves us well and the kids love to play the scene out.

 Scenes from the tree:

The advent calender was a huge hit once again and the kids waited in total anticipation to open it.The non sweets days were such hits.

More about the actual day to follow

Just breathe.....

After the craziest of weeks - 2 merit award functions, one Judo grading, one Judo parent showcase, one music exam , one music merit award function and one evening Christmas market (not to mention lots to do at work) - from Saturday morning on we had nothing to do.  Honestly, nothing that HAD to be done, we had to attend, we had to rush to. Just that thought already did heaps to help me de-stress - take the load off of a very tough year. It was fantastic!

In the end, we had a quiet but productive weekend - also one where we relaxed and just let our hair down a bit. I went to the Design Team sale and treated myself to (more than I should have) Olka Polka clothing at wonderful prices. I also bought two beautiful cushions for the big couch and the kids all just one Silly Billy item as at the last sale I only bought them stuff. I was in  there at 8 and out by 8:30 and home just around 9. We also had a nice visit with my mom and A and I tackled her toys and sorted out, threw out and made a box for donating. I could not believe that those overfilled shelves (I forgot to take a before picture), had space left in almost every basket or container. Also amazing at how she re discovered some toys and played with them for the rest of the weekend.

On Sunday night we put up the Christmas tree - for the first time ever we had a happy cheerful no fights event with Lady Antebellum singing Christmas songs in the background.

This year, to save my sanity, I did not make the traditional Advent calender we use - in stead, I bought the Lego City one and the kids are sharing it. They take turns to open a window and build the item behind it. Together they are constructing the whole scene.

 And with that, I hope that your life is slowing down a bit. I am certainly enjoying the easier pace. Or are you still firing at all cylinders?