During the Christmas holidays, you drive around passing miles of homes whose decorations are so enchanting you feel inspired to decorate your own yard.
Once home, you plan to decorate your yard for Christmas, too. Here are some ideas to consider.

Run lights all along the eaves and sides of your home, as well as around each outer window pane. Place a big wicker basket of Christmas balls on your front porch. Add garland around or over your mailbox, as well. Take red, green or silver garland and wrap it around your front railing. If you have fir trees in front of your home, add lights to all of them. Decorate them with ornaments and garland, too. Better still, if you have a large tree on your front lawn, trim it with lights of all colors. If you have a spacious front lawn, put up a life size Santa or Snowman that lights up. Or, you can place an animated Santa, one that has a sensor so that when you pass it, you’ll hear “Merry Christmas” greetings.

Place poinsettias on each step next to the railing on both sides. Find a large Santa boot and fill it with gifts. Place it on the front lawn. If you have a large Merry Christmas sign that lights us – place it in your front yard, too.

If it has been a snow-less winter, spray the outside window panes of your home. Start at the bottom and spray up slightly to the right or left with a can of snow spray. If you cannot afford the traditional Santa and reindeer with sleigh on the roof, purchase or make your own sleigh, and fill it to the brim with empty wrapped presents. The sleigh would look lovely on the front lawn. Don’t forget – Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without the Nativity Scene. Choose a special place for the Nativity Scene as well.

Decorating your yard for Christmas can involve every member of your family. Make it a special time. Draw a plan, together, to decide where each Christmas item will be placed on your front yard. Don’t be surprised when you see cars slowing down to admire your decorations, too.

Do you have special Christmas traditions with your family? Whether handed down from generation to generation, or beginning anew, most everyone does.

It is Christmas morning. The stockings hung on the fireplace are filled with goodies, and the presents around the tree are beautifully wrapped. The children awake very early, sensing that something magical has occurred the night before. There is a flurry of activity as you hear them rush into your room and excitedly announce, “Santa was here! Santa was here!” The lights on the tree seem to guide them to it, and they look down at all of their presents with wide-eyed wonder. The Christmas tradition with your family has begun.

After all the presents are opened, and many pictures have been taken, mom prepares a special Christmas breakfast, just as her mom taught her. As dawn becomes day, the fresh fallen snow beckons the kids outdoors. Perhaps the kids want to test out their brand new red sled; or build a snowman with mom and dad.

Later, while mom prepares Christmas dinner, the kids are playing with their new toys.
Perhaps dad is helping put together a new jet plane, while a bright eyed girl is re-arranging the furniture in her new doll house yet again. Mom puts on her favorite Christmas CD, and the house is alive with laughter and music.

Grandma and Grandpa arrive to partake in an early Christmas dinner. Grandpa is playing with the kids and Grandma is in the kitchen helping mom prepare for the feast. Turkey, stuffing, yams, broccoli and cranberry sauce begin the menu, followed by a homemade cake with special chocolate frosting – a recipe handed down from great-grandma. Milk and home made cookies for the kids round out the meal.

It’s nearly six o’clock and time to head out for Church services. Everyone dresses in their Christmas finest. Celebrating Christmas is more than just giving presents, it is a time to rejoice.

Back home, they all gather in the living room and turn on the TV to watch It’s a Wonderful Life, but not before they are once again gathered around the table to have a light meal, and another piece of that delicious chocolate cake!

While your Christmas traditions may differ from the ones described above, the fact is that what has just been described is a traditional family Christmas. It is about being together, enjoying the holiday, and celebrating the birth of a child. Merry Christmas.

The Christmas holidays are a wonderful time of the year, especially since the kids are home from school. Make the most of this time by making memories that will last. Creating Christmas decorations with your kids is a fun time for all. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

1. Tree Skirt: Find some felt material and design a tree skirt. Add beads, bows, sparkles and any kind of trim available to make this a one-of-a-kind skirt. Perhaps the kids would like to add pictures of Santa along the rim of the skirt. Another tree skirt idea would be to make a quilted pattern, using different plaids and solid colors. Decorate it with a fancy trim. It could not only be used for the tree, but as the base centerpiece for a vase of poinsettias.

2. Centerpiece: Another idea is to have your children gather together Christmas balls in various sizes and colors. Find a large clear vase or bowl and arrange them inside. You may want to add some holly as well. This colorful display would make a lovely centerpiece for your table.

3. Christmas Card Holder: Here is a creative idea for storing your Holiday cards. Start with an empty Kleenex (or tissue) box, and cut out the top rectangular part of it. Wrap it in Christmas paper, and use it as a Christmas card holder. Decorate it with holly and ivy. Then, attach a ribbon to both ends and you have a beautiful homemade Christmas card basket.

4. Paper Chain: An old standby is to take several different colors of construction paper and cut them in strips. Then attach two ends of the strips together (with a stapler, glue or tape) to form a circle. Continue by looping another cut strip inside that one. When it’s long enough, wrap the chain around your Christmas tree.

5. Candy Chain: While stringing popcorn or beads around a tree is a tried and true tradition, how about using Lifesavers candy? Your kids can choose the color order or even try to make patterns. Use different color twine or ribbons to give it a Candyland touch. Add candy canes as well. Since both candies come in their own wrapping, just use a needle through the Lifesavers wrapping. After the tree is taken down, they can be fun snacks to eat.

Christmas decorations are a great way of expressing the holiday spirit in your home. The kids will love creating them, and be proud to have their art displayed. And, instead of looking like a department store, your home will become a reflection of the family that lives in it.

Are you a sports fan? Why not make a baseball theme tree? Using a white tree, take some white ball ornaments and turn them into baseballs using red paint or red marker.

Add baseball gloves. Place your child’s hand on a piece of cardboard and trace the hand with a pencil. Cut out the cardboard hand prints and insert the cardboard cutouts into small brown gloves. Hang the gloves on the tree using brown wool.

Want to add baseball bats? Use your favorite cookie recipe. Shape the dough into the form of baseball bats. Since the cookies will become brown after baking, there is no need for food color. Tie the bats at the neck with ribbon or wool and hang the bats on the tree. Personalize the bats with the names of your favorite players by writing their names on the bats using melted chocolate and a pastry gun.

Make a tree skirt out of fabric using the colors of your favorite team. For example, let’s say you choose the New York Yankees. Take white fabric and add a black border. Take black fabric and cut out the letters New York Yankees. Sew the letters onto the white fabric. Add sparkles of red to enhance the red ornaments on the tree. Of course, if you prefer, you can use a team logo blanket or sheet you may already have on hand.

Place your favorite team’s logo atop the tree. Again using the New York Yankees logo, follow these steps. Take a piece of cardboard and decorate by painting the colors of the team’s uniform, i.e., black and white pin stripes. Place two holes in the cardboard. Place black wool around the top branch and tie it. Insert each end of the wool from the back of the cardboard through the two holes in the front of the cardboard, and make small knots to hold the cardboard in place.

Or, if that sounds too complex, just hang your team’s hat on top of the tree.

Finally, add red lights to complete this amazing baseball tree. You will have created a unique tree to display in your home.

Here are some ideas to throw the perfect Christmas party at home for your kids.

Prepare and Decorate for the Party
If you are using your basement or family room, add a small decorated tree. Even a tabletop tree or a construction paper tree on the wall will work.

Hang red and green streamers across the ceiling or from one end of a wall to another; and hang a “Merry Christmas” sign on the wall.

Set a table in the corner and place all Christmas paper products and tableware on it. (Christmas tablecloth, napkins, dishes, cups, and plastic flatware)

Before the guests arrive, get out your Christmas CDs and play them until the party is over.

Once the guests have arrived, you are ready for the party to begin.

Activities for your Party

• Play musical chairs, using jingle bells or any Christmas song for the music.
• Play charades. Kids are very animated, and would love this game. Choose Christmas-related words like: gift, Santa, elf, tree, Snowman, etc.
• Play pin the nose on Rudolph
• Play “Santa Says” – a fun Christmas version of “Simon Says” for kids.
• If any child can dance or sing, invite him/or her to give a performance.
• Have a sing-a-long to the Christmas music.
• Play “finish the Christmas story.” Have an adult begin a story about Santa or an Elf, and then ask each child to add a line or two. Once the story is concluded, the story can be printed out by another adult who has been writing down each line. Give each child a copy of the story, and have the kids sign the story as a keepsake.
• For the big finale, have an adult dress up as Santa Claus and hand out Christmas stockings to each child. Ensure the child’s name is on each stocking. Fill the stockings with goodies, such as: candy; small dolls; toys, or whatever is fitting, but inexpensive.
• Take pictures as Santa hands out the presents. Have several copies made for the kids so they will have a lasting memory of the party.

Whatever Christmas party ideas for kids you select, you can be sure that anything you do will not only be appreciated, but will give all the kids an opportunity to have a great time with their friends.

Kids love Christmas crafts. Santa craft ideas for kids are an easy and fun way to spend time with your kids during the holidays. Here are a few ideas to choose from.

Santa Picture:
Let’s begin with Santa pictures. There are a variety of Santa coloring books available during the holidays. Choose a picture from the book. Cut out the picture of Santa, and place the picture in the center of a sheet of white construction paper. Use a glue stick to secure the picture.

Color the picture with crayons. Once the picture is finished, place cotton balls to cover Santa’s beard, and one at the end of his hat. You can even glue black buttons for Santa’s eyes, and a red button for his nose. Decorate the blank area of the white construction paper by drawing candy canes or trees. When the picture is completed, your kids can sign their names directly under the picture. Take a piece of cardboard and glue the picture to it. Place the picture in a frame, and place the frame in a special place in your home for all to see and admire.

Santa Christmas Cards:
Making Santa Christmas cards is another craft idea your kids will enjoy. Take a piece of white construction paper and measure the paper to a size of 5×7 inches. Cut the construction paper to that size. Fold the construction paper in half, either horizontally or vertically. Encourage your children to draw their own version of Santa on the front cover. Use crayons or colored markers. After the picture is finished, your kids can write Christmas messages on the inside of the card. Homemade Christmas cards are wonderful to display in your home or send to relatives and friends.

Make a Santa plate ornament for the Christmas tree:
You’ll need crayons and markers; cotton balls, a dinner-sized paper plate, and color sparkles. Draw Santa, without his red cap, on the plate using the crayons or markers. Add the cotton balls for his beard. You can even glue the cotton balls into a V shape so that Santa’s beard hangs off the plate. The cotton balls can also be used for Santa’s hair, too. Use a blue marker to color in Santa’s eyes, and a black marker to draw Santa’s glasses. Use red food color on a cotton ball to make Santa’s nose. You can color the rim of the plate with red or green and add color sparkles to it. Finally, place the Santa plate on the tree by inserting an ornament hook at the top of the plate.

As you can see, there are so many different ways to involve your kids in creating, making, and decorating Santa Christmas ornaments, pictures, and cards.

Traditional pine Christmas wreaths are quite expensive to buy, and every year the price seems to go up and up. To avoid this expense, here are some simple ways to make a Christmas wreath at home.

For this project you will need a wire; holly; pipe cleaners; candy canes; acorns; can of snow; and Christmas tree branches. Take the wire and form it into a circle. Twist the two ends of the wire around each other to secure the circle. Using Christmas tree branches, tie them around the wire using green pipe cleaners. Add candy canes, holly and acorns to the branches with wire or hot glue gun. Spray the Christmas tree branches with artificial snow. You have just created a beautiful Christmas wreath to hang on your front door.

Another wonderful idea is to make a picture wreath. Purchase a starter wreath form at a craft store (just a simple, undecorated one). Take your favorite family photographs, put a little hole on the top of each picture, and insert different colored ribbon through each hole in the picture. Tie each ribbon to the wreath. Hang the wreath on your front door. Your friends and family will marvel at the creativity used to make this particular Christmas wreath.

One other idea is to make a popcorn wreath with a Christmas picture of your family in the center. Simply take thick thread and string popcorn together. Determining how large you want the wreath to be will enable you to decide how long the popcorn chain will be.
Take a piece of wire, form it into a circle, and secure it at both ends. Double up the popcorn chain. Wrap the popcorn around the wire. Place your Christmas family photo in the center of the wreath.

You can also make animal wreaths using pictures of your pets; Christmas card wreaths; ornament wreaths; candy wreaths, jingle bell wreaths; Christmas ball wreaths; or any kind of themed wreath you desire.

The point is, there are many ways to make a Christmas wreath, and it costs nothing except an imaginative mind and a joyful heart.

Your kids have been asked to bring Christmas treats to their class. Need some tips?
Here are some delicious Christmas treats to send to your kid’s class.

• Homemade gingerbread cookies
• Homemade Christmas cookies, decorated with color icing
• Homemade peanut butter cookies
• Homemade oatmeal raisin cookies
• Bags of homemade meringue cookies, tied with color cellophane and a bow
• Homemade chocolate brownies
• Homemade chocolate fudge
• Homemade chocolate chip cookies
• Homemade chocolate chip cookies with M&M’s
• Homemade Christmas cupcakes decorated with a smiley face
• A homemade Christmas devil’s food cake, decorated with candy canes
• A homemade angel food cake, with vanilla icing and decorated with an angel ornament in the center
• A chocolate cake, with chocolate icing and gummy bears on top
• Bags of candy, wrapped in color cellophane and tied with a bow
• Jelly apples, wrapped in color cellophane and tied with a bow
• A Christmas tin filled with three flavors of popcorn
• A large basket filled with apples, oranges, and different colored lollipops
• Mini black and white cakes (you can find these in most bakeries)
• Muffins, of any kind, placed in a large basket
• A large Christmas can filled with mini boxes of raisins
• Mix Oreo cookies, ginger snaps, and homemade meringue cookies; put the cookies in a Christmas tin. This is definitely a kid-friendly treat.

If you’re really ambitious you can make a gingerbread house, using ingredients and decorations which can be eaten, and surprise your kid’s class with this unique treat.

Combine any of the cookies and candies above as a Christmas treat. Simply put them into a tin or basket and deliver the goodies to school. Or set them on a brightly colored plate and wrap it in cellophane. You could even purchase little stockings, plastic cups or tins for each child and put a handful of treats in each.

There is no denying that kids love treats. Whether the treats are cookies, candies or chocolate, you will put a big smile on their faces with any treat you choose.

Would you like to make a gingerbread house? There are a few options. Either start from scratch, which may take more than a day to complete, or buy a Gingerbread House Kit which includes all of the items you’ll need to build this holiday favorite. Whatever the choice, your kids will have a lot of fun making it. This is a perfect way for them to use their imagination and creativity.

If baking is not your thing, simply go out and buy the kit so that your kids can spend more time decorating it. Putting the house together is pretty simple. Just follow the instructions given in the kit. You will need edible glue to hold the pieces together. Make the glue using this recipe:

1 egg white
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1-2 cups confectioners sugar

Make sure the glue is thick – like glue should be. Put it into a piping gun, and you are set to go.

Once the house is built, you get to start on the fun part. Let the kids pick out what types of candies they want to use to decorate the house, for example, gum drops, M&M’s, candy canes, or cookies.

Here are some more ideas:

• Put some trees in front of the house. How about using pretzel sticks with green candy leaves attached?
• Add food coloring into part of the glue to add color to your gingerbread house. Use the colored glue to outline the windows, roof, and other parts of the house.
• Make gingerbread cookies as people and set them in front or inside of the house. Decorate the gingerbread cookies to give them a more personal touch.
• Perhaps the kids would also want to add a chimney. Use licorice squares.
• Add a gingerbread Santa cookie on the roof.
• Want to add your family pet? Buy animal crackers and place them outside the house.
• Take a graham cracker and pipe on the family name, or the names of the kids who decorated it. That’s a great personal touch.

There are so many ways with which kids can decorate a gingerbread house because their imagination is never-ending. The main thing is to provide the tools and then have fun doing it. Whether it is a small, medium or large gingerbread house, the possibilities are endless. Not only will they have fun, but it will be a learning experience as well. Be sure to take lots of pictures!

It’s the Christmas holidays, and you decide to invite your friends over for a Christmas party. Here are some great Christmas party ideas for adults.

Light the fireplace; put on your favorite Christmas CD; hang mistletoe in every doorway, and you are ready to begin. Depending on how many friends you have invited, you will either choose a sit-down dinner or a buffet. Most often, buffet is the method of choice. Don’t forget to write on your invitations: “Bring a Dish to Share.”

What Will You Serve for the Buffet?
You can order a 12 foot sub or hero of your choice. Either hot or cold, it will be enough to serve all your guests. Or, you can make your own dish and invite everyone else to bring something special, as well. Some examples of popular side dishes are: pigs in a blanket; stuffed mushrooms; chicken rolls, or bite-sized cheese puffs which come in a variety of flavors, as well as knishes. Have an assorted array of wines, colas, water, and of course, eggnog.

How Will You Serve the Buffet?
Set up a separate table in your dining room or living room. Place all of the foods on the table. Add Christmas paper plates, napkins, and your good flatware at the beginning of the table. This way, your guests can take a paper dish, napkin and utensil and proceed directly to the food. Tip: This makes cleaning up easier for you, too.

Decorate your dining room table. Here are some suggestions: Choose a solid color tablecloth; red, green or white. Add Christmas placemats at each setting. As a centerpiece, fill a crystal bowl with Christmas balls. Next to the centerpiece, place two Christmas candles. To make your tablecloth stand out, pin garland around the bottom of the tablecloth.

What Party Games Can You Play?
After the buffet and dessert, it’s time for some party games. Adults may enjoy charades or a Christmas sing-a-long. Or you could play musical chairs with a twist. Have the men get down on one knee, while the women walk around them to the tune of jingle bells. When the music stops, each woman has to sit on a man’s knee. This game is so much fun, that your guests will laugh until they cry.

Finally, Christmas isn’t Christmas without Santa. Pre-arrange someone to dress up as a Santa villain. Have him wear a wig and a mustache that turns up to his nose. He could give away gag gifts, or anything that’s funny and appropriate. This is sure to be a Christmas party idea for adults that will be long remembered.