A Joy Filled Home

By Nicole VanGelder

12 Days of Christmas Family Fun–Christmas Minnie/Mickey Oreos

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Christmas Oreos2

 

 

 

 

 

Our family loves Disney World. We have a dream of someday experiencing it during the Christmas Season. In the meantime, we have fun with Disney inspired Christmas Fun like these Minnie/Mickey Oreos.

Ingredients

  • Double Stuf Oreos
  • Mini Oreos
  • White Frosting
  • Red Candy Melt
  • Candy Bows (found on Amazon or specialty stores)
  • Sprinkles / Other Christmas Decorations

Instructions

  • Open and remove the middle from a handful of mini Oreos (or, open them and eat the half that has filling and save the other side for use)
  • Then put the plain mini cookie inside the top of the of a double stuff Oreo to make ears. You can use frosting as “glue” to help secure the ears if you would like.
  • Melt the candy melt as directed so it is ready for use.
  • Dip one half of your Minnie or Mickey (the Double Stuff with the ears attached) into the melted candy. I recommend using wax paper to create a place for the dipped cookie to dry/harden. 
  • If you are making Minnie, add a candy bow by “gluing” it on with the frosting. Decorate with sprinkles and other decorations of your choice. 

Note: These were not originally my idea. I saw them somewhere (I think on-line) years ago. 

12 Days of Family Fun — Complete List

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Christmas is almost here! But, it isn’t too late to create some special family time before it comes. No matter if you use the ideas below or find some of your own, I highly encourage you to take the time to do so. You will find your heart more connected to each other and the season, if you do! Note: More info on some of these can be found on our social media accounts. 

Day One: Watch Klaus with Carmel Puffcorn 

Find the list of other recommended Christmas movies here. 

Caramel Puffcorn recipe can be found on our Instagram Stories here. 

Day Two: Secret Santa (more info here)

This is something our kids do each year, but you could do it with a group of friends, extended family, etc. You can do it ahead of time & exchange gifts on Christmas, or you can do a fun shopping trip together: Everyone splits up & looks for a gift within a specific price range. You meet back together (at a restaurant to share a meal, if possible!) and exchange gifts.

Day Three: Homeschool Activities 

Learn how other countries celebrate Christmas, do a creative writing assignment, and more ideas can be found here. 

Day Four: Practice Generosity (find out more here)

There are many ways to practice generosity over the holidays: both by giving to organizations that help others & by giving to those around you as opportunity arises. And, generosity doesn’t have to be reserved for only those “in need”. Everyone benefits from kindness! It is also important to develop the habit of generosity all year long. However, some simple ideas that you still have time to do this year: donate (good food!) to a local food shelf; make a special treat & deliver it to your neighbors; call a local nursing home or hospital & find out if there is something you can contribute (covid restrictions have changed what is possible in some situations); and/or contribute financially to an organization that provides a Christmas meal to those who woolen’t otherwise have one (one option in the twin cities is Union Gospel Mission—www.ugmtc.org). 

Day Five: Make a Gingerbread House

At one time, I made a homemade Gingerbread train that had train cars that could be filled with treats. It was a lot of fun, but also a lot of work. And, honestly, it was not the easiest project for our kids to help with. So, when my husband had the brilliant idea to buy one of those kits that had everything you needed for a gingerbread house, ready for you to assemble ti, I only pushed back a little. And in the ensuing years it has become a special tradition—that is relaxing & fun!—that our kids look forward to. You can buy kits at most grocery & “big box” stores.

Day Six: Make Mickey & Minnie Christmas Oreos

Christmas Oreos2

christmas oreos

 

 

 

 

Find instructions here.

Day Seven: Make/Decorate a Felt Tree

For younger kids especially, it can be a lot of fun to decorate a large felt tree. These are available for sale on-line. However, another option that can be fun for older kids too is to create your own. Simply buy felt in green & brown to make a felt tree out of, plus other colors to create ornaments. Begin by cutting the green felt into a tree form (this can be as simple as a triange, if you’d like) then add a small square of brown on the bottom to be the stump. (I recommend using “Tacky Glue” or hot glue for this part.) Kids can then create ornaments for the tree with the remaining felt. While you can use velcro to secure the ornaments to the tree, it is not really necessary as the felt will stick together even without that pretty well. 

Day Eight: Grab some hot chocolate & go see some lights.

There is something so special about seeing houses, etc. all dressed up for Christmas. So, wait for it to get dark & go out as a family to see them. You can even have kids in pjs & all snuggled up & ready for bed upon your return. Doing it past bedtime helps to make it feel extra special, but since it gets dark so early in the winter, you can do it fairly early if you prefer. It is also fun to bring some hot chocolate along for the experience, too. Note: Often social media like the Nextdoor App will have recommendations for where to go and see lights in your area. 

Day Nine: Make Christmas Pancakes

Reindeer Pancake

Santa Panckae

Snowman Pancake

 

 

 

 

Using ingredients like pancakes, whip cream, chocolate chips, and fruit like strawberries you can make special Christmas themed pancakes. See pictures for examples of ones we’ve done. I highly recommend making homemade buttermilk pancakes to use for extra deliciousness, but it is not necessary. Note: I got this & the Minnie/Mickey Oreos ideas years ago on-line, but no longer know where the original ideas came from. 

 Day Ten: Christmas Shopping — with some extra blingChristmas Bling

Christmas shopping doesn’t have to be a chore. Make it fun! Add some extra bling and fun to keep the spirits light. On top of actual bling (see pics) you can make this time special by stopping for lunch out or a special treat. You could also create a scavenger hunt of sorts, keeping your eyes open to see how many Christmas sweaters you can find, which store has the longest line, the most packages you see someone carrying, etc. Small things can help you remain present in the moment and add special fun to you time.

Day Eleven: Read a Special Book

There are a lot of fun Christmas Themed books & many are available at your local library. But, a few that are more difficult to find there include: 

  • Red Ranger Came Calling by:Berkeley Breathed
  • Great Joy by Kate DiCamillo
  • Jacob’s Gift by Max Lucado
  • Santa’s Sleigh is on its way to MN by Eric James
  • Olaf’s Night Before Christmas by Disney Press
  • The Three Gifts of Christmas by Jennie Bishop

Day Twelve: Read the Christmas Story as a Family

No matter when or how (or what version you use), take the time to read the Christmas Story as a family. Yes, it is a familiar story. Yes, it might feel awkward if you haven’t done it before. Yes, the kids might get antsy. But, it will be worth it! Taking the time to remember & treasure the first Christmas—and invite Jesus to be a part of this Christmas—is invaluable. I recommend reading the account found in the Luke: 1:26-38 & 2:1-20. (The account of the Magi or wise men is found in Matthew 2, if you would like to include that.) 

12 Days of Christmas Family Fun: Giving

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I used to be concerned with how much stuff my kids would accumulate over Christmas. The problem (in my eyes) was that their grandparents spoiled them! And, Jamey & I wanted in on the fun of giving gifts, too! By the time Christmas was over, the amount of gifts was quite staggering. How could I ever raise kids that are generous, thankful and good stewards of what they have been given in circumstances like these?

I do think these are important values to raise my kids with. But, over time, I have realized that my concerns are misplaced. I wanted to limit something in order for something else to grow. And that isn’t how it works. No matter what your circumstances—plenty or want, good times or bad—you need to purposely cultivate the character you would like to produce. And a good place to start is by cultivating it in your life, too! That way you and your family are on the journey together. And at the end of it there will be authentic, tangible results. 

At Christmas—and all the time—it is important to cultivate generosity towards others! This included people both inside and outside of your home. It encompasses finances, certainly. But, it also is much bigger. It is about respect and kindness, humility and thankfulness. There are so many things to be said on this topic! But, for the sake of this short blog, I will only be concentrating on a couple practical things that are mainly financial in nature. Please know that generosity in finances is important, but (in my opinion) it is possible to give financially without actually being generous of heart, which misses much of the point. Cultivating a generous and kind heart in ourselves and our children is a lifelong mission, not just a Christmas time activity. 

With that said, here are some practical ways to practice generosity: 

  1. Teach your kids to share.

Obviously, I know. But, this is a skill that needs to be developed. It is not always easy to share! It is not particularly easy to share the things most precious to us or when things are demanded of us. Teaching our kids to share and be generous even when they don’t feel like it, is important. (This extends beyond sharing stuff into sharing time, skill, care, etc.)

  1. Don’t be concerned with “fair”.

We tell our children that we aren’t concerned about life being fair and they shouldn’t be either. Instead, we will treat everyone well. It isn’t possible to do both because inevitably what is good for one child isn’t for another. Opportunities are are not always equal or controllable. So, instead of worrying about fair—how many gifts each child gets, for example—we will do our best to treat everyone well. 

  1. Give “as you go” / when the opportunity presents itself. 

We make it a habit to keep money, gift cards, necessities with us as we go places and as we see people in need, we freely give it. If possible we pray with the person or offer a kind word as well, but no matter what it is important to treat people with value! There is no need for judgement and kindness is the rule. This also shouldn’t be treated as a big deal, either. It is simply treating others the way we want to be treated. 

  1. Give gifts of love. 

These can be small. They don’t need to be expensive. They can be handmade—treats, cards, pictures, etc. Several times around different holidays the kids and I have put together small care packages for friends and neighbors. Sometimes it is a homemade treat. Other times it is small gifts we have purchased (a favorite card game, for example). Every time it is planned and prepared with love. A token to say, “We are thankful for you! Thank you for being in our lives.” We drive around and deliver them, usually as a surprise, and it is so much fun for all of us!

  1. Give intentionally to causes & organizations you care about. 

There are so many options out there that it can be overwhelming! But, the good news is that there are a lot of great options—from large organizations (like charitywater) to small single person run businesses (like Red Moon Weaving), you don’t need to have a large budget to contribute in significant ways. We give our kids the opportunity to give, but even when they are unable to contribute financially, I occasionally mention different organizations we support financially so that our children a) feel like they are a part of it (because they are!) and, b) as a part of helping our kids learn healthy financial habits. 

No matter your philosophy around gifts this Christmas, generosity is important all year long. Blessings to you and your family as you practice it together!

12 Days of Christmas Family Fun – Secret Santa

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One of our family traditions during Christmas is that our kids do a “Secret Santa” with each other. We put each child’s name in a hat & they take turns drawing names.

The rules:

  1. They can’t tell anyone who they have, except mom & dad. (We keep a master list in case anyone forgets, too.)
  2. There is a minimum amount they must spend. Mom & Dad contribute to this, too. (The amount depends on age, as the younger kids don’t have jobs or the same ability to make money.) We don’t set a maximum amount, however. 
  3. You can also buy gifts for other siblings, if you want. Some years a child or two will buy a small gift for everyone, some kids make things. It depends on the year. There is no pressure to do this, but we also don’t limit their generosity either! Some kids LOVE giving gifts & it is important to them to do so. Other times a child will want to give a gift related to a special moment or connection they have with a sibling, even though that sibling is not their “Secret Santa”. We are okay with this. Our concern is that all in our home are treated very well, so we are not concerned with being “fair”.
  4. Even our youngest children participate (though mom & dad do most of the work when they are quite young).

We also create a list together of gift ideas with a reasonable price range & then we find a day (or two) to shop together! This is always so much fun!! While we go together as a large group, we split up when necessary to make secret purchases, etc. It seems like it would be difficult to do this & keep our secrets, but everyone does a good job of not paying too much attention to what others are doing & instead concentrating on their own mission of finding a gift for their assigned person.

I love this tradition because we have a lot of fun doing it, but also because it draws our kids’ hearts towards each other as they excitedly plan good surprises for one another. It also leaves them with treasured gifts & memories.