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

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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!

Christmas Homeschool Ideas

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Christmas is full of amazing possibilities for homeschool. Since we are less than two weeks out, however, I imagine that you (like me) are looking for easy ideas that don’t require a lot of preparation. The good news is that the internet is full of resources to help! So, I will do my best to share a few of them here, along with a little of what our family has done in the past. 

First of all, one of my favorite units to do in the week(s) leading up to Christmas is to explore what Christmas looks like in different places.ornaments pic This can be as simple or elaborate as you would like it to be. There have been years that we have spent weeks on this: the older kids research the traditions and celebrations in other countries, present what they have learned (which I supplement as I am able with videos, additional information, etc.) and then we do some of the activities. We have created beautiful ornaments (seen in the pic at the right), eaten yummy food, and had a lot of fun doing this together. Unfortunately, while years ago I discovered a website that had great resources for a unit like this, it is no longer available on-line. The good news is that there are many other options easily available (both free & those with a cost). Here are a few I found with a quick search:

I also recommend looking at your local library for free resources!

A variation of the above idea is to learn about how Christmas was celebrated in history or in different regions of America. 

Other Ideas:

There are also many coloring sheets, word finds, crossword puzzles, and more for you to discover! Even a quick search can help you to find some resources to make the week(s) before Christmas special. One other activity I love is to do a few different writing prompts for creative writing. 

Writing Prompts: 

  • Write about your favorite Christmas time traditions
  • What is the favorite gift you have ever given to someone? What is the favorite gift you have received?
  • Imagine what the first Christmas would have been like. Describe it. 
  • Write the synopsis for a new Christmas movie. 

Story Starters:

  • “The elves were all hard at work in the workshop with last minute Christmas preparations, when suddenly a loud noise startled them…”
  • “We were all excited when it started to snow on Christmas! But, when New Year’s came and it was still snowing…”
  • “Our family was just about to sit down to Christmas dinner when our door opened and in burst a family we had never seen before. ’Hello! We’re here! Merry Christmas!’they greeted us warmly, as they took their jackets off, put down packages, and started to make themselves at home…”
  • “It was a night like all others. I was out with the sheep, keeping watch. I was feeling a little sleepy, actually. Then, suddenly…”

If you’d like, you can use the following pages for Christmas themed stories. There is also one that can be used to make a Christmas acrostic poem. 

Christmas Acrostic

Nativity Writing Paper

Reindeer Writing Paper

Snowman Writing Paper

Tree Writing Paper

There are so many more possibilities, but I hope this sparks some fun ideas for you and your kids. Christmas is a special time, so no matter what you end up doing in the days leading up to it, I hope it is filled with joy, connection, and peace!

Merry Christmas!!

Christmas Movie Favorites

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Movies add a lot of Christmas cheer around our home. Some we gather everyone together to watch (sometimes with a special treat), others we simply play in the background as we cook, etc. Either way, they feel like familiar friends we see around Christmas & the Holidays just don’t  seem complete without them. Here’s our list (with our favorites in bold):

For younger kids:

Once  Upon a Christmas (Mickey Mouse)

Twice Upon a Christmas (Mickey Mouse)

The Toy That Saved Christmas

The Star of Christmas

Merry Larry & the True Light of Christmas

Saint Nicholas – A Story of Joyful Giving

Family Movies:

Charlie Brown Christmas

The Grinch (full length animated)

Klaus

Arthur Christmas

The Muppets Christmas Carol

The Santa Clause

Elf

Classics:

Shop around the Corner

Christmas in Connecticut

White Christmas

Miracle on 31st Street

A Christmas Story

The Original Grinch

Rudolph

Frosty the Snowman

Other:

Phineas & Ferb Christmas

Noel

The Santa Clause 2 & 3

The Prep & Landing Movies

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

*Polar Express: We watch this every year as a family. We have tickets for everyone to “get on the train”, we serve hot chocolate when they have it, and it’s a lot of fun. However, we also skip one or two parts that are a bit scary & not necessary for the overall plot.

The time after Christmas & before school starts again is also a great time to watch The Sound of Music. Plus, the Anne of Green Gables movies are a must for some of our family on or around New Year’s Eve while we do a puzzle, have fun snacks, etc.

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. 

The “Magic” of Christmas Earrings

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I bought these earrings on an impulse. (I mean, can you even plan for such a thing? 😂) Well, actually my hubby did. ❤️We were running a quick errand & they caught my eye. Instant love. I mean, obviously. Who could resist such magic? 😉 But, silly as they are, they have a deeper meaning for me.

See, I had was aware that our home was in need of a little extra joy. Some sparkle, if you will. Though I am more aware than ever about how much we have to be thankful for, this year has been tough for everyone—even homeschool families.  I knew a couple of my kids in particular were feeling the strain of it & missing their friends, the freedom of life “prepandemic”, etc. Plus, I don’t know anyone who isn’t ready to see 2020 behind us! So, I had already resolved to really embrace & enjoy this holiday season, which is why the earrings really captured my attention in the first place. But, I didn’t realize how much they would come to mean to me. 

The earrings are ridiculous, of course. But,they have actually made an impact in my home. Each time I wear them, I tell the kids to get ready for a great day, because how can any day with Santa Clause earrings not contain some extra Christmas “magic”. The amazing thing is that because of this, these silly earrings are a tangible reminder to me to: Choose Joy. Enjoy the “small” moments. Carry a song in my heart. (And often on my lips.) Create some fun. Etc. So, in a way, they really have become “magical”! 

Now, you are probably wishing you had magical Christmas earrings too (check at Target, if they no longer have them I’m sure you can find plenty of other “magical” items😉😂). But, as you know, it isn’t really the earrings that are magical. It is the heart posture. See, life is made up of big & small moments. The magic of Christmas earrings won’t go a long way during the big moments. The good ones don’t need them and the hard ones? Well, there is no “magic” that makes those easier. A pair of silly earrings do nothing in the face of having to say goodbye to a loved one, losing your job, facing health issues, the breakup of a relationship, etc.  Instead, during those moments it is often only the grace of God & the support of people that get you through. But, most moments in life aren’t “big”. Instead, life is primarily made up of small moments. And, thankfully, those moments are transformed by this type of “magic”. 

Cleaning up after dinner becomes a different experience when your family does it together, while singing & dancing along to Christmas music. Laundry is actually a peaceful, soothing experience when it is done with a song in your heart & a twinkle in your eye. A night is transformed when you put the “to do” list aside & call a friend.  I could go on, but you get my point. There are endless small moments that stretch before us each day. By choosing joy, our lives themselves become more “magical”.