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December 1st
24 Days Until Christmas
Isn't it Christmas YET,
Mom?
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This issue is sponsored by:
http://www.letter-from-santa-claus.com - Order a Letter from
Santa. It's not too late. Grab one today!
Christmas Craft of the Day
Make a Gingerbread House
It's still early enough to buy a Gingerbread house kit and build
a Gingerbread house with your kids. This easy craft can be done with
children as young as 2 years old. Mom just has to do most of the
building and the little fingers get to help with the decorating
part.
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!
Easy Christmas Snack or Recipe
brought to you by
DineWithoutWhine
Hot Chocolate
Ingredients:
4 cups milk
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
¼ cup sugar
¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Whipped cream and/or miniature marshmallows
Directions:
In a large saucepan, combine milk, cocoa powder and sugar. Place
over medium heat and bring to a simmer, whisking constantly. Stir in
the chocolate chips, remove from heat, and whisk until the chips are
completely melted and the hot chocolate is frothy.
Pour into 4 mugs and top with whipped cream, miniature marshmallows
or both!
The Perfect Gift Try it FREE!
Christmas Tradition
Advent Calendar
Do you have an advent calendar for your children to open each day
to countdown to Christmas? If not, you can find them at places like
Walmart, Target or Hallmark. I looked forward to opening mine each
year -- and now I share that same treat with my kids.
Christmas Gift Ideas
We've put together some Christmas
Gift Ideas. Hope you enjoy them!
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