Christmas in July 2021 bonus

[sweetpumkinpye]

2020 was a tough year for us all. One of the things that I tried to do last year was to share experiences with my family. We really enjoyed this new tradition and I hope that some of the suggestions below appeal to you.

25 days of Christmas.

1 Start advent calendar
2 Donate to a charity
3 Cheese and crackers for dinner
4 Family movie night
5 Decorate the tree
6 Send Christmas cards
7 Sing a carol or two
8 Write to Santa
9 Read a book
10 Bake cookies
11 Homemade pizza night (try a dessert pizza)
12 Nibble on a candy cane
13 Cuddle on the couch
14 Milkshakes for dinner
15 Play a game
16 Drive and see the lights
17 Wrap presents
18 Dinner outside (it's warm here)
19 Listen to music
20 Sit and watch the lights
21 Open Christmas cards
22 Drink hot chocolate
23 Family photo in front of the tree
24 Christmas Eve basket
25 Merry Christmas.

 

[ChristmasPir8]

Great list

 

[Holiday_Mom]

Katrina, I like this idea a lot. I tried some of them last year but then we were dealing with so many other things, I didn't finish the 25 days. I would like to try this again this year.

 

[sweetpumkinpye]

Katrina, I like this idea a lot. I tried some of them last year but then we were dealing with so many other things, I didn't finish the 25 days. I would like to try this again this year.

We loved this last year. None of these items with the exception of driving to see the lights occurred outside the home so we were perfectly Covid safe. For the food ideas (like milkshake night) we had the ingredients at home or they were items that we had no problem finding in the stores. It was a totally easy activity to organise and we loved every one.
I have looked at my calendar for this year and we are using the exact same activities from last year, we are just changing the order in which we do them. I will have to think of different activities for next year just to change them up so am looking for new ideas.
Hopefully will be Covid free so will add activities like shop at the mall, walk the neighbourhood, go ice skating, things like that.

 

[Miss JoDee]

I made a list last year for DH and I to do
1 Shop for Blessing Bag items
2 Start reading a Christmas book
3 Trip to Farm and Fleet to get candies and nuts
4 Hallmark Movie Night
5 Candlelight Carols (TV broadcast due to Covid-19)
6 Start a Christmas Puzzle
7 Continue reading Christmas book
8 Puzzle work
9 Bake a few cookies
10 Play card or table games
11 Hallmark Movie Night
12 Vist Botanic Gardens
13 ?
14 Go for walk in neighborhood
15 Go out for early dinner
16 Shop for each other
17 String popcorn for bushes outside
18 Hallmark Movie Night
19 Prepare games for family Christmas
20 Evening of Christmas lights and music
21 Make food gifts
22 Deliver food gifts
23 Pizza for dinner watch Die Hard
24 Village Church of Gurnee Christmas Eve servie (on Youtube)
25 Watch a favorite movie
26 Clean up and prepare for family
27 Celebrate my birthday
28 Make food ahead for family Christmas
29 ? Family here?
30 ? Family here?
31 Family Christmas get together. Food, Fun and gift giving.
Our Christmas will go like this again this year. E.specially since we didn't get together in 2020. Oh, Hallmark movie night will move to Saturday nights because that night the new ones are released.

 

[sweetpumkinpye]

Jody, thank you for sharing. Some wonderful ideas that I can add to next years list. I love the idea of doing a puzzle.

Can you explain a bit about Blessing bags please?

 

[Miss JoDee]

It a bag for homeless with hat gloves personal items, rain poncho, first aid items etc. I do not put in food. I read some articles on Pinterest saying not to put in food. The bags can be worn like a backpack.

 

[Holiday_Mom]

Here's the list that I came up for the family this year. I will let people know that this is happening after dinner and whoever is available to join would be most welcomed. I may end up changing the dates of the activities but it's a start.

25 days of Christmas

1 Start advent calendar
2 Put up the Nativity Set
3 Indoor Picnic - Grilled Cheese sandwiches cooked in the Living Room fireplace
4 Family movie night - The Grinch
5 Donate to a charity
6 Send Christmas cards
7 Read a Christmas book
8 Write to Santa
9 Bake cookies - Springerle
10 Eggnog ice cream for dinner
11 Play a Christmas game
12 Bake Gingerbread cookies
13 Family Movie Night - Rankin/Bass Christmas Shows (Rudolph, etc)
14 Read a Christmas magazine
15 Sing a carol or two
16 Drive and see the lights
17 Indoor Picnic - Hot Dogs cooked in the Living Room fireplace
18 Wrap presents
19 Christmas Brunch with siblings
20 Drink hot chocolate
21 Open Christmas cards
22 Sleep by the Christmas tree
23 Family photo in front of the tree
24 Christmas Eve Mass
25 Open Christmas Gifts

 

[sweetpumkinpye]

It a bag for homeless with hat gloves personal items, rain poncho, first aid items etc. I do not put in food. I read some articles on Pinterest saying not to put in food. The bags can be worn like a backpack.

Wonderful. Mum and I do something very similar here to donate to the local church. We put in toothbrush and paste, deodorant, socks, a little pack of tissues, a comb, antibacterial wipes or hand sanitiser. We put the items in a ziploc bag.
I like the idea of the rain poncho, I think I will add that to next years list. TFS.

 

[sweetpumkinpye]

Mary, love the idea of an indoor picnic. I can add picnic dinner by the lake as one of my activities. We have a very big lake around 5 minutes drive from our house. We could all meet there after work and have picnic dinner.....wonderful.