I was been working hard on the kitchen, my youngest was off school with a cold, and then we had houseguests for a week (bliss). As a result this is a post that covers several weeks activity.
Here is what’s bought and done;
Christmas stocking presents for my girls
Just various things to paint with, notebooks, decorative hole punches, glitter, hair things….anything small really. These are bought, but not wrapped and, as we are on a two week school vacation, I won’t be able to do them until the children are back at school.
This is mainly because my girls know that mummy and daddy buy and wrap gifts for others, so if they were found whilst wrapped it wouldn’t be the end of the world. However if the wrapped Father Christmas gifts were found it would be a bit revealing. I have them wrapped in a different, more distinctive style – so it would kind of give the game away.
Make up gifts
My oldest girl is about to go to middle school, so I wanted something a bit more grown up for her. So I got her a little set of toiletries and some make up and brushes to play with, but only when she’s inside playing dress up (insert firm, Mum voice here).
For my younger daughter I got a light up unicorn that you decorate as a Little ‘un equivalent.
These have all been wrapped.
Craft things
Lots of painting canvases and colouring books. These are my little presents and I’ve wrapped them.
Saint Nicholas gifts
Each year, as we’re, we celebrate the feast of Saint Nicholas on 6th December. I always give the girls a little gift from the Saint himself and this year I chose Christmas crafts, because I can keep them entertained between now and the big day.
These are wrapped too.
Along with the gifts they always get a large chocolate Father Christmas, with a large candy cane sellotaped to him as a crozier and some gold chocolate coins. These all represent the Saint himself and his works and have been bought and stored away.
Gifts for family and friends that are visiting but who live in Blighty.
These gifts have been bought, wrapped and gone home with them.
Christmas Cake made
Whilst our house guests were here we made our family Christmas cake recipe which includes chocolate and port. In fact we made two, one for them to take home. The whole house smelled of cinnamon. It was delicious.
I’m kind of feeling that the ‘early’ part of this title feels a bit redundant now. How are your festive preparations going?
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