Ellie and I made Christmas pictures and Christmas cards today! Such fun.

We used some scrapbook card, that we had laying around from past projects. This worked so well as a nice sky background. Ellie wanted to make a Christmas tree picture, so that's exactly what we did. We used a cookie cutter and dipped that in green paint. That gave us a nice Christmas tree template. Then Ellie painted the inside green. And painted some snow on the ground. We waited for it to dry before decorating the trees, it didn't take long to dry.

Ellie's (aged 6) snow man card

It's not very often that I buy children's magazines for my kiddies to be honest. I think they're way over priced and the plastic toy usually last no longer than a day. However, there are occasions I do buy them, like when the kids are sick and in need of cheering up, or if we're going on a really long journey. I love that kids magazines have little word searches and puzzles that keep mine entertained for a few minutes. Along with some short stories. Sometimes the kids will ask if they can spend there pocket money on the latest magazine, especially if they come with a pack of the latest cards that are the new 'collectibles' or stickers. Oh my kiddies do love stickers! Of course, it's up to them what they spend it on... My grandparents sometimes buy them a magazine, too!
After a while though (and that's usually a very short while) they get bored with there magazine and toss them to one side. We end up with a small stack of magazines and no idea what to really do with them because the kids NEVER want me to throw them away "We'll look at them again one day" they always protest. Me, knowing full well that they won't. They like to hoard stuff (no idea where they get it from. Honest, lol!) They do like to 'recycle' them though, in a fun way. We cut out the pictures and make a bigger picture with them, adding in paints and glitter and any stickers we have left over:

I've been feeling a little rundown lately. I don't know if it's because I'm coming down with something or because I am so stressed! The holiday season can be rather stressful can't it?! I don't know why I'm stressing about it really, everything is almost brought, plans are in place... but still I stress! Charlie has changed his mind about wanting a bike now and wants a mini remote control helicopter (??) instead but it's too late "Santa" already brought his bike. I really hope he won't be disappointed. I think once he's opened it, he'll be okay, especially as El and H have also got a new bike, they'll be able to play together on them, right? Someone please tell me it'll be ok, lol!
I'd really like to take the kids to see Santa next week, I just hope that there's somewhere around here that actually has a Santas grotto, usually they'd see him at a Christmas fare but there doesn't even seem to be any of those on. Perhaps it's still too soon to be thinking of things like that though? Why am I SO anxious about it all?! Ugh. I feel under pressure and I shouldn't because there's nothing to be "pressured" into. I don't know! Maybe I just need a goods nights kip, lol.



Charlie was off school today as he was poorly last night, some kind of tummy bug. He's better now though, thank goodness!
El is really, really excited about her Christmas performance tomorrow and Friday! I am too. I can only go to the Friday one but I am really looking forward to it!
H is doing good, too! He won a prize (an Olympics key ring thingy) for making the best Christmas card in his class. He used so much glitter, I'm still finding it in the bottom of his bag and book bag a week later LOL! We do love glitter in this house, hehe.

I'm not sure if I wrote about our Christmas crafts, we've been making salt dough ornaments and clear baubles filling with glitter (and perhaps chocolates when we make some of XMAS eve). It's really good fun! What kind of things do you make around Christmas time? I'd love some ideas!! I'm not good at baking, I wish I was. I even manage to mess up those pre-packaged ingredients/cookies/cakes LOL (don't ask how, I have no idea!)

Sarah xXx