Elf Mischief

In my explorations of Christmas activities on Pinterest (fun!) I came across "The Elf on the Shelf" and ordered one immediately! He is so cute, so mischievous and so lovable. I love his cupie-doll face, with such a winning smile. I must admit, it is hard thinking up new ideas for Alfie each night, but it's definitely worth it and I've copied lots of other people's!

Here are a few favourites:

toilet papering the tree;

replacing carefully hung stockings with undies;

a trail of lolly wrappers leading to...

a lollipop thief;

and a very tired Alfie next to Jimmy's bed in the morning.

Gingerbread Houses

Our kind friend and neighbour, Nora, knows how to put on a party! After enjoying Coco's third birthday, the children all received a gingerbread house kit instead of the usual party bag. Great idea, Nora. We had a fun day building ... and eating...these yummy houses. I didn't harbour expectations of success, but they actually worked well! I think having the air conditioner on helped!

(I believe the kits were from Ikea.)

More Adventing...Christmas Wreath

Today we made a truly Australian wreath which we all love.

It is made of Bottle-Brush, whose weeping branches lent themselves beautifully to being woven.
We simply wound them around a coat-hanger we'd bent into a circle. It was very pleasant to sit outside in the breeze, under the Bottle-Brush tree, making something pretty with my boys.

I especially enjoyed watching their concentration as they persisted with threading baubles and tying knots. Jimmy created his own extension activity: decorating Matt's trailer for him.

Another lovely plant for our Australian Christmas is the Beach Cherry, a pretty little bush with gorgeous red sweet-tasting berries. Ours has been fruiting well all December and we've been enjoying the little treats hidden in its branches.

Wishing you many sweet treats!

Gingerbread House Graph

Here's a nice little morning which carries on the gingerbread theme for Advent. First we read Hansel and Gretel, not really a Christmas story, but hey, it's the gingerbread house part we're after. 

Then we did this fun activity . You print off the sheets, decorate the gingerbread houses with Fruit Loops, then graph them. Then eat them. Gasp! My kids have been starting every day with sweets and then managing to squeeze several more in between then and bedtime. I am trying not to panic ;0)

Adventing Along...

 Felt and button trees

 Christmas activity books

Glitter pine cones

See you soon!

Gingerbread

And so! To some more Adventing! This time, gingerbread.

Tamara's veeerrry sticky pepparkarkor dough became transformed through our artistry.....

into deliciously varied gingerbread people!

I think you can guess whose is whose!

Just like the wily old fox, we gobbled them up.

Then we played this fun gingerbread man game!

Advent Activities are Underway!

 Advent has begun and the stockings are hung, with a little surprise hidden in each one!

 

Here are some of our activities. I will endeavour to keep up with blogging these through the Advent period, but if you would like some more activity ideas, check here on my Pinterest Christmas board. I am trying to embrace our Summer Christmas, so you definitely won't find any snowmen, but there are a few starfish, shells, cocktail umbrellas and gum leaves in there! Karen is a lovely lady who is also striving to create an authentic Summer/Australian Christmas and she has some beautiful ideas here. Anyway....

 Christmas tree Maths: you can do this as a winning game or just for fun. Also great for fine motor skills.

Christmas Tree playdough - a winner!

 I get so much pleasure from observing the concentration and creativity going on here.

 A slightly nasty-looking creation inspired by the playdough tree...ouch...

 Kinda cool though  ;0)

Back soon with more Advent activities!