Friday, June 20, 2008 Just Do It. A few ladies have thought our family tradition of Mid Winter Christmas is a good idea & they will tuck it away for next year.... However I want to encourage you to just do it. It doesn't have to be fancy - often the simplest things in life are the best. A few ideas.... Have a 3 course winter feast, - a soup, roast chicken & veges & a desert - even an apple pie. Most of us will have these supplies in the home or can make it pretty inexpensively. Trim it up with serving the roast chicken with a jar or cranberry sauce - do put it onto a nice plate. Put your gravy into a gravy boat. Set your table nicely - kids can do this - they love getting out the fancy linen & silver - they even like cleaning the sliver. - And No it doesn't have to be perfect - just make sure you wash off all the silvo from their attempts. Let the kids make place names. Buy some sparkling grape juice & let the kids drink out of wine glasses (they like this when young) Let the kids collect pinecones & decorate a table centre. Let the kids make paper snowflakes to decorate. Have your fire roaring & Christmas carols blaring. - Maybe a bag of marshmellows to roast over the open fire. Finish the feast off with a family board game. make some Mulled Apple Juice Boil together 300ml water, 1/2 cup sugar & 1 cinnamon stick until sugar has dissolved. Add 2 sliced lemons & simmer for 10 mins Pour in 2 litres of apple juice & heat through. Or put all into a crockpot & let it simmer on low all day - smells & tastes yummy. A nice not that expensive first course is a can of water chestnuts, wrap a bit of bacon around each chestnut & secure with a toothpick. Bake in oven until cooked & then have plum sauce to dip into - kids & grown ups like these. The main thing is to have fun & make memories with your family. • Post A Comment! • Send to a Friend! Comments Friday, June 20, 2008 - Untitled Comment Posted by Citygal Ok - I might try and drag myself out of bed and try it. Doing marshmellows over our fire inside is a good idea, and even though I can't stand the smell of chicken cooking at the moment, this might work, and I can definitely get out the grape juice and the silver and the Christmas music. My little helper goes home on Tuesday too, so it might be a nice way to finish off her visit, and I will get a game out to play with the kids. You are so great at all these creative ideas. Thanks for spurring me on. I'll let you know how we get on. I have one boy in isolation this morning as he was up in the night threatening vomitting and there is that awful tummy bug going around which is something we definitely do NOT need (one person vomitting in this household is enough)! If he's all clear by lunchtime I'll go ahead with plans for tomorrow. Rachel L • Permanent Link Friday, June 20, 2008 - Good On you Posted by TheGoodLife Keep it simple!!! Get the kids involved - they will love setting the table & it doesn't have to be perfect - we are making family memories not Martha Stewart homes. What about buying a roast chook from Woolworths? Even buy your apple pie while there. Getting the kids all excited & on board by busy making paper snow flakes & decorating the table is enough for their memory - they won't give a toss about what the meal is really like. Hope sickness goes - we are too hoping James will be fine by Saturday night - he has been up & vomitted each morning once all over kitchen floor.....If not just move it to Sunday. Have fun!!! and keep it simple. • Permanent Link Friday, June 20, 2008 - hi Posted by http://allyjoserudition.blogspot.com/ You have a nice blog. I enjoyed read along here. I'll be back. Blessings and regards, AllyJo in Florida • Permanent Link