Tips for Surving a Santa Clause Parade

Here Comes Santa Clause!

My family loves the Santa Clause parade and each year we go to 2 of them. The first one is actually a Santa Day, filled with sitting on Santa's knee, decorating gingerbread cookies, going on hay rides, pony rides, drinking hot chocolate, and lets not forget of course the parade!

The second one we attend is a much smaller parade, and after we all go to a legion sing Christmas songs, and the kids each get to sit on Santa's knee for pictures and get a present.

Both of these days are so much fun, and very exciting for our families. But if your not careful and ready the fun can turn into chaos very quickly. I have learned a lot over the years and have decided to share it with you all!


Dealing with  long Days - Santa Activity and Parade

• There will be lots of walking, so bring strollers if your child still uses one. Plan a place to go and sit for awhile, preferably inside. The little recharge can do wonders for the kids, and you to!
• Don't leave too early, this will cause lots of waiting around and boredom and that's when the kids start complaining.
• Take a snack, and drinks nobody is happy when they are hungry or thirsty.
• Bring your fold able lawn chairs to sit on, after walking all day everyone will appreciate a seat. If you decide not to sit, you can always offer someone else a seat!
• Park at the beginning of the parade route, this way you can be first to see Santa and get to your car. This way you leave the way Santa came and not get too stuck in the crazy parade traffic.
•  Park your car closest to where you want to be then the parade finishes. Then stand close to your car to watch the parade. This way when you go to watch the parade you can go get things out of your car like, lawn chairs, hot chocolate, snacks and blankets.
• Bring a backpack to carry drinks, snacks, wallet and anything else you might need
• Bring lots of Kleenex, everyone's nose runs in the cold doesn't it?

Dealing with Cold weather

• Bring extra clothes, especially socks and mittens. Those always seem to be the first thing to get wet from the snow, and cold hands and feet will make anyone miserable.
• Blankets, you will be very thankful when you are sitting outside in the cold for a rest. They can also be used to sit on, if you are sitting on a cold bench.
• Bring a thermos of hot chocolate to will help keep you warm, plus it's delicious!
• Layer your clothes, it will help keep you warm and happy!
• If you happy a baby in a stroller, take a blanket and invest in a weather shield. It's amazing how much warmer it is without the wind.

Christmas time is so much fun and the Santa Clause Parade's are so exciting, by being prepared you will be able to make the most of the time you have with your family, and everyone will have a blast!

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies - Recipe

Almost everyone bakes over the holiday season, and those who don't bake still look forward to enjoying some yummy holiday treats. This recipe for chewy chocolate chip cookies will not disapoint. These cookies are so moist and soft they just melt in your mouth.


What you Need

• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup chocolate chips

Making the Chewy Chocolate Chip cookies

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees farenhieght
2. Grease cookie sheet as preferred
3. In an bowl cream together butter, white sugar, and brown sugar.
4. Stir in vanillia and egg
5. Add flour and baking soda
6. Stir together until everything is combined  *do not stir too much*
7. Drop dough by tablespoons onto the greased cookie sheet
8. Place chocolate chips on top of the cookies
9. Bake 10-12 minutes depending on oven
10. Remove and cool

*you can add the chocolate chips to the dough when mixing, but it makes it harder to mix ingredients and the cookies dont turn out as chewy*

*If they do not cool long enough, they will break when you remove them from the cookie sheet.*

These are delicious, Enjoy!

Homemade Christmas Ornaments - Great craft for kids

These Christmas ornaments can be made right in your kitchen, and best of all you probably already have what you need at home. They make a great crafts for kids. You can also let the kids make them to give to family and friends as gifts over the holiday's. Everyone will love them, and the kids feel so happy giving out gifts. Best of all they are really inexpensive!

Recommended age 3+

What You Need

• 4 cups of flour
• 1 cup of salt
• 1 1/2 cups of hot water
• Rolling Pin
• Holiday Cookie cutters or cookie cutters of choice
• Decorations of choice - paint (makes a great base), beads, stickers, glitter, felt ect.
• *ornament hooks if you plan on hanging on the tree*

            

                                                                                                                       

Things you need if wrapping to give as a gift

• Tissue paper
• Ribbon
• Gift Tags

How it's done

Making the Christmas Ornaments

This was made completely by my 5
year old...he likes Blue bells!

• Mix the flour, salt and water together in a bowl.
• Knead the dough
• Roll it out like you would if you were making a sugar cookie about 1/4 inch thick.
• Use your holiday cookie cutters, and cut out the shapes.
• If these will be hanging on a tree use a toothpick to poke the hole for the hook.
• To harden you can  1.bake in the oven at 350 degrees, until hard. or 2. Microwave on High for about 2 minutes.
• Then decorate how ever you want, be creative and have fun.



*If you find the dough sticking to your hands, or cookie cutters use flour to dip the cutter in before cutting out each shape.*

*I personally find baking to work better*

Getting the Ornament's Ready to give as a gift

• Take 1 full piece of tissue paper and fold in half 3 times.
• Place your ornament in the middle of the tissue paper and roll it up, then twist the top like a candy wrapper.
• Take your ribbon and tie it around the top to keep it wrapped tightly
• Use scissors or a pencil and curl the ribbon.