Christmas Activities

It’s the month of Christmas and anyone who knows me knows how much I LOVE Christmas and it has gotten all the more special with two kiddies in tow!

This December on the days I have Josh with me I wanted to plan fun festive activities for us to do. The idea stemmed from Mom Fitness Diary-check out her very cool advent calendar here.

Here are some of the ideas I have, some for home and some getting out and about…

Giddy Studios Decoration Painting:

We did this on Tuesday and Josh loved it. They are offering a take away Christmas Jumper decoration for 6 euro until 10th December bit you can also do a glazed decoration for 12 euro and either one is a fun activity with a lovely keepsake at the end too.

Check them out here: Giddy Studios

Library for Christmas Books :

We had started doing this in recent weeks and now up until Christmas we are going to make a couple of trips to pick up a few seasonal reads and get us in the mood at bed time. Another fab idea is a book avent calander, see below but I wasn’t organised enough this year!

Christmas Films in our Christmas Jammies with Treats:

I’m secretly really looking forward to this in my head but in reality Josh may not want to sit around all day and Max might have a craknky day but if it does work out before the Christmas madness begins we will grab some festive flicks, stay in our seasonal jammies and have a few extra treats, throw on the fire and cosy up for the afternoon.

Gingerbread Baking:

Josh remembers this from last year so we will be doing this again this year and here is the recipe we use.

Christmas Crafting:

Here are some of the ideas I hope to do with Josh…

Some of our other family outings I am looking forward to are:

Santa @ Powerscourt

Reindeer Run

Snowman @ Bord Gais

We do also love a fun Christmas App in this house {Santa calling is a big hit at the moment} and a few that were favoured from last year are:

There is also a new kid on the block which is for slightly older kids but a really fun idea:

https://itunes.apple.com/ie/app/elf-mail/id1178800056?mt=8

Hope you have a fun Christmas Month ahead!

Our Santa Experience in Airfield

We had a lovely prize to give away a couple of months ago for a trip to the Santa Expereince in Airfield and we actually booked ourselves to go with my mum aka Ga Ga as she missed out on our Rathwood adventure.

We were booked yesterday for 3pm and got a well informed email the day before to advise arriving a little early to enjoy the other activities available.

We arrived at 2.15 on a wet and miserable day but were quickly checked in and shown to the hot chocolate and mulled wine tent.

We then decided to go and see Santas bedroom, the reindeers and write a quick letter to Santa before heading back to his house for a visit.

At 2 minutes past 3 we were all led through to Santas house which was warm and inviting. All the children sat and listened to Santa tell a story-well Josh rushed forward fearless in comparison to previous Santa visits and delivered his letter to the big man. After a quick story each child was asked their name and what they would like. It was then time to receive a lovely gift and a quick piccie with Santa too.

Out we then went to the big house to look at the giant tree and gingerbread house then to the main restuarant for a cup of warm tea and a mince pie.

The experience is definitely better for younger children and whilst very simple for the cost of the tickets, on a nice day you could take full value in experiencing the farm too. The Santa himself was just lovely, the gifts well thought out in a lovely customised bag and not plastic rubbish. I also really liked the way you didn’t have to wait for Santa in the group setting but still felt you got your time with him.

Would I do it again, probably not but then I think each year we will pick somewhere new. It was am lovey family afternoon with more memories to add to the memory bank for all!

Santa @ Rathwood

We set off this morning on a wet and very blustery day but that didn’t dampen the excitement in our house.

We popped on our reindeer boppers, stuck on some Christmas tunes and off we headed to Tullow! We arrived down in just over an hour and from the minute we arrived everything ran like clockwork. The lady at reception kindly printed our forgotten tickets then we wandered around the Christmas shop and we were ready to sign in for Santa!

It started with getting little red cheeks and noses for the kids, badges for the adults and reindeer head bands for the kids too in a ‘waiting‘ room! Then it was in to see Mrs Claus and Jack Frost to bring back the Christmas spirit, Josh was delighted with the medal he received for the great job 😉🏅.

We all hopped on the train and make the short journey through the woods with a glimpse of Rudolph and Santa in his chimney along the way.

We waited a short time then we were called to see Santa. Josh was a little scared of the big man but once in my arms was happy to chat away and the elf kindly obliged in some photo taking.

Back on the train to candy cane lane and to make some elves in the workshop. Josh was starting to get hungry and tired at this stage and by some miracle we got our pic on the sleigh in the midst of a full mortifying meltdown.

Some festive purchases with our discount on the way out and despite the tearful end we were promptly told when back in the car ‘dat was luvly’ just as his eyes closed and he nodded off to sleep! Wrecked from all the excitement..

A really lovely morning and would highly recommend for future Christmases. We did a quick pit stop in Kildare Village en route home for some mama/dada retail therapy and all was good again

Santa @ Airfield Giveaway 🎅🏻

I am excited to share details on our super giveaway thanks to Airfield Estate, a trip to Santa’s Cottage for 2 Adults and 2 Children.

It is a month to the day and it will be Josh’s 2nd birthday. This is the answer to the question I will be asking on Facebook and all you have to do is comment and like the post.

It may only be October but good Santas book up fast and like everything Airfield does, I have no doubt this one will be great…Read below for further details.

Giant nutcracker soldiers, twinkling lights, traditional Christmas decorations and a warm elf welcome await before you step into Santa’s cottage for a magical experience with story-telling and gifts.Santa’s reindeers will also be at Airfield Estate this year so every boy and girl will get the chance to meet with them before viewing Santa and Mrs. Claus’s bedroom, taking part in our Christmas fairy trail, warming up with a hot chocolate and writing their own Santa letter and posting to the North Pole.

Prize is subject to availability which can be checked at the time of booking directly with Airfield!

Find out more about it here: http://www.airfield.ie/events/airfield-estate-christmas-experience2015/

Santa Visit 🎅

Last weekend was filled with Christmas cheer. It began by a quick visit to the craft fair and a lovely lunch with granny. That evening we decided to pick the tree, a few days earlier than planned. On a windy night we picked the perfect one and Josh’s face when he came down the next morning was just brill. Lots of pointing at the lights but no attempt to pull himself up on it so to date it’s still standing!!!

Then on Sunday it was off to see Santa. We had chosen The Forest Train in Avondale, hearing it was going to be great and it really was. We arrived just in the nick of time on a crisp morning, the train and it’s elves were set for departure so off we went. The train journey brought us through the woods and with a pit stop to pick up ‘Noodle’ the elf, we all arrived at Santa’s workshop. We got to see Santa first {josh must have been a very good boy} . We entered his office and made a family wish together. Then it was a pic with Santa, a very lovely gift for Josh {wooden musical toys} and back through the magic wardrobe… We were then back into the main market where there were lovely stalls, a cute coffee van and a wishing tree to make a wish for our brilliant boy! We finished the day off with lunch in a nearby hotel, Tinakilly. A perfect start to Christmas!

Mummy Moments

A New Mum’s honest experiences and thoughts

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