Making Xmas extra Special

So because my snob Uncle from interstate would feel more comfortable making my Aunt host Xmas AGAIN (although my Aunt would even prefer to have it at our place) - I'm boycotting Xmas celebrations on my side of the family :shhh:. I still plan to have my Dad and brother over in the evening with DH's mum.

I'll have my almost 3yr old DD and almost 18mth old DS - and I'll be home alone for Xmas. Yup, self imposed (DH will be working day shift on Xmas :wall:).

Sooooo, how can I make Xmas special for the kids? I want it to be a stand out day - not just another day at home with mum lol.....

Help me think outside the square :D!

xoxox

Special breaky (croissants, choc crossoints, pancakes)
Maybe a trail of santa footprints to pressies.
Some reindeer poo outside and half eaten carrots.

I love those ideas Feeb!!

Thanks!

making and leaving out a special snack for santa the night before
make christmas biscuits during the day to give out that night

Why not plan some christmasy craft to do with them, to decorate for the evening when you have people over. Make table decorations, place mats etc, so they are actualley part of preparing the festivities for your evening with family. They could be involved in preparing and setting the table etc.

Maybe also give them a special dish to prepare for dinner- that way you are having a special day together, but it is also helping to get ready for your evening.

I also think a special brekky or lunch, chilled out infront of a christmasy movie would be good too.

When we were kids we always had Christmas at home with just us.

Mum used to make a huge brekky (because we always got up super early) with egg, bacon, fruit platters, pancakes, croissants - The works.

Then we'd set the table up all prettily and dig in to a massive lunch.

We'd play with our presents, we always got board games for Christmas so the whole family would sit around playing them with Christmas music going. I always felt so ripped off as a kid because we weren't able to share Christmas with our extended family like all my friends did, but looking back on it now as an adult it was the BEST day of the year for our family. It was pretty much the only day we spent together alone, just the 5 of us with nowhere to go and nothing else to do but enjoy each other's company.

Great great ideas - thanks heaps ladies :D!

Can you make bons bons or buy the ones you put a gift in yourself, the kids can choose to put something in for each other and then they get to have them on x-mas day?
Pancakes cut into x-mas shapes for breakfast, buy a special x-mas book and read it together

Going to see the 'Christmas' houses all lit up on Christmas Eve followed by a Christmas story.
then wake up Xmas day to the santa stockings, special breaky, christmas carols playing all day.
Kids playing with their new toys. Love the idea of a special Christmas craft, maybe a christmas lunch picnic or down the beach for a little bit if you are close to one.
then help with dinner preps.

Do something extra special with them - like build a cubby house with a sheet over some chairs and play games with silly food (like purple dyed mashed potatoes and water in tiny little shotglasses and pour it out of a teapot). They will always remember it. :)