https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 15 Apr 2026 04:41:44 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-things-are-you-doing-to-make-the-holidays-feel-magical-to-the-kids#post-1975882 Mon, 08 Dec 2014 16:22:13 +0000 fussygal 1975882@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LemonLong: Your mom sounds awesome!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-things-are-you-doing-to-make-the-holidays-feel-magical-to-the-kids#post-1975881 Mon, 08 Dec 2014 16:22:00 +0000 fussygal 1975881@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD is only 8 months so not much this year, but I plan to do a few things when she's older: advent calendar, pictures with santa (we may do that this year, too), crafts, tree decorating, going to see a show like the Nutcracker, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-things-are-you-doing-to-make-the-holidays-feel-magical-to-the-kids#post-1975873 Mon, 08 Dec 2014 16:17:07 +0000 yoursilverlining 1975873@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO helped to decorate the tree and put up ornaments. </p> <p>We took a ride on the Polar Express and LO got to meet elves and Santa in person! </p> <p>We are going with LO on Friday to the symphony for their annual Christmas music concert. It’s a really fun experience; lots of singing, fun and great music. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-things-are-you-doing-to-make-the-holidays-feel-magical-to-the-kids#post-1975847 Mon, 08 Dec 2014 16:05:19 +0000 Greentea 1975847@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We went to a Christmas tree farm with alpacas (hug hit!) We also went to an all day celebration in a nearby city. It was awesome. The whole town came together and there were live reindeer, stories with santa at the library, carolers, a lights parade, cookie decorating, and ice show... it was kind of amazing, everyone downtown together in these historical building. It was really cool.</p> <p>The local gardens do a huge model train exhibit. We'll take her to a children's theater play and the nutcracker ballet when she is old enough. </p> <p>I am also trying to do an allhandcrafted Christmas- it's cool because she keeps asking what I am working on and I tell her (her Christmas surprise) so she is all excited about her Christmas surprise.</p> <p>We play Christmas music all day and she loves.it! We dance a lot. We only have a charlie brown tree and she loves that too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-things-are-you-doing-to-make-the-holidays-feel-magical-to-the-kids#post-1975735 Mon, 08 Dec 2014 15:20:15 +0000 Sparkler 1975735@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Elf on a shelf has been a huge hit! We also do advent calendars, which the kids race down the stairs for in the morning. We decorated the tree together showing the kids ornaments they had when they were little babies too. We have also been teaching the kids Christmas Carols which they love! We have some other holiday events we are planning to attend too (zoo visit, orchestra visit, etc).<br /> We also aren't religious, but a friend gave us this book with a cut out nativity and the kids are obsessed with playing with it and asking questions about the first christmas<br /> <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-very-first-christmas-eilidh-rose/1115072953?cm_mmc=google+product+search-_-q000000633-_-9781435149069pla-_-book_under5-_-q000000633-_-9781435149069&#038;ean=9781435149069&#038;isbn=9781435149069&#038;kpid=9781435149069&#038;r=1" rel="nofollow">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-very-first-christmas-eilidh-rose/1115072953?cm_mmc=google+product+search-_-q000000633-_-9781435149069pla-_-book_under5-_-q000000633-_-9781435149069&#038;ean=9781435149069&#038;isbn=9781435149069&#038;kpid=9781435149069&#038;r=1</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-things-are-you-doing-to-make-the-holidays-feel-magical-to-the-kids#post-1972082 Fri, 05 Dec 2014 08:46:24 +0000 LemonLong 1972082@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My mom always goes the extra mile, so we're going to go visit her, ha! She does stuff like making flour santa footprints on the carpet, putting chewed up carrots outside (from the reindeer), a piece of red velvet from Santas suit stuck on the fireplace and his glasses forgotten by the cookies. We believed in Santa for a ridiculously long time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-things-are-you-doing-to-make-the-holidays-feel-magical-to-the-kids#post-1972016 Fri, 05 Dec 2014 07:16:36 +0000 Mama Bird 1972016@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Actually being home, instead of at work till 8 pm :( And maybe going to some holiday parties. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-things-are-you-doing-to-make-the-holidays-feel-magical-to-the-kids#post-1972005 Fri, 05 Dec 2014 06:47:59 +0000 Mrs. Jump Rope 1972005@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We went to light up night in my hometown. There's a parade &amp; at the end is Santa. Chloe &amp; dad picked out our Xmas tree and put up our lights outside. (That was hysterical, it involved her toy drill, his staple gun, a ladder &amp; me calling them Clark and Clark Jr.)</p> <p>I started elf on the shelf this year and my god is that a PITA. Chloe thinks it's HYSTERIAL and cracks up every day, so crap, so now I'm stuck with it. :silly: </p> <p>On Saturdays we listen to Xmas music (I found anthro a holiday mix on spotify) and have a dance party. Wow, is that fun. Braverman style dance party in our house!</p> <p>We also make sugar cookies and decorate them, but that's later this month. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-things-are-you-doing-to-make-the-holidays-feel-magical-to-the-kids#post-1971994 Fri, 05 Dec 2014 06:19:20 +0000 plantains 1971994@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We put up and decorate our tree tomorrow. We went to a tree lighting and had similarish results to you so I'm not sure if we'll do that agin next year. I want to take her to Grabd Central this weekend or next to see the train show. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-things-are-you-doing-to-make-the-holidays-feel-magical-to-the-kids#post-1971989 Fri, 05 Dec 2014 05:59:24 +0000 Andrea 1971989@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We always end up doing a lot of things, but I don't think you need it. The kids are fascinated by our outdoor lights and xmas tree. I think just doing that makes it feel magical for little ones! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-things-are-you-doing-to-make-the-holidays-feel-magical-to-the-kids#post-1970777 Thu, 04 Dec 2014 12:53:27 +0000 RsMom 1970777@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We went to the local parade and are going to see Santa. We go to several holiday parties which include a sleigh ride and a Santa appearance. I also bought a gingerbread kit so we will see if he's interested in doing that or just eating the candy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-things-are-you-doing-to-make-the-holidays-feel-magical-to-the-kids#post-1970756 Thu, 04 Dec 2014 12:48:25 +0000 fancyfunction 1970756@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Decorate the tree, go to a reading of Polar Express, an outdoor lights show/festival and bake cookies. I'm trying out the elf this year too ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-things-are-you-doing-to-make-the-holidays-feel-magical-to-the-kids#post-1970643 Thu, 04 Dec 2014 12:07:08 +0000 aegie 1970643@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>take them snow tubing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-things-are-you-doing-to-make-the-holidays-feel-magical-to-the-kids#post-1970546 Thu, 04 Dec 2014 11:30:57 +0000 Smurfette 1970546@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Decorated the tree together. She was so stick sticking ornaments on the tree. Then lights on the outside of the house. Going to see Santa. Doing crafts with her. Going to bake cookies and decorate a gingerbread house together. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-things-are-you-doing-to-make-the-holidays-feel-magical-to-the-kids#post-1970542 Thu, 04 Dec 2014 11:29:42 +0000 mrs. wagon 1970542@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We'll put up our tree and lights on our house this weekend! There are a few local festivals and fairs we'll attend as well. But mostly we're just excited to put presents under the tree... I bought them on sale throughout the year and they've been waiting in the guest room closet all year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-things-are-you-doing-to-make-the-holidays-feel-magical-to-the-kids#post-1970525 Thu, 04 Dec 2014 11:26:04 +0000 mrs scrapbook 1970525@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So, DH and I are still TTC our first, but this question made me think an idea from my childhood.</p> <p>As a kid, we used to go to the local beach, which was transformed into a big drive through light display. They even had a radio station you could tune to and the lights would "dance" to the music being played! It is one of my favorite Christmas memories!</p> <p>Many local zoos have something similar called "zoo lights". DH and I went in Lincoln Park in Chicago. That was pretty cool too, although I only saw that as an adult, not a kid, so I can't speak to how kids would view it. But it was awesome as a grown up!</p> <p>There is something so magical about the bright lights shining in the dark, cold night! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-things-are-you-doing-to-make-the-holidays-feel-magical-to-the-kids#post-1970524 Thu, 04 Dec 2014 11:25:53 +0000 looch 1970524@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hmmm, not much, really. I mean, we've put up our tree and I let my son place a lot of the ornaments, we have 4 inflatables up in our front yard that he helped to set up, we've decorated a gingerbread train.</p> <p>He's not big on characters, so we won't go and get photos with Santa, but we are writing a letter to send to him! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-things-are-you-doing-to-make-the-holidays-feel-magical-to-the-kids#post-1970503 Thu, 04 Dec 2014 11:19:48 +0000 mrbee 1970503@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: We've gone the last two years, and there are always big crowds! Kind of claustrophobic... and by the end of the event, the kids are usually feeling a little cooped up.</p> <p>Love your park/train too! Sounds awesome... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-things-are-you-doing-to-make-the-holidays-feel-magical-to-the-kids#post-1970501 Thu, 04 Dec 2014 11:18:54 +0000 Bao 1970501@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Elf on the shelf! I'm in the minority with that one though ;) umm...we will do simple things like decorate a gingerbread house maybe, bake and frost cookies...I don't know if that's "magical", but my kiddos are young so everything to them is magical :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-things-are-you-doing-to-make-the-holidays-feel-magical-to-the-kids#post-1970494 Thu, 04 Dec 2014 11:17:41 +0000 mediagirl 1970494@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: what were the mixed results from the Christmas tree lighting? We're going to one tomorrow.</p> <p>We are going to a local park that has been "transformed" into a winter wonderland with lights and decorations. They have a train that goes around the park and we bought tickets to ride it around. I'm hoping our daughter enjoys that!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-things-are-you-doing-to-make-the-holidays-feel-magical-to-the-kids#post-1970488 Thu, 04 Dec 2014 11:16:14 +0000 mrbee 1970488@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BananaPancakes: That Polar Express train ride sounds amazing!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-things-are-you-doing-to-make-the-holidays-feel-magical-to-the-kids#post-1970468 Thu, 04 Dec 2014 11:09:08 +0000 BananaPancakes 1970468@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're doing a Polar Express-like steam train ride this weekend and a trip to Fort Wilderness in WDW for the dinner show on the 20th. That's it this year. We're swamped and works been crazy. I'm hoping to get the tree up soon, because I think DS will enjoy decorating this year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-things-are-you-doing-to-make-the-holidays-feel-magical-to-the-kids#post-1970467 Thu, 04 Dec 2014 11:08:12 +0000 pui 1970467@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD is only 3 months so Christmas isn't very exciting for her lol. Still I want to do things with her that made Christmas magical for me. Lights on the Christmas tree, baking Christmas cookies and eating Christmas dinner, late night singing Christmas carols on Christmas eve... That sort of stuff. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-things-are-you-doing-to-make-the-holidays-feel-magical-to-the-kids#post-1970461 Thu, 04 Dec 2014 11:06:55 +0000 autumnlove 1970461@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Pictures with Santa, lights on our house, crafts and trees. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-things-are-you-doing-to-make-the-holidays-feel-magical-to-the-kids#post-1970456 Thu, 04 Dec 2014 11:05:22 +0000 mrbee 1970456@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nothing fancy over here... we did go to a Christmas tree lighting (mixed results) and to a historic house where St. Nicholas showed up on horseback (a surprising hit). Plus we picked out a tree together.</p> <p>Wish there were something fun we could do to make things really magical... but don't really have any ideas. I wish one of my friends could dress up like Santa, like Mrs. Train's dad! I think the kids would love it.</p> <p>What things are you doing to make the holidays feel magical to the kids? </p>