When SBean gets an idea there is really no stopping her. Years ago at Playshare Preschool the teachers gave each student a book, SBean got A Homemade Christmas and she instantly fell in love with the book and the idea of putting thought and time into a gift to show your love and appreciation. I guess she has heard us discussing that with me not working as much, it was going to be a smaller Christmas this year and she decided that we should have a Homemade Secret Santa gift exchange with our family! I thought it was a great idea especially because I always find my children sound somewhat ungrateful at this time of year. After birthdays, a month of planned fun activities and anticipation of presents, I always end the season saying, “remember Kids it’s not about the gifts you receive, it’s about the memories we made” but I’m not sure that is the message they receive from our over the top holidays. Ninja and I used to make ALL of our gifts… BC (Before Children). I loved thinking up the ideas (this was before Pinterest), spending the time with Ninja crafting, baking, cooking and creating. I think next year I am going to take SBean’s idea up a notch and do a December Calendar of old school fun and charity!
SBean had a clear idea of how our Secret Santa would work. We all picked names out of a hat and agreed to make our gifts and then exchange on Christmas Eve. I got Oliver 😂. I also picked FOR Oliver and he got Daddy! Everyone made such beautiful gifts!!
SBean made HBear a Christmas pillow! As soon as she picked HBear’s name she called Grandma and planned a day of sewing together. SBean later told me she got 2 presents, her Secret Santa gift AND a date day with Grandma 💛. HBear decorates her bedroom in ALL the Xmas stuff and had told SBean that all she needed was a Xmas pillow to complete the decor. SBean remembered and picked out fabric to match HBear’s bedroom! So sweet!
“Oliver” pulled Ninja’s name out of the hat 😜. I knew I could make a gift for Oliver but where would the fun in that be?? 😂 I got the materials and Oliver did the work! I think we have a budding artist on our hands 😂. Check out the instructions below to make your own special ornament from your Doggo to his BFF!
We had an amazing Christmas! We definitely didn’t do ALL the things but we did the things that counted. We spent time together, laughed together and realized together. I am grateful to have spent this Christmas wrapped in the warmth of my family’s embrace. Thank you Ninja, HBear, SBean, Dad, J, Bob, Lorna, Sis, BIL, SPea and CPatch for an incredible and memorable Christmas 2022 💛.
Homemade Dog Treats
Adapted from Spaceships & Laser Beams
1 cup peanut butter
1 tablespoon molasses
1 cup milk
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
Add all ingredients to a mixing bowl.
Blend on low in a mixer until well blended. The mixture should form a dough-like texture.
Roll to approximately 1/4 inch in thickness.
Use a cookie cutter to cut out treats.
Bake for about 17 minutes. Keep in fringe after they are cooled.
Ornament (From Your Doggo)
All you need:
1 Ziplock bag
acrylic paint (your favourite colours)
peanut butter
1 wooden ornament (I got this one at Dollarama)
Let your Doggo Artist eat up all the peanut butter! When he is all done, take it out of the bag and let dry.
Print up a picture of your Doggo, glue it to the back and you have a cute present from Doggo to his BFF.
The beginning of our Christmas holiday began with a winter storm. It has been SO cold!! Maynard found new hiding spots over the past month and Ninja and SBean met up with their cousins in Peachland for a little Bliss Bakery treat and to make the handoff for our Christmas cookie exchange! The Kids had their annual gingerbread house making with Grandpa and we had a delicious ham dinner, we finished all the wrapping, and we watched some Christmas classics! SBean kicked my butt at Trivial Pursuit, Oliver got a new festive collar, and HBear did a small gift exchange with her Besties.
Christmas Eve was laid back and so much fun! Ninja was out shovelling AGAIN early in the morning so the Kids helped me prep dinner, Christmas breakfast and get out the stockings. We did our Secret Santa gift exchange, opened our Christmas Eve Box from Maynard, and went out light hunting. We had a delicious roast beef dinner while watching Spirited and then drank hot cocoa, ate popcorn and played Christmas games and Herd Mentality (our new game from Maynard). We said our goodbyes to Maynard, set out milk and cookies for Santa and then it was Mom and Dad time to bask in the glow of twinkly lights and Christmas Spirit.
