A New Path to Follow: Walking in a Winter Wonderland- Thai Style

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Christmas in Thailand is just not the same as back in the States. I try so hard to make it feel like Christmas, but the lack snow, winter coats, fireplaces, and Christmas lights make it difficult to get into the holiday spirit. But, I have come to realize that it is just my perspective. To my children, Christmas is during the "cooler" season. (Cooler being 75-90 degrees) They are completely excited for Christmas as soon as December 1st rolls around. It doesn't matter if there is snow, rain, or sunshine, they are just excited for Christmas and all the magic it brings.

This year I stopped doing our 25 days of Christmas. We still did plenty of activities and made a few new ornaments for the tree, but we did not do a project everyday. This was the beginning of me simplifying my life. Our elf was a little less mischievous this year and went back to the good ol' days where he just hid in different places around the house. I think after visiting our house for the past 7 years, Stinky Piper was a bit worn out too.

We still managed to have a lot of fun, listened to a ton of Christmas music, watched every children's Christmas movie ever made, and felt the Christmas season take over our house during my transitions to a simpler life. The boys never complained once about the lack of activities. I felt like this year we really enjoyed the holidays instead of letting the busyness take over.

Here are some of the activities we did during the month of December:

Crafts

Santa hand print ornaments to send home with Gigi * Playing with gingerbread play dough and spices * Painting Christmas tree with toilet paper roll * Bottle cap Reindeer ornament

Toilet Paper Christmas Tree

Bottle Cap Reindeer

Gingerbread play dough

Cornstarch Dough for Santa Hand Print

Food

Cake to celebrate the beginning of Christmas break * Decorating cookies for Santa * Veggie Christmas Tree platter for party * Snowman cupcakes that Mrs. Claus left for the boys. (She does it every year.)

Snowman Cupcake Cake

Veggie Christmas Tree

Parties

This year a couple of my friends and I threw a neighborhood Christmas party. We decorated cookies, painted ornaments, sang carols, drank hot chocolate, and enjoyed a surprise visit from Santa! Then on Christmas Eve we celebrated with two other families and had some delicious desserts!

Snowflake Table Runner

Stinky Piper the Elf

Our elf, Stinky Piper, has been visiting our house for 7 years. This year he was a little more mellow than years past, but the boys still loved having him. He brought a Christmas book one day, took away their kindles on Christmas Eve, ate a traditional elf breakfast, and the boys all wished him a Merry Christmas and said their goodbyes.

Feels Like Christmas

I loved the countdown printable I found. And it was FREE! * The boys stringing lights all over the house. * Making the house smell like Christmas * Cutting out tons of coffee filter snowflakes.