Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in Halifax, NS

I am never sure who is more excited for Christmas morning, the kids or me! I have always adored Christmas, but sharing and creating new traditions with my family has been an experience that goes beyond that. The tree is set up, the stockings hung at the fireplace, the presents are wrapped and under the tree, we just have some baking to do and we are set till Christmas.

Since it is just the four of us every year, I am not baking much, however we are preparing a turkey Christmas Day, after the presents are opened. My husband and I work on Christmas dinner together, this year we are going include our preschooler in the preparations. It is my dream that all the children will help out, each having a task to fulfill, all of us together. My children are little though, and I have come to learn many fantasies we have of activities with our children are often much harder to obtain in reality.

Every Christmas eve, we go to mass, then open one present each. This year the children are receiving matching PJ bottoms that I sewed for them, to wear that night. I also sewed each of them a PJ bag with their initial on it, included another PJ bottom each and a book. I got the idea from Soule Mama, in her amazing book The Creative Family. I hope the children like them as much as I enjoyed making them! I also knit them each a pair of slippers, and a kitty for their stocking.

I really enjoyed crafting, sewing and knitting for the children this year. With all the chaos of moving many traditions were ignored, forgotten and missed. Our poor advent calendar has been neglected, we have finally caught up on some Christmas reading, but the baking is a little missed. Next Christmas we will have another member in our family, however we will be completely settled into our new house and our new roles (my preschooler will be a School aged girl!) So I hope to do a little more baking, create a few more traditions and keep up with having more handmade, crafted from the heart presents.


ps. I will be having a contest next week to warm everyone up after the holidays are over!