kidz

I'm going to share a few traditions from my childhood family Christmas parties....

Newspaper Game
Wrap lots of inexpensive gifts in several different layers of newspapers. Wrap the last layer in duct tape. Get a great big box and crumple up lots of newspapers and put the gifts inside. The group sits in a circle and passes a plate of dice. If a person shakes doubles he puts on a pair of gloves and digs for a gift. If he can get it unwrapped before the next person shakes doubles he gets to keep the gift. If someone shakes doubles before it is unwrapped the gift goes back into the box. (Oh the fun we've had playing this game!)

Gift Exchange Games
Everyone brings one gift. The group sits in a circle. One person reads a story. My cousin Dee is the clever one in the family and would always make the story up. Every time he said right, we would pass to the right. When he said left, we would pass to the left. His stories were always funny and filled with family inside jokes! Some of his stories had to do with the Wright Family. Same concept: right-pass right, left-pass left. When the story is finished, the gift you ended up with during the passing is yours. Go here or here for poems to read during a gift exchange game. Or if you're clever like my cousin, make it more personal and create your own!

BINGO
No explanation needed, right? Just watch for cheaters. There are a lot in my family! ;O)

Christmas Basket
This is a lot like fruit basket. Everyone sits in a circle and picks a different Christmas symbol. Someone stands in the middle and calls out two different objects. The people who picked those objects have to change chairs before the person in the middle can sit in one. If the person in the middle calls out Merry Christmas, everyone has to change chairs.

Bacon Chestnut Tidbits
1 pound bacon
2 cans whole water chestnuts
1 cup ketchup
1/2 cup sugar

Preheat oven to 375. Cut each bacon strip into four pieces. Wrap each piece of bacon around a water chestnut and secure with a toothpick. Place on cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes. Drain and place bacon-wrapped tidbits in casserole dish. Mix ketchup and sugar and pour over the tidbits. Cover and bake for 15 minutes more. Makes 72 pieces. Variation: In place of ketchup and sugar mixture, use favorite commercial or homemade barbecue sauce.

Rice & Raspberries
1/2 cup uncooked rice
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
1/4 cup blanched almonds, chopped
5 Tbsp sugar
2 cups whipping cream whipped
2 cups milk
1/4 cup cold water
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp almond flavoring
dash of salt

Bring milk to a boil. Add rice and reduce heat. Simmer, covered, until done, about 20 to 25 minutes. Dissolve gelatin in water Stir into rice the gelatin, chopped almonds, vanilla, sugar and salt. Cool slightly. Fold in whipped cream. Pour into bowl. Refrigerate. Thicken raspberries with a little cornstarch and serve on top. Mmmmmm - delish!

Christmas Drink (this is my absolute favorite drink - EVER!)
2 pints of ginger ale
46 oz can pineapple juice
2 quarts vanilla ice cream
1 quart pineapple sherbet

Combine all ingredients. Whip til smooth and frothy. Color green (or use green sherbet). Chill or serve immediately. Serves 30.

If you need more party entertainment ideas, head over to Hostess with the Mostess. I love this site!


There's still plenty of time to participate in Operation Christmas Cards. If you missed the scoop on that project, go here to find out more! And if you missed this week's kidz story, don't forget to go here to meet Jacqui.


Party on!