I’m not opposed to singing Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer or making stocking-shaped cookies at home. But I am opposed to making these things the center of our Christmas celebration when the story of Jesus can be just as fun, exciting and “magical”!
{Read my full post at the Tommy Mommy blog…}
Every year I like to do a Christmas party-playdate for Lydia and Asa’s friends. One year we did a Gingerbread Party. This year we did an Operation Christmas Child Party. I just saw an awesome idea for a Christmas Playdate from my friends at When You Rise. I was trying to think of other non-Santa, semi-faith-centered themes I could use for a playdate and that’s when it hit me: Veggie Tales! Their new Little Drummer Boy movie would be perfect for a Christmas party. Or even a December birthday for a little boy!
I’m so excited to show you my…
1. Drum Cake
Source: google.com via ohAmanda {impress your kids} on Pinterest
You can’t go wrong with a drum cake. And it’s pretty easy, too!
2. Drum Craft
Source: minieco.co.uk via ohAmanda {impress your kids} on Pinterest
There are tons of make-your-own drum crafts online. But I like this one that’s made out of a balloon because, honestly? It seems the quietest!
3. And Another Drum Craft
Source: alittlelearningfortwo.blogspot.com via ohAmanda {impress your kids} on Pinterest
And even though this one is loud, I like it because you can hang it around your neck. And it has drum sticks. Which are just fun.
4. Little Drummer Boy Coloring Sheets
Print these off from the Veggie Tales’ website and let your kids have at ‘em!
5. Watch The Little Drummer Boy
Sit down with your drum cake or some popcorn and let the kids chill with their Veggie friends!
6. Mr. Lunt’s Hat
Right?!
7. Play “Follow the Dancing Leader”
Grab your drum (preferably, a Veggie Tales drum!) and let the kids follow you around the room dancing like Aaron and his animals!
8. Gift: Stand Up Puzzle
Source: store.veggietales.com via ohAmanda {impress your kids} on Pinterest
OK. I did not even know these existed! A stand up puzzle?! I want one.
9. Salt Dough Ornaments
I’ve linked to this post like 12 times, but I love it! You know I love being purposeful and active in helping my kids GIVE and do something HARD even when they are little. And this idea from Vanessa at Silly Eagle Books to make salt dough ornaments in the shape of animals, in order to sell and buy an actual animal for a needy family is just brilliant!
And since The Little Drummer Boy is partnering with World Vision to encourage families to give their best this Christmas, this is a perfect tie in. How fun would it be to let the kids make and paint ornaments together? And then set up a stand at the end of the driveway to sell? Or put them on Facebook for friends and family to gobble up? I totally want to do this.
10. Cupcake Toppers
Look! I made something for you! If you’d like to have your own Little Drummer Boy party—for your friends or just with your kids, what’s more fun than cupcake toppers? (Not much, based on how excited I am about these!) Just print them off, cut them out and attach to a stick!
I (sadly) didn’t have any cupcakes. So, I wedged them into some ornaments. Cute, huh? Download your free cupcake toppers here! (There are 4 different designs!)
Oh, I also made a Little Drummer Boy Pinterest board with more fun ideas!
What would you do at a Little Drummer Boy Party?
linked to ohAmanda‘s Top Ten {Tuesday}
disclosure: Veggie Tales sponsored me to the Relevant Conference.
Good Saturday morning! Oh, my! Is it really Saturday? The last Saturday before Christmas? We are sitting on the couch watching old Mickey Mouse Christmas cartoons and eating oatmeal. We probably need to shop, or straighten the house or something. But I kinda like this better.
I’m also going through my feed-reader to catch up on all the lovely Christmas ideas from my favorite blogs. You ready for some good links? You might even be able to do some of this stuff between now and Christmas. I know we’re going to try!
Printable Nativity Coloring Sheets & Puppet Theatre from Sarah Jane! {Remember the Christmas Goodnight book I posted about? The illustrator, Sarah Jane has some free printable coloring sheets AND this amazing printable puppet theatre to go along with the book. COOLEST. THING. EVER.
A Homemade Family Christmas from Passionate Homemaking {every year I want to do a total homemade Christmas, this post inspired me again!}
Make Your Own Magnetic Nativity Scene from When You Rise {I love nativity scenes and this is just awesome!}
Treasured Christmas Books from Passionate Homemaking {I love Christmas books and there are a few on here I don’t ahve!}
The Spirit of Giving: Project Cow from Silly Eagle Books {I’m trying to talk Lydia into copying this!}
Salt Dough Ornaments at TinkerLab {perfect for the above project–and our Truth in the Tinsel manger from Day 15!}
OK, and a few fun Truth in the Tinsel posts while we’re at it…
Ebooks as Last Minute Christmas Gift Ideas from Kitchen Stewardship {genius, cheap and perfect for Truth in the Tinsel!}
Mama Jenn’s Day 1-6 {I love their Mary!}
Rattles & Redheads’ Christmas Story {Look how great their manger scene is!}
Giggles & Gumballs’ Day 11-17 {I love seeing all their ornaments hung up!}
The Fantastic Fives’ Days 12, 14-16 {They really switched up some of the ornaments and are waaay creative! I love it!}
Advent Gift Idea from I Can Teach My Child {another way to gift Truth in the Tinsel!}
If you have a Truth in the Tinsel post on your blog, don’t forget to link it on our Facebook page, we wanna see!
Merry almost-Christmas!
photo source: sarah jane studios
