![IMG_2977[1]](http://simpleanalogy.typepad.com/.a/6a00e552de1c8d883401287652f1c1970c-320wi)
Whew! This weekend was a crazy frenzy to finish all the details of the kid's Christmas party. The nice thing about doing a Christmas party for two and three year-old's is that things do not have to be exactly perfect (I forgot to buy Christmas plates, cups, and napkins. I also forgot the camera!) for them to think that it is the absolute funnest thing they've ever done in their life.
Not to say that I slouched on any detail! I decorated the nursery with snowflakes hanging from the ceiling, re-did the bulletin board with gingerbread men, put up the Christmas tree, placed the manger with baby Jesus underneath as the only present. Shoot! I even set up my homemade hay bales (nicer on the cleaning lady and those with allergies) to make a nice background setting for it all.
Our party included:
1. Reading the Christmas story by the tree
2. Caroling... of which we have to do songs that are VERY repetitive - like "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and "Oh Come Let Us Adore Him" although it seems everyone knew "Jingle Bells" and sing them a million times while waiting for everyone to rejoin us from those inopportune potty breaks that are so frequently needed with this age
3. Playing in the snow (a gillion white balloons - the boys and I were quite lightheaded after blowing them up and yet I wished we would have done more!)
4. Singing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus and diving into cupcakes (some had frosting up their nose!)
5. Making a wreath for Mom. We did the one with cardboard and flat marbles and added clear snowflake stickers. Just a note for those who may be wondering about marbles and toddlers... I had almost one adult helper per child. Very controlled situation! There was no way those marbles were going up noses! Also to make the project go faster and able to go home at the end of the party, I painted, glittered, and "bowed" the wreaths ahead of time. All the kids had to do was put on the stickers and marbles. Since I didn't have my camera, Meg helped me out by sending the photo above of her daughter's wreath. Bridget is only one and kept giving me the "Let's wash our hands" sign after every sticker/marble, but she did a beautiful job!
6. We did manage to get a group picture with ALL the nursery children, including the one-year-olds and the infants. It was our first time to try this, and it went pretty well with only two children crying, and not even the ones I thought would! Thanks, Charles!
Everyone went home with a Christmas present from "Miss Heather", and I went home to take a nap. You know, I didn't even miss those plates and napkins, and I'm sure they didn't!