Quiet Activities

2 weeks is a long time to fill with 3 kids and having to stay home. Fortunately, being Christmas time there were a few activities which I was inspired to do with them like making Christmas gingerbread cookies and making our own Christmas wrapping paper. The kids also got to watch a couple of movies like Frozen and Planes - Fire and Rescue as well as more than their fair share of ABCKids. So here is a glimpse of our 2 weeks at home of 'quiet activities' while Daniel recovered from his tonsilitis.

The kids and I decided to make Christmas cookies for people. I chose to make some for the swimming teachers but because I haven't make them before we decided to make some for the garbage truck drivers and the postman first. Daniel helped with the stirring and kneading. Eliza then joined in helping with rolling the dough and cutting out the shapes. The kids had a wonderful time rolling and cutting the different shapes.

Once all the shapes were cut we cooked the gingerbread cookies in the oven. Once they had cooled the kids (both big and little) had a blast decorating them with icing pens. It was great to see the creativity come out with the different shapes.

 Even Daddy got involved and I loved his creations!

Here are some of what the kids made.

We didn't do a bad job overall.

The kids were desperate to try on so after dinner they were allowed to choose one cookie to eat. They really liked them!

We wrapped up the cookies and then gave them to the garbage truck drivers (to say thank you for their work and for waving hello to the kids each week) and for the postman who always stops to talk to the kids. 

The kids were very excited to give them their cookies! Both garbage truck drivers climbed out of their trucks to accept the cookies and thank the kids.

The postman chatted with the kids and thanked them for the gift. The next day the kids received a postcard from the postman. Too sweet!

This was a very fun activity to do! I just loved watching the reactions from both sides and the joy that they genuinely had. 
One of the garbage truck drivers is finishing up and moving up the coast so he wanted to buy a present for the kids that came out to say hi to him each week. I was expecting a candycane or chocolate for each of the kids. Instead on the Tuesday before we headed to Hervey Bay Alexander was outside when we heard the truck (Eliza was on her way to Hervey Bay with James and Daniel was at preschool). The driver got out of the truck and gave Alexander a package. He asked him to unwrap it and it was... a garbage truck with flashing lights and sound! So cool and so sweet! Alexander was pretty happy with the present. What a sweetheart.

Waving to the truck

'There it is.'

Watching the truck go while holding his present

Pretty happy with the gift

As soon as Daniel got home he started to play with it

After making crowns in JKs I had a few spare. Daniel decided he wanted to make one so all 3 kids made ones. Such a simple task and they had lots of fun doing it!

Because Daniel loves playing boardgame so much at the moment, I decided to help Daniel make his own boardgame. He decided to make a Craig Lowndes board game. It is complete with problems/penalties and bonuses that occur during a race. 

Daniel and I played the game a few times.

Amazingly he has won the majority of times that he has played it. It is a lot of fun to play though, especially when you keep getting sent back to pit lane.

We also took the game to Nana and Poppy's place. Daniel played the game with Oscar and also Nana and Poppy. He also won.

Eliza also wanted to make her own board game. She made a Fairy game. Equally fun to play, funny to read the consequences and bonuses. Her mind makes me laugh.

Daddy was going away on his birthday so the night before he left we celebrated with a cake. Eliza helped make this cake (Daniel made Auntie Jenny's cake and Eliza desperately wanted to help so I said she could make Daddy's one). The kids then had a great time decorating the cake with m&ms and icing pens.

Helping blow out the candles

It was a very yummy cake! And Daddy was very surprised.

The kids were keen to do some painting so I had an idea that we could make our own wrapping paper by doing potato stamping. I cut out 4 different shapes - stars, Christmas trees, stockings and bells. The kids had a wonderful time stamping the different shapes onto paper. Alexander did his first go at painting too and loved it!

Alexander's first time painting

Are my hands clean?

Wrapping paper!

At Mum and Dad's place Daniel continued to work on his puzzle.

Daniel was given a craft from his friend Lachlan to do while he recovered. Daniel enjoyed starting it but as it took a long time to dry, he decided to stop.

Cubby houses were in high request so I obliged. The kids enjoyed helping build them, playing in them, watching TV from them and eating lunch in them.

More painting was requested. I bought some little figurines and they had a great time painting them and then doing some of their own paintings on paper. Again, Alexander joined in and loved it.

Painting Daniel and Eliza's preschool decorations

Alexander's first painting

Eliza wanted to paint a Christmas tree. She did very well

Daniel decided to make fireworks

It was a long 2 weeks but Daniel did really well. A lot of ABCKids was on and also a lot fo movies were watched but you do what you can to survive. Hopefully no more tonsils need to be taken out.