I don't know about you, but Christmas is my favorite time of year. All of the lights, baking, and family just make it very special to me. I love to cuddle with my little girl and watch christmas movies while eating christmas cookies! YUMMY!!!! But I know one of these Christmas's its just going to be me and her because her daddy will be deployed for Christmas. How would I make Christmas special for both of them while they were apart. Well I have a few ideas and thought I'd share them with you.

Care Package Ideas


a tree- What is christmas with out a tree? Well most stores sell little 12 inch trees just the right size for a table top now. You can buy them decorated or decorate them yourself.

gifts- Send Daddy or Mommy some smaller christmas gifts. The homemade kind are the best! That way on Christmas morning if they can't be home with you they have some gifts to open and know that you are thinking of them. At the bottom of the page will be some crafts you can do for Christmas gifts.

decorations- Send decorations so that Daddy or Mommy can decorate their room. Make some paper link garland, Draw some holiday pictures (snow men, santa). Maybe send a small nativity.

FOOD-Food is always a must send. Everyone loves to recieve food. Make up some holiday cookies and decorate them.Send lots of holiday goodies!

Video and Pictures-Take lots of video and pictures of holiday activities like decorating the tree, building snowmen, decorating the house, wrapping gifts, going to look at Christmas lights. Send these to him (or her) before Christmas to help them get into the spirit of the holidays and feel involved. Also don't forget to tape Christmas day opening presents. You can send that later!!!

Gift Ideas



picture frame
have mom take a picture of you doing something really fun and develop it for you. Put it aside. Get four popsicle sticks and glue them together like a box (picture frame) if you want the sides thicker use 8 sticks. Then decorate your frame using paint, glitter, felt....what ever your imagination says! When it is dry have mom help you glue the picutre you set aside into the frame. Perfect gift for a parent who is away!

Sweatshirt
This is a great gift for a deployed mom. Especially if the kids are younger. It can also be done with a t shirt. Get some fabric paint or puffy paint at any craft store. Pour the paint onto paper plates and have the child dip their hand into one of the color and then put thier hand print on the shirt. Cover the shirt this way. Kids have a blast doing this. then with left over puffy paint write something to the affect of "Mommy's Messy Little Angel" (or Angels)

Stamping Fun
Have mom or dad cut Christmas shapes out of sponges and then you can have fun.Dip the christmas shapes in paint and then stamp decorations. (Christmas cards, paperbags for gift wrap)

An extra special Christmas Idea


Most deployed Marines are very lonely around the holidays. How about making some cards and things for some of your mommy or daddys Military friends who are deployed with them. Here is an idea from a friend of mine: She bought little stocking for the men who worked with her husband. (You could also make little stockings out of red construction paper and glue) She then wrote the name of all of the marines on their stockings. In each stocking she put a candy cane and a homemade ornament her children had made. She also gave them a card that her kids had made!
Even if your parents aren't deployed there are alot of military men and women who are. Why not make up some christmas cards and pictures for them. They'd appreciate it more than words can say. Here is a link to a site that contains lists of addresses for any service member:
Support Our Marines
During the holiday season lets try and remember others who may not be remembered! YOu never know who you will affect!








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Created By Judith Ervi, all rights reserved 1998.