Winter Entertainment

Winter Movies, Films, Videos, Crafts, Amusements, Fun!

Fun Stuff

Movies"Jack Frost" Michael Keaton & Kelly Preston "Jingle All the Way" Arnold Schwarzenegger & Sinbad "Home Alone 1 & 2" MacCauley Caulkin Joe Pesci Daniel Stern"A Charlie Brown Christmas" The Peanuts Gang Miracle on 34th street" Santa Claus *S*"It's a Wonderful Life" James Stewart Donna Reed "A Christmas Carol" Many versions!

"Scrooged" Bill Murray"The Santa Claus" Tim Allen"A Christmas Story" Peter Billingsly Darrin McGavin"Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer" Claymation-Burl Ives Narrator "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" Dr. Suess Cartoon"Frosty the Snowman" Cartoon

Crafts

"Ice Candles"Before bed fill a 5 qt. plastic ice cream bucket with water (almost full) and leave on the front porch overnight (on a cold night). First thing in the morning the top should be frozen, and the sides too (but not the bottom). Carefully dump out ice and drain water out. You should have an "ice bowl". At night, put a votive candle in and light. Looks like a beautiful crystal --but it's just the ice!

"Salt Dough Ornaments"Break out your favorite cookie cutter shapes......ones you might like to see hanging on your tree. My personal favorite shapes are 'Hearts', 'Christmas Trees', 'Stars', 'Bells' and 'Ornaments' as they dont require detailed painting later but rather one solid color....and this is much easier for small children to do. You will need to make up a batch of Salt Dough. You may have your own fave receipe of this but in case you dont here is a basic oneIngredients Necessary:2 Cups Flour2 cups water1 cup salt 4 tablespoons cream of tartar 2 teaspoons of vegetable oil Other things you'll need: A Saucepan and a mixing spoon and a rolling pinMix flour, water,salt,cream of tartar and oil in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat when dough forms a ball. Cool at least five minutes prior to use. This dough will keep in an airtight container for months. You can also scent this dough with spearmint extract, cinnamon, vanilla extract,nutmeg or allspice to give your ornaments a pleasant scent!!!

Next flour lightly a flat surface and your rolling pin. Roll out untill thin flat (approx 1/8 thickness anymore than this will be too heavy to put on your tree) Then cut out into shapes with you cookie cutters. Then take a pencil whose erasure has worn down and put a hole into your ornament near the top by impressing it into the dough and leaving a hole. Put onto wax paper and into a place where they will not be disturbed as they need to dry out over at least a months time. You can also dry them in the oven on a very low temp (approx 100 dg) this method goes faster but some will bubble up and you will have to judge as to when they are completely dry enough .....drying at room temp is best. After they are dry you may paint them. Use acrylic Toll paints for best results! When dry decorate your tree!

Activities"Boys Toys" ContestWhen getting together as an extended family or friends (you can do this with immediate family as well but more the merrier!) and gifts are exchanged include inexpensive little boys' toys (e.g. cars,velcro dart game,sponge golf set.etc.) then the boys (or whoever wants to play) race or test thier marksmanship in a contest. A prize is given to the first place winner. You can do this with adults as well as the kids....infact the adults usually have more fun than the kids!!!

Christmas Neighborhoods Lights TourGo on a site seeing drive around the area to see the beautifully decorated and lighted houses! Come home to hot Wassail or Chocolate!

Snow ActivitiesBuild snow forts and have snowball fightsSnow Sculptures: Make statues from snow. Award a prize to the most original. And of course any of the following: skiing, tubing, ice skating, sleding, snow-shoeing, and snow-mobiling