Christmas - Ideas - Saint Paul,MN

We do a family video with popcorn on xmas eve. The kids (3 and 5) love it. We started this two years ago. We do take out, and we just hang out. It's nice.In the morning, I make a cake and cinnamon buns for xmas. My oldest helped me last year, it was a lot of fun.

I'm doing an activity advent calendar this year. Every day, they open a bag with that day's activity/event, etc. Some days we do crafts, other days we go places. They absolutely love it.

We always travelled for Xmas...before we had kids and until our oldest was 2....then we decided we never wanted to be away from home on Christmas morning again! We LOVE being home alone!! We have a 2yo and 6 yo. We LOVE that Santa gets to visit them at OUR house! We LOVE watching them come down the stairs on Xmas am to find the tree and their stockings!

We have a hanging Advent calendar with little pockets. We put in little slips of paper listing an activity to do on that day. Here are some things we include....
Ice skating
Drinking hot chocolate
Watching Xmas movies
listening to Xmas music
writing a letter to Santa
visiting Santa
making gifts for grandparents/aunts/uncles
Go sledding
Build a snowman
Bake cookies
Drive to see xmas lights
Read a Xmas story
Go out to dinner
Choose 3 toys to donate to others
Get a gift for daddy/mommy/brother

We also do other things not in the "calendar"....
Stay in jammies ALL DAY on Xmas!
Go see live music or a play (check a local school or church for good and affordable options!)

There are always lots of holiday themed activities going on around our town...even storytime at the library!....so we always have more choices than we can actually do!

Create your own traditions. Enjoy relaxing downtime with your kids! Being home alone can be a really wonderful thing!

You've described my ideal Christmas! We used to travel every Christmas to one side, then the other...through airports, long drives...ugh. I'd take a cozy holiday at home any day! Here are some of the non-baking things we love to do:
-pajama drive around the neighborhood after dark, with popcorn and cocoa, looking at the lights
-decorate a gingerbread house (they get all hard and stale if left out for the season, we make it a decorating thing, rather than an eating thing - of course, a few candies are eaten as decorate...
-lots of xmas music
-bedtime stories snuggled up by the fireplace
-drive up our local mountain and go sledding
-games with the family in front of the fireplace (our kids are just a year older than yours, and last year we built a marble game with plastic construction pieces that you drop the marble in and watch it go through the maze you've built; "biggest block tower EVER"; we pulled out their Imaginext FisherPrice sets and made a "base" and made up adventures for all their "guys")
-made cookies, put the boys in elf hats and delivered them to a senior's center (huge success!)
-picture with Santa at the mall
-crafts (check online for "preschool Christmas crafts" for ideas)
-hand made cards from the kids to the grandparents
-Skype with loved ones, even had them open presents from grandparents via Skype - kids loved the presents, grandparents loved watching the kids - all good!
-string popcorn (we tried this on a lark...turns out it's more fun to eat it than string it...but we had fun trying!)
-early evening walks with the kiddos all bundled
-advant calendars (some have toys, rather than chocolate, if you're looking to down play the candy)
-start some traditions...like reading T'was the Night Before Xmas and opening one present each, on Christmas Eve and new Christmas jammies
-plan a few social things, like inviting someone who is alone this Christmas, to join your family on one of the above activities, and start a Boxing Day (day after Christmas) brunch or open house and invite a few families/friends
-tour the downtown hotel lobbies and admire their xmas decor

Have a wonderful holiday!

xox

This year our son is two and a half and absolutely LOVING the christmas lights as we drive around at night. What about driving around different neighborhoods and looking at lights?

Another thing my son has really liked this year is the Salvation Army bell ringers. We have jingle bells on our front door that he plays with - he runs around the house, ringing bells, telling my husband and I to "put money in" (his outstretched hand). Maybe you could volunteer to ring bells or somewhere else? Choosing off of a Giving Tree was something I remember doing as a child. We did Operation Christmas this year through church and DS helped us pick out little things to fill the shoebox with. He enjoyed choosing a washcloth, toothbrush, small toys/trinkets for his "friend".

I also took DS to see The Nutcracker - I wasn't sure he would sit through a 2:00 (nap) show or 7:00 (bedtime) show. I have connections - I used to dance in it (even as an adult) so I was able to bring him to one of the rehearsals to "test" how he would do. It was at 7pm and he did AWESOME! He was so into the show that he sat and watched through rehearsal AND when I brought him to the actual show. I would have brought him the whole stretch of shows if I could afford it! They might surprise you...??

Do you belong to a church that might have events going on? Or it might be "old fashioned" but might still be fun - what about stringing popcorn to put on your tree? Watching The Grinch? Mickey's Christmas Carol? Rudolph?
Good luck!! :-)

Read Christmas books/stories, watch Christmas movies, listen to Christmas music while doing crafts, decorating, wrapping presents, playing games.

Check into local churches and go to their Christmas programs.

When I was very young my (only living) grandfather had to work at the vets club every Christmas day, so the family tradition had always been to celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve. Regardless of if we were all together, we'd have a nice dinner. Then we'd all pile in the sedan (cars were big back then and you could fit 2 complete families in one car!) and drive around looking at the lights. While we were gone, Santa would magically come. Since we lived in the north, the adults always told us he got there early because we were 'so close' to the north pole. We'd open presents and then head to midnight mass. Us kids had no problem staying up for mass as we were already jacked up from presents and being allowed to stay up late, much less leave the house at midnight! The next morning everyone but poor Grandpa would sleep in and we'd spend the rest of the day playing with new toys. Christmas night Dad or Grandpa would set up the film projector and run a couple roles of old home movies.

Sadly, DH and I didn't quite get to keep following that tradition because we settled near where his family lived, and they were strict Christmas Day activity people. We've since moved back north and I'm still trying to revive the tradition. It just doesn't feel like Christmas if we don't open presents in the dark.

This is a great time to start some traditions that will possibly stick with your children for the rest of their lives. You've been given some great ideas from many people here. Pick a few and get started!

1. Watch holiday movies.

2. Make homemade ornaments (there are lots of simple ideas online).

3. Drive around/walk around and look at Christmas lights.

4. Sing Christmas carols or turn on some Christmas carols and dance together.

5. Act as "Secret Santas" and leave goodies and/or gifts on the porches of neighbors or families in need.

6. Similar to the idea above, find an Angel tree that you can participate in, it would be fun for your kids to pick a gift for a child around their age and "help" you wrap it.

7. If you are burned out on making cookies, make homemade play dough (many recipes can be found online). Color it red and green, add some fine glitter to it, roll it out and use Christmas cookies cutters to make play dough "cookies" for fun, you can use them for a pretend tea party!

8. Read Christmas stories together. You could buy some Christmas themed books and wrap them, then in the days leading up to Christmas your kids could unwrap one a day and you can read them together.

9. Buy some advent calendars with the small chocolates inside, it is so much fun for kids and really a small amount of sugar per day.

Do you have any idea how many people would love to have a Christmas like yours? I get really tired of traveling to other people's houses, making food for 20 people, and having the kids go crazy because they missed naps and went to bed late.

I love everyone's suggestions so far. I think you can make it a special Christmas just by having time to relax and do whatever you want to do as a family. My friends from high school and I had a longstanding tradition to always see a movie on Christmas. We probably did this for 15 years until I got married and stopped going to my dad's house for Christmas. I always looked forward to that tradition though.

No need to be glum about the whole season. I think you may end up being pleasantly surprised at how nice it is to enjoy the holiday season when you don't have to run around visiting other people's houses and accepting visitors. Good luck to you!

We love to go to a restaurant for dinner then take a stroll on State St to see the Macy's Holiday window displays. Or just go around your neighborhood to look at lights.

Our Church also has an early evening service that we go to.

How about going to a hotel for the night and go swimming.

How about take your family and go volunteer at a homeless shelter or with animals etc. When I am feeling down, the best thing to do is to go help someone else. Your kids will also learn to give....then you can go look at lights, do some Christmas crafts,etc. (pinterest has good iteas).Go to a Christmas Eve Church service and enjoy it with your family.

Could you drive around and see lights.. In fancy neighborhoods..

Or go downtown and walk a Main Street all lit up. Wear Christmas hats... Take a thermos of hot chocolate.

Are ther any children's movies coming out for the holidays?

Look in your local paper for events and celebrations. We have tons here where we live.

You've got some great suggestions already but I wanted to suggest making those cookies you have so much of and taking them to firefighters, police stations, homeless shelters and such. There are so many people who need to know they're not forgotten. There is nothing like "giving" to let your kids know how much fun it is to "share". Merry Christmas!

there are a lot of local things. check out your local newspapers and start a tradition of going to see the local church christmas play most of them do one.

local parochial schools christmas program.

most cities have one neighborhood that outdoes itself with the christmas light display. go and then come home and have homemade hot chocolate and muffins.

start a tradition of making an ornament. your little one is to young but the 4 year old will love it. we have always done gingerbread houses. it started as one house which we did with all the kids. my kids are grown now and we made 6 this year. 2 people to a house. there are rules and prizes lol. on thanksgiving it is one of the main discussions. who's bringing what and when for the houses.

and making cookies doesn't mean you have to eat them lol. make them and then take them to the firestation, or a homeless shelter or the police dept. many people would love to have a plate of homemade cookies. make them and pass them out in little bags in your neighborhood. go visit someone at the nursing home and bring them a plate of cookies.

The holidays are what you make of them. Enjoy the time you have with just hubby and the little ones. before you know it there are wives and girlfriends and boyfriends to deal with. you will wish it was just your little family snug at home again.

Check and see when your local highschool will be doing its Christmas presentation and take the kids to that. Local children's museums and zoo's always have great things going on for the holidays. Check them out. Many churches have wonderful Christmas Eve candlelight services which are beautiful and peaceful.

Give to families in need.

Take your kids to see all the lights you can find. One of my neices still loves our driving around to see the holiday lights and displays on the houses and she just turned 20.

What ever your decide to do, definitely do something instead of spending time being bummed out about being without your family. Spend time being grateful you have family and you still have time to be grateful for them all.

Enjoy your Christmas.

No-Travel Christmas is awesome. We got tired of doing the family circuit years ago and no longer visit or invite people over on Christmas Eve or Day. It is super special to slow down and focus on your core family, IMO.

We play games and watch a Christmas themed show on Christmas eve. Christmas morning is relaxed and stress-free. I like not having to get ready for guests or rushing out to travel for hours. We usually see a matinee movie in the theater and for dinner get Chinese takeout. The latter two activities are things our Jewish friends do, and it seemed like a great idea to us!

We do something special for all twelve days of Christmas. Are you just thinking of Christmas day, or the whole season? Go to a church service, even if you aren't regular church goers. Christmas Eve services are quite lovely, usually with a pageant and lots of carols. Does your city have a drive-thru Christmas light display? You could also do a tour of the lights in your neighbourhood. Toboganning would be fun. Movie theatres are open on Christmas day. We go on a horse drawn sleigh ride every year. Are there any festivals in your area? We have a Festival of Trees and Lights. I take my kids to the open house at the Legisltive building. We go to see a Robert Munch play. We go to the zoo, we go to the museum, we go to the nature center, etc.

Try not to let this damper your holiday spirit. I know it may be hard but this
could be the best one.

-drive around to look at Christmas lights
-how about taking in a holiday matinnee cartoon movie. If the kids get
antsy & you have to leave early you won't feel bad about spending the
matinee price
-make a gingerbread house (you can even do the easy one w/graham
crackers)
-make crafts
-drive to the snow for a couple of hours of play
-have a night by the fire & make hot cocoa (or egg nog) complete w/whip
cream, candy cane & little green/red sprinkles on top
-watch famiy holiday shows on tv together
-go ice skating (even if it doesn't last long w/little ones

Kind of late in the game on my response here...I agree that doing an Advent Calendar is a great way to start a tradition.
You could get a book from the library about how Christmas or other holidays of the season are celebrated throughout the year, and then try some of those recipes or traditions just for fun.
Make some salt dough and let the kids make their own ornaments. When my kids were 4 and 2, they spent practically a whole day making and decorating their ornaments.
If you have any military bases nearby, find out if you can open your home to a service member who can't be home for Christmas.
Sorry you're glum, I hope it gets better.