Christmas Tradition – Waiting for Santa

Every Christmas Eve I take my time to spend all day with the kids. By then I have my shopping done, all my wrapping is done and it is just a Mommy and Me kind of day. The kids are always excited and can’t wait for Christmas Eve. Every year we go as a family on Christmas eve to Panera Bread and all enjoy a nice warm cup of Cocoa and a Fresh Croissant, that started a few years ago  and we kept that as a Christmas Eve tradition. Once we get home we always turn on the Christmas Cd’s and the kids decorate their Christmas Plates. We have been doing this ever since the kids were little and it is a nice memory to look  at each of their plates..

Here are the plates that the Teen, the Tween and the Toddler made Christmas 2009.

These plates are so simple yet are a big tradition and the kids ask for weeks to make sure I get all the things we need.

Here is what you need:

1.        Porcelain Plate, I always get white but try to get different shapes each year, the cheap ones at Walmart or Target for $1-$2 will be perfect, just make sure they are dishwasher and microwave safe

2.        1 pack ( or a few different colors) Porcelaine 150 Marker Set- Set of 4, Fine Tip ( doesn’t have to be fine tip, regular is fine, works actually better for little hands). These are about $15 a pack, but Michaels sells these and you can use a 40%  or 50% coupon so that makes them about $7-$8 a pack. The nice thing is you will be able to use them for a few years. My kids have yet to empty the set I bought 2 years ago. So they can be re-used for the next year.

How to make it:

1.     Give each child a plate and let them color with the markers whatever they like on the plate. I always like when they add the date so we know when they created the plate.

2.      Once the kids are one coloring the plate, set them aside for 24 hrs to dry, after the 24 hrs are up, pre-heat the oven 300F and “bake” the plates for 35 min ( read directions on the pens).

3.     Once you are done baking the plates, let them cool. Now they are dishwasher and microwave safe, the color will not come off. I have plates that are 10 years old and we use them not every night but every so often we use them and they still look like on the first day…

This is such a great family memory that the kids will remember for a long time and you will treasurer. It is just so neat to look at each plate every year and see the progress they’ve made.

Merry Christmas…