Christmas Project: Ticking Along

Our family Christmas project is coming along slowly but surely. I have had a very enthusiastic email from Andrew at Tear Fund offering ideas and support - they are so great to deal with there! They really have that personal touch; you don't get the feeling you are dealing with a machine.

The kids are slowly filling up their chart of earnings from their special chores. There have been some changes on the employment front - Princess is now on her third career; folding the washing lasted a week; I re-thought it and offered her a switch, because it's a huge job! She did very well at it though, and insisted on doing it all herself. I was so impressed.

Her next job was setting the table. Dash has kept up with taking out the recycling but this morning asked for a change; so now Princess has taken over recycling and Dash is going to have a go at unloading the dishwasher.

They get $2 a week each for completing their special chores, which will add up to $22 each by the week of our Christmas Party.

Natalie from Tear Fund also sent me a bunch of Gift for Life catalogues for our party invitees.

My idea was that if taking on a time-consuming family project was too much, our friends could pick something from the catalogue and work on something smaller with their kids. The point was to get our kids thinking about helping others at Christmas so the amount isn't what's important. As they say "it's the thought that counts"!

You can get a batch of chicks for $12, a pig for $45 or a goat for $50. Bargain!

We have made 6 complete packs of collage cards which my mum and her friend are buying; I have designed a special batch of cards for Grandma in England, with the kids dressed as Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. She wants 40 plus maybe more. That gives us $70 profit so far, plus what the kids are earning, we stand at about $114.

I have also listed some of my party invitation designs on TradeMe and will put any proceeds towards Watoto.

I still want to do a lemonade stand, maybe hook up with a couple of our neighbour families - I think it would be lots of fun to do that together. My friend Nic gave me the recipe we used at the Kindy gala for delicious Old Fashioned Lemonade. I will post it below.

Now I have to start thinking about the party itself, which all of a sudden doesn't seem so far off!

I sent a pre-invite to a bunch of friends and neighbours, and we have 8 families confirmed.

I am trying to get hold of some haybales for the party; as seating and to create that "barn" feeling. If you know anyone in the Auckland area who may be able to help out with that, please email me! I need about 10-15 at least. (greatfun4kids@live.com)

Andrew from Tear Fund has offered a DVD to play and show people what it's all about, which I will set up to run somewhere. The party will be outside, a relaxed BBQ; I'll string up lots of lights, put up a big outdoor tree and get everyone to bring/make a decoration for it showing what their project has been. Mr G will do his Santa thing (he's great at it) with some crazy games for the kids, we'll chill out, eat drink and be merry to my extensive collection of Christmas music. Maybe I can bribe people to come dressed up this year? I'm thinking "Christmas Story" theme - hey there's great scope there and very easy costumes! Wise Men, shepherds, angels, donkeys...!

I am thinking it's going to be great fun!



Old Fashioned Lemonade Recipe


To Make the Syrup:

Rind and juice of 3 lemons
3 cups sugar
2 Tablespoons of Citric Acid
1.2 litres of boiling water

• Peel the lemon rind off the lemons and whizz in the food processor with the sugar. (If you have no food processor, grate the lemon rind off and mix together instead).


• Dissolve the sugar/rind mixture and citric acid in the Boiling Water.


• Stir in lemon juice.
  
  This makes 1.5 litres of concentrate which, once cooled, can be bottled and kept.
  Dilute with soda water for a fizzy lemonade: 1 part concentrate to 3 parts water.
  Made up this way you will have 6 litres of deliciously tangy Old Fashioned Lemonade.
  
  Serve with ice cubes and lemon slices.
  Mmmmm!