1. Dashing through the snow
In a one-horse open sleigh
O’re the fields we go
Laughing all the way.
Bells on bob-tail ring
Making spirits bright
What joy it is to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonight.

Chorus:
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way,
Oh what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh, O
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way,
Oh what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh.

2. A day or two ago
I thought I’d take a ride
And soon Miss Fanny Bright
Was seated by my side;
The horse was lean and lank
Misfortune seemed his lot,
We ran into a drifted bank
And there we got upsot. Chorus

3. A day or two ago
The story I must tell
I went out on the snow
And on my back I fell;
A gent was riding by
In a one-horse open sleigh
He laughed at me as I there sprawling laid
But quickly drove away. Chorus

4. Now the ground is white,
Go it while you’re young,
Take the girls along
And sing this sleighing song.
Just bet a bob-tailed bay,
Two-forty as his speed,
Hitch him to an open sleigh
and crack! You’ll take the lead. Chorus

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Christmas cookies are as much a part of the Christmas tradition for many as a visit from Old St. Nick himself. The cookies are often prepared in hopes of his pending arrival by children that are as excited as they can possibly be with all sorts of visions of great things to come dancing around in their bright and shining little eyes. Preparing the cookies in these instances can be a great time of bonding with your little ones but can also be a trying time if you don’t follow a few of the tips and hints listed below.

If you want to make cooking Christmas cookies and/or candy with your little ones the very best experience for you all that it can possibly be make sure you do it on a day when this is the only thing on your calendar. You do not want to rush through this time that is not only important for bonding with your child as a parent but also a time that is an important opportunity to lock in a few precious memories of great times you’ll spend together. This is one thing that you want your children to look back at Christmas and remember doing with you and you want to be able to look back on Christmas and remember doing this with your children.

You should also make sure that everyone is well rested and well fed before beginning the process. This is important now more than ever before, as we know more about the dangers of foods, such as raw eggs, that are included in cookie dough as well as the dough for many of our favorite Christmas confections and candies. You do not want to risk the health of your children through temptation over raw cookie dough.

Be sure that every child gets a turn with the fun stuff. This includes of course using the mixer and watching things spin around as well as choosing their personal favorites for the next batch of cookies. You should also make a few cookies that you plan to let them paint, decorate, and play with just for fun and their own personal enjoyment. This will guarantee a few smiles while also scoring a few brownie points for mom.

Be patient and expect spills and messes. If you can afford a cleaning service once a year, the day after your cookie extravaganza is the day you want to splurge. Seriously, don’t sweat the small stuff. We make little messes every day it shouldn’t be such a shock when they make a really big mess in one day. This is one of the reasons why you want to plan your cookie making on a day when the calendar is clear-you will need time for clean up when all is said and done.

Make sure you have all the necessary ingredients for each and every single recipe before you begin. This is very important as cookie dough doesn’t wait well for that final egg and children don’t understand very well when they are interrupted from one project to run a quick errand (also, when was the last time you made it in and out of the grocery store in under an hour?). If you can make it through all the steps above you should be in for smooth sailing and Christmas cookie cooking.

Learn More on Christmas Cookies

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If you are on a real tight budget this Christmas or just love to be crafty during the holidays here are some wonderful homemade Christmas card ideas for you to try this holiday season.

Potato Stamp Cards:

Supplies you may need for your homemade Christmas Cards:

• Paper Bags or Craft Paper
• Potatoes or Sponges
• Paint or colored ink
• Ribbons
• Hole Punch
• Ink Pen
• Paring Knife (adult supervision)
• Plastic Plate
• Scissors

Step #1 – Check to see if you can find any left over envelopes. You can look in old Christmas card boxes or the drawer where mom or dad pays the bills (ask first). If you find any unused envelopes you can use them and you will need to be sure that the cards you make will fit inside these cards.

Step #2 – Measure the envelope (if you didn’t find any have mom or dad buy some for you).

Step #3 – Cut out the brown paper bag to be the same height as the card but twice as wide as the card.

Step #4 – Cut the potatoe in half with an adult helping.

Cut out a Christmas tree shape on the exposed side of the potato (white not the skin).

Cut away potato from the outer edge of the tree that surrounds the tree. You can use three potatoes to cut out different sizes of trees.

Step #5 – Put the paint or ink onto the plastic plate

Dip the Potato Tree into the paint or ink, now place it on what will be the front of your card (one tree or you can make a group of trees).

Step #6 – Make two holes with the hole punch about a centimeter apart below the Christmas tree.

Step #7 – Insert one end of the ribbon through the left hole, and then put it through the other hole. Loop each end around back and through the opposite hole. Now, pull the ribbon out the front of the card. Tie the ribbon into a pretty Christmas bow.

Step #8 – Use the scissors to trim the ribbon.

You can stamp more trees on the inside or write a holiday greeting.

You can also place Christmas stickers on the card or place crayon ornaments on the trees.

You can also decorate the envelopes too.

Use the sponge instead of the potato or buy stamps in the store.

Easy Construction Paper Cards:

Every child knows how to make Christmas cards out of construction paper. You just fold a piece of construction paper in half. Decorate the one outside half like the front of a Christmas greeting card and write a greeting on the inside of the card. Use Christmas colors (green, red, purple). Use Christmas stickers to decorate the cards if you wish.

Left Over Christmas Cards:

If your family saves old Christmas cards ask if you can use them to make new cards.

You will need the old Christmas cards, construction paper, glue, pen, crayons or markers, and scissors to make these homemade cards.

Sort through the pile of old Christmas cards to find the front of your homemade card. Once you find one you like, cut the front off the old card. You can use parts and not the entire front if you like. You can also use more than one old card to make a different picture.

Fold the construction paper in half

Glue the old card picture onto the front of your construction paper card.

Using the pen, crayons or marker add to the picture, or draw new pictures to go with the old card picture.

Write a holiday greeting on the inside of the card with your pen. You can copy greetings from the old cards.

Ready Made Cards

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1. Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains.

Chorus
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

2. Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song? Chorus

3. Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King. Chorus

4. See Him in a manger laid,
Whom the choirs of angels praise;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
While our hearts in love we raise. Chorus

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Christmas decorating has become bigger and better throughout the years. Many avid Christmas decorators begin their seasonal planning weeks before the holidays arrive. If you are looking to expand your decoration collection, and you would like to add some early holiday spirit to your home, why not learn how to make a Christmas decoration? You will unleash your creative spirit and have some holiday fun in advance of the bustle of the season.

How to Make a Christmas Decoration: The Selection Process

With the huge selection of holiday decorations that you can learn how to make, it can be extremely difficult to make a decision about where to start. The first step in learning how to make a Christmas decoration should be to figure out what type of crafting you like to do best. If you are handy with a needle and thread, perhaps stockings would be a quick project for you to whip up on your sewing machine.

If you like finer crafts like crochet or needlepoint, perhaps a delicate ornament that will showcase your work would be a good first craft to try. Knitters can make mittens and stockings to hang from the mantle, and woodworkers can try their hand at some hand carved snowmen to adorn a holiday centerpiece. Whether your skills involve wreath-making, flower-arranging or clay sculpting, there will be a new Christmas decoration that you can learn how to make.

Where to find Craft Patterns

One great place to find new ideas in regards to how to make a Christmas decoration is in craft and hobby magazines, as these publications will show you the latest trends in your favorite crafts and give you some fresh ideas to spruce up many of the old favorites. You can also head to your library to pick up a book or two on Christmas crafts.

The advantage to holiday how-to books is that you can learn how to make a Christmas decoration that go along with your particular tastes and style. For instance, country lovers can find many country Christmas decorating books, while lovers of the Victorian era will find plenty of information and patterns just for them.

No matter what type of Christmas decoration you decide to learn how to make, try to start you project as early as possible to avoid the stress of a last-minute flurry. Take your time to enjoy your craft and do a good job on your project, so the end result will be a handmade Christmas decoration that you can be proud of.

Look HERE for Christmas Decoration Ideas

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Spending time with family during the Christmas season is at the very root of what this special holiday is all about, so planning some fun activities can help to make it even more memorable.

You may be wondering what fun activities you can do with your family to make the Christmas season a memorable one for all. There are actually a lot of things you can do, from the traditional to the not so traditional ones.

One way to get ideas is think back to your own childhood and the things you did with your family or friends. You may discover some traditions you want to pass on to your own family.

For instance making cookies is a tradition that many people have done over years. One of the ways to make making cookies fun is in decorating them. So you’ll want to choose cookies such as sugar cookies or gingerbread cookies just to name a few. These type of cookies are always favorites to decorate and of course to eat later! Baking cookies is not only fun but also provides yummy smells sure to be remembered in years to come!

Cookies are not the only thing you can make, you can also make candy, such as fudge or maybe have a taffy pull! You could also make chocolate covered pretzels and of course you should have plenty of hot cocoa around! You can top it off with whip cream or marshmallows…hmmm yummy!

If possible take the family to a Christmas tree farm where you can all choose a tree and cut it down. If this isn’t possible you should still involve the family in picking out a tree, so everyone can feel they contributed to choosing just the right tree!

You should also be sure to have Christmas music playing a lot during the holiday season especially when doing Christmas activities such as cooking, trimming the tree, wrapping presents etc.

Some other fun things you can do are take the family to a Christmas parade or tree lighting ceremony. It’s also fun to drive around the neighborhoods and look at all the different holiday decorations people have put up!

To help preserve your Christmas memories you should be sure to take plenty of pictures or videos. This way you’ll have something to pass down and share with other family members thru the years.