How many more days, Mom?

Mom? Now how many days?

The litany begins after Thanksgiving, and continues until Christmas Day. If your children mark off each day on a calendar, all those blank spaces until Santa arrives in his reindeer-drawn sleigh can seem endless. And then theyre out of school for the long holiday break!

Even the most patient Mom can have a difficult time keeping her cool. But here are some enjoyable activities to help pass the time more quickly for your children.

Homemade Christmas Ornaments I: Mix 2 cups flour with 1 cup salt, add 2 to 3 tbsps vegetable oil and approximately 1 cup water. Spread waxed paper on table (tape edges to secure) and let children make stars, Christmas trees, candy canes, etc. Bake at 250 degrees for 45 minutes to 1 hour (depending on thickness). When completely cool, paint.

Christmas Ornaments II: Mix 1 cup applesauce and 1 cup ground cinnamon (buy those jumbo containers at the Dollar Store, 2 for $1.). Mix until it feels like clay, adding more cinnamon or a bit of flour until it can be easily molded. Roll out to cut with holiday cookie cutters, or mold into shapes. You can use a plastic straw to cut a hole for hanging on the tree later. Let dry on waxed paper for several days, turning every day or so. Your children will enjoy the sweet, spicy fragrance of their original creations. If you cut a hole in the ornaments, hang from the tree with ribbon.

Christmas Ornaments III: Cover cookie sheet with aluminum foil. Sort several rolls of clear Lifesavers candies by color into plastic bags, and crush with a rolling pin (red in one, green in next, etc.). Using refrigerated sugar cookie dough, have kids roll pinches of dough into strips, then shapes (circle, triangle, heart, etc.). Place on cookie sheet and fill in blank spaces with crushed candies. Bake 8 to 10 minutes at 375 degrees. When completely cool, peel off aluminum foil and set in Christmas tree branches. These are called stained glass cookies.

Holiday Punch: Mix one gallon apple cider with 1 large can of unsweetened pineapple juice in crock pot, with 1 tbsp whole cloves and 2 to 3 sticks of cinnamon. Simmer on low for 4 to 6 hours. Your home will smell Christmasy, and the whole family will enjoy a mug of punch while sitting around the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve.

Ice Box Gingerbread: Mix this recipe together, and your children can bake gingerbread muffins on several occasions while waiting for the Big Day.

 1 cup Crisco shortening1  tsps baking soda 1 cup sugar3 cups flour 3 eggs2 tsps ginger 1 cup dark Karo syrup2 tsps cinnamon 1 cup sour milk (whole1 tsp nutmeg milk mixed w/1 tbsp vinegar) tsp salt 

Cream Crisco shortening and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, beating well. Mix spices with flour. Add Karo syrup, milk, soda, and flour mixture to shortening/sugar/egg mixture. Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours. Pour into greased muffin tins (2/3 full) and bake at 350 degrees for about 12 minutes. Bake only as many as you need (fill empty muffin tins with water). This batter, covered, will keep in the refrigerator for 1 week.

Now Its Christmas Eve

and your children are wild! Of course, youve been saving the best for last. After the snack of milk and cookies has been left out for Santa, its time to make

Reindeer Treats: Mix silver glitter with dry oatmeal or other cereal (and, if you really want to liven it up, add chopped carrots, apples, and celery). Let the kids spread the treat on the driveway, the lawn, on Christmas Eve. After theyre asleep, take a broom to the driveway.

And this ones for Mom, so she wont miss all the fun on Christmas morning:

Make Christmas Breakfast the Night Before: Your children will think this is a grand idea, especially if you involve them in the project. Here are two chill in the refrigerator overnight recipes to choose from.

Cheese Brunch Casserole

1 cups shredded cheese layered with 8 slices of bread, buttered and cubed, in a greased 13 by 9 casserole dish. Mix 6 eggs, 3 cups of milk, salt and pepper, and pour over cheese and bread. Cover with aluminum foil and refrigerate. Bake, covered, 45 minutes to 1 hour at 350 degrees.

Texas Breakfast Casserole

1 can Crescent Rolls
1 lb sausage, cooked and drained (or you can substitute crumbled bacon or cubed ham)
1 lb grated Monterey Jack cheese
6 eggs, beaten
1 can cream of onion soup
Line 13 x 9 casserole dish with rolls, pressing together to seal perforations. Cover with sausage (or bacon, or cubed ham) and half the cheese. Mix eggs with soup and pour over sausage. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top. Cover with aluminum foil and refrigerate overnight. Bake at 350 degrees for about 1 hour.

Gram hopes that these ideas have been fun for you and your children, and make your holiday season a wee bit brighter.

Happy Holidays to Our Readers!