Christmas Party Details

PARTY GAMES

SURPRISE GIFT GAME ~ The kids love this game because they are getting a gift and getting it in a fun way. When I did this game I bought some games like bingo, checkers, chiniese checkers and puzzles from a local that had them on sale for 2 for 5 dollars. I then wrapped them up with 4 different kinds of wrapping paper. On each gift I wrote a number. When I got to the party I went around and wrote a number on the back of the kids plates. Then when the kids came in and sat down I had them look to see what there number was. Then one at a time then went up and found their gift. You can put a twist on this game and have the kids draw numbers and then the number one child goes and gets a gift. They open it and then the next child (#2) has the option to take #1's gift of pick from the unwraped ones. At the end the #1 child has the chance to pick from everyone else gift or keep the one he has. (You would not number the gifts if you did it this way) I would recommend only doing this game with older kids who could understand what was going on.

Musical gift ~ Wrap a small gift in about 20 layers of wrapping. Then play a musical chairs type thing where you pass the gift around. When the music stops the person who has it takes of a layer of paper. GO around until whoever gets the last layer off wins the prize! You can have the same gift over to the side and have enough for all the kids.

"Tree" trimming relay ~ Have a race decorating a person like a tree. Divide your party into 2 teams, each team tries to decorate their person in a certain amount of time. Using Christmas lights, bows, ribbons, etc. Don't forget to plug the lights in when they are done so you can see how pretty they are!

Christmas sock race ~ Split into 2 groups, one person from each group to be the coach. Each team gets a Christmas sock folded and put inside of a cookie tin. Each coach has to make sure that each person opens the cookie tin, puts the sock on then takes it off and folds it and puts it back in the tin then passes it to the next person. Whichever team finishes first wins.

Where is the joker? ~ Make up 4 large cards (Ace Jack Queen King) Place 1 card in each corner of the room. Play some music. When it stops, the kids run to a corner and stand by a card. They are allowed to change their mind once. Then, select a card from a prepared pack (containing only Aces, Queens, Kings, Jacks, Jokers-the last ones are optional) If Ace,Jack,Queen or King are drawn, those standing by that card are out! If a joker is drawn, everybody's back in!

Christmas word game ~ Hold up index cards with jumbled letters of a Christmas word (reindeer, Santa, presents, angles, etc.) displayed. The child who guesses each word first wins a prize.

 

Ho Ho Ho ~ You will need one sheet of red and one sheet of green posterboard or tagboard. Cut each sheet into eighteen 3-inch squares. Put a Christmas sticker on twelve of the squares. Write H or O on the other six squares, so that six of the squares spell out HO HO HO. You will have two sets of eighteen cards, one red and one green. Put each set into a Christmas stocking or basket. Divide the class into two groups. Start with Student One in Group One. Let her pull a card out of the stocking. If it is an H or an O then she puts it on the floor where everyone can see. If it is a sticker card she simply holds it. Then, go to Student One in Group Two and let him draw a card. Go back and forth between the two groups until one of the groups spells out HO HO HO. Give each member of the winning group a small prize.

Milk Carton Gingerbread House ~ You will need Use school milk cartons that have been washed out. Put graham crackers around the sides useing frosting as glue, to make a gingerbread house. Decorate with frosting and assorted candy.Thank you (screen name)MalibuS327 for sending in this great idea.

 

PARTY FOOD

Marshmallow Popcorn Christmas Tree ~ 12c Popped popcorn, 1/2c Margarine or butter, 3c Mini marshmallows, 1/2 pk Lime flavored jello, Green food color, Candy pieces to decorate tree. Spread popcorn evenly in jelly-roll pan or on waxed paper-lined counter. In medium saucepan, combine margarine and marshmallows; cook over medium heat until melted. Add jello; continue to cook until jello is dissolved. Add food color and mix well. Pour evenly over popcorn; stir quickly to coat. With dampened hands, shape popcorn into cone shape. Decorate tree with candy pieces.

Popcorn Snowman ~ 32 c Popcorn (about 1 1/2-cups unpopped), 4 c Sugar, 1 1/3 c Light corn syrup, 1 c Margarine or butter, 1 t Salt, 1 1/3 c Water, 2 ts Vanilla extract, 1/3 c Confectioner's sugar, 2 Cherry or-raspberry-flavor chewy-fruit rolls, 1/2 lb Green gumdrops, 2 Purple gumdrops, 3 Dark seedless raisins About 2 hours before serving or day ahead: Place popped corn in a large open roasting pan and set in 225 F oven to keep warm. Meanwhile, in a 5-qt.Dutch oven over medium heat, heat sugar, corn syrup, margarine or butter, salt and water to boiling, stirring constantly until sugar completely dissolves. Set candy thermometer in place and continue cooking, without stirring, until temperature reaches 250 F or hard ball stage. Remove saucepan from heat; quickly stir in vanilla. Pour hot syrup mixture over popcorn, tossing to coat well. Set aside about 2 cups popcorn mixture for snowman's hat. Wearing clean rubber gloves (for handling hot mixture), Shape remaining mixture popcorn into 2 balls, one slightly larger. On large plate, place smaller popcorn ball on top of larger popcorn ball to form snowman's body. Shape reserved popcorn mixture into cone shaped hat; place on top of snowman's head. In a mall bowl, mix confectioner's sugar with 1 1/4 tsp water to form a thick pasty frosting. Cut snowman's mouth from fruit roll; cut remaining fruit rolls into strips. Attach strips around neck for scarf and on hat for decoration. With frosting, attach 1green gumdrop to snowman' face for nose, and 2 purple gumdrops for eyes. With frosting, attach remaining green gumdrops around base and on tip of hat. With frosting, attach raisins to snowman's body for buttons.


Christmas Sugar Cookies ~1 cup Butter Flavor Crisco All-Vegetable Shortening
2 eggs, 1/4 cup light corn syrup or regular pancake syrup, 1 tablespoon vanilla
3 cups all-purpose flour (plus 4 Tbs divided), 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt--Decorations: (your choice)--granulated sugar, colored sugar crystals, frosting, candies, chips, nuts, raisins, coconut, decorating gel***When we decorate our sugar cookies, here is the icing we use on our cookies: 3/4 cup powdered sugar, 3-4 drops food coloring, and start with 1 T. water. Mix together and use regular, clean paintbrushes to apply icing. It's fun and easy and the kids love it! Heat oven to 375F. Combine sugar and Crisco in large bowl. Beat at medium speed of electric mixer until well blended. Add eggs, syrup, and vanilla. Beat until well blended and fluffy. Combine 3 cups flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add gradually to creamed mixture at low speed. Mix until well blended. Divide dough into 4 quarters. *Tip*--If dough is too sticky or too soft to roll: Wrap each quarter of dough with plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 1 hour. Spread 1 tablespoon of flour on large sheet of waxed paper. Place one-fourth of dough on floured paper. Flatten slightly with hands. Turn dough over and cover with another large sheet of waxed paper. Roll dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out with floured cutter. Transfer to ungreased baking sheet with large pancake turner. Place 2 inches apart. Sprinkle with granulated sugar or colored sugar crystals, or leave plain to frost when cooled. Bake one baking sheet at a time at 375F for 5 to 9 minutes, depending on the size of your cookies (bake smaller, thinner cookies closer to 5 minutes; larger cookies closer to 9 minutes). DO NOT OVERBAKE. Cool 2 minutes on baking sheet. Place sheets of foil on countertop. Remove cookies to foil to cool completely, then frost if desired.
MAKES ABOUT 3-4 DOZEN COOKIES

Orange snowballs ~ 2 3/4 c crushed vanilla wafers, 1 c. chopped nuts, 1/4 c. melted butter, 1/4 c. concentrated orange juice--Mix well and shape into balls. Dip in: 2 TBS. Soft margarine, 2 c. powdered sugar, orange juice to make right consistency for dipping--Dip balls into icing then roll in coconut. Store in airtight container. These are better after a few days. Freeze nicely.

Tasty Trees ~ 3 cups all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1 cup butter, softened; 2 cups sugar; 2 eggs; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; wooden craft staicks; 2 or 3 tubes green icing ; M&M's minis Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium size bowl. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar then stir in the eggs and vanilla extract. Add the flour mixture, one third at a time, mixing well after each addition. Gather the dough into a ball, wrap it in plastic, and chill for at least 2 hours. Heat the oven to 350*. Roll the dough to a 1/4 inch thickness between sheets of waxed paper. Remove the top sheet. Use a butter knife to cut out 3 1/4 inch tall triangles. Place the triangles on lightly greased cookie sheets 1 inch apart. Insert a craft stick three quarters of the way under each cookie. Bake for about 10 minutes or until the cookie edges turn light brown. Let the cookies cool for a few minutes on the pan, then transfer them to a rack to cool completely. Now your kids can decorate the tree pops with piped on icing and candy "lights". Makes 5 dozen

Sugar Cone Christmas Trees ~ On an upside down sugar cone you spread green frosting over it to make a Christmas tree. Add candies and sprinkles, etc. to decorate and eat. The kids love to make this one.Thank you (screen name) MalibuS327 for sending us this tasty treat.

Holiday PEBBLES House ~ instructions comming soon.

Claus Cakes ~ With the tip of his red cap tucked around his fuzzy white chin, this miniature Santa cake is both adorable and delicious. MATERIALS : Cupcake * White and red icing * Mini marshmallow * Shredded coconut * Blue and pink gel icing * Red candy Frost the cupcake with a layer of white icing. Add the red frosting hat, curving it around the side of Santa's face, and a marshmallow pompon. Sprinkle on a ring of coconut to make Santa's beard and hair. Draw on his eyes and cheeks with gel icing, then top it all off with a red candy nose.

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