Christmas is coming, the blogger's getting fat

Please put a penny in the old man's hat...

And so on.

Personally, I think Christmas season starts too early these days.  We shouldn't see or hear any of the holiday music or decorations until after Thanksgiving.

Then why am I bringing this up?

Because this year I am asisting at my parish's Christmas bazaar and children's party this Saturday.  Early, I know.  And in December I have been tagged to run my Knight's council's children's party.

So I need ideas.  While I used to work in a day care center and went to college to become a teacher, that was 15 years ago and I have no kids of my own.  The fianceee gets that look in her eye whenever we see little kids, so the latter issue won't remain an issue for much longer.

Anyway.  For this weekend I have replaced the traditional Polaroid of the kids with Santa with my digital camera, laptop and photo-printer.  This will allow parents to get a reshot of junior without the tongue sticking out and not waste the expensive paper.  We will also be able to send pictures out via email to parishoners to forward to the family etc.  I thought it was low hanging fruit, but the social comittee says this is huge.

That is about it for me for the parish, aside from providing labor and crowd control for the day.

For the Knights:  I will do the same digital photo with Santa deal, but I will likely be Santa not the photographer.  Mrs Claus, aka K the fiancee, will likely have that job.  If the weather is good, Santa will also arrive on a motorcycle.  I"ll have to see if I can get a red nose or headlight lense for the Boulevard.

Beyond this I need activities to keep the kids busy.  The age range is toddler to 12.  One plan is to have the kids make crock pot cakes.  They are very easy to make, and require only one bowl to mix in.  Divy up the kids and unleash them in teams.  Do this at the start of the party, and at the end they will have the deserts that they prepared.  And a kid friendly recipe to take with them.  Recipe below the fold, if you care.

So, aside from teaching them to bake in a very low risk of injury way, pictures with Santa and Christmas music, that would be good to keep kids busy for 3-4 hours?