Reindeer Food

We have quite a few holiday traditions that we try to do every year and sometimes we add a few new ones into the series.  One of our customary traditions is making reindeer food -- a bag composed of oatmeal, cocoa, sometimes raisins, flour, glitter ... whatever we desire ... that is sprinkled onto the front lawn on Christmas Eve.  The idea is that the reindeer will see the sparkling glitter and know to stop with Santa at our house and then may enjoy the oatmeal while Santa is inside delivering packages. 

My favorite thing about these Christmas traditions is that we will be doing them for many years ... even when Samantha is older and maybe isn't as interested (and that makes me a little sad to think about), Jimmy will still be at an age where he is truly into the celebration.  The Christmas spirit will live in the Lapinski household for a long time.

Filling their bags with flour, cocoa, oatmeal, chocolate chips (anything goes!) and glitter:

No exact measurements needed; a little of this, a little of that.

Jimmy's favorite filling was chocolate chips.  He would put one in the bag, eat one, put one in the bag, and so on.  I eventually had to limit his consumption.

Samantha was following a specific "recipe" from her memory.

A group shot taken in process:

And then, me.  Writing names on the bags and tying them up tightly.  They will sit on our counter until Christmas Eve when the kids get bundled up, squeal with anticipation and prepare for Santa's arrival.