I have wanted for many years to do a Santa's Woodshop with my kids for their friends...and this was the year it finally happened!
A lot of planning and preparation went into making this a reality. The kids and I searched the internet for craft ideas and they helped me pick out the most fun ones. We knew already that we wanted to make an m&m dispenser, and a friend had mentioned that she wanted a wooden camera for her daughter. Jacob wanted to do a catapult so we found a simple design and modified it to our own liking. The whale box is made on the bandsaw and is a miniature version of one I found at a thrift store for Jacob years ago. Finally we picked the crayon dispenser because we thought it would appeal to younger participants like Marianne.
Jacob, Beau, and Bekah helped me make the prototypes (we worked out a lot of bugs with those first tries!). All of the kids helped me assemble the kits.
We decided to make a sign up on Sign Up Genius (LOVE) and we invited several families from our ward and neighborhood. I wish we could have invited more, but we capped out at 32 kids.
On the designated day for Santa's Woodshop to be open we had the garage set up with tables with red and white striped plastic cloths, an extra table with hot cocoa, sugar cookies and wrapping items, and all of the tools primed and ready! My parents got sucked into the project - Dad brought his big drill press and Mom was assigned to Marianne
The kids were scheduled to come in half hour increments, four kids per half hour. Each of my kids was assigned to help with one of the crafts, and sometimes it varied what craft they would help with based on what the kids had signed up for. Jacob loved helping with the crayon holder, Beau was an expert with the catapult, and Bekah loved helping with the camera. My dad manned his drillpress, mainly helping with the m&m dispensers, and Rus and I took turns helping out at the other drill press, the sander, or the pneumatic guns.
It was a very busy 3 1/2 hours, but all of the crafts were made, tummies were filled with cookies and hot cocoa, and a few children even had the heart to wrap their creations up as gifts for someone else. Rus and I enjoyed visiting with parents as they dropped up and picked up their kids, and above all we just enjoyed having our woodshop opened up for the benefit of our friends!
It really was magical - we felt like Santa's elves making toys!
At the end of the day as we were cleaning up, I made everyone stop and pose for a picture. I realized that Marianne was asleep on her bed and decided she had to be in the picture too, even if she did look like she was still asleep. This is what we used for our Christmas card this year! I love all of the junk and clutter, and the "Explosive" sign in the background and each of the different expressions that the kids (and Rus) have. I think it's totally us.
I am so grateful that my dad was a part of this experience! He is so wonderful and charitable and I love him to pieces.
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