Giving after Christmas

We all give and think about giving during the holidays. However, what about after the holidays are over? We have our children give their no longer wanted toys away to a shelter or the salvation army every year. However, instead of just throwing their no longer needed toys and clothes in a bag and calling it good, we take a little extra effort to make sure every doll is dressed and their hair is brushed with ribbons, we take extra care to make sure all game pieces are there and functionable, we wash clothes again to make sure they are stain free with no holes, and we package them nicely in boxes to give away. A couple of times we have known of a family that needed the toys and were happy to give them a big box full of clean nice toys. It is an activity that we use in our family to remind ourselves that while others may be less fortunate they do deserve the best of things also.
After the Christmas rush and stash is over we take time to find things to give. Not only does it help us to keep our clutter under control, but it really touches the hearts of our children to be able to take time to give of themselves. It causes them to appreciate all they have throughout the year.

Create a Child's Journal Jar

Create a writer with this easy to make journal jar. It's as simple as a mason jar filled with journal prompts, and a notebook and pen. Each day in the evening have your child pull a strip out of the jar paste it on a new notebook page and answer the question. Some days it may be as simple as "what planet is your favorite and why" other days it may be as difficult as "what do you like/ not like about school". This sets your kids up to record their lives and gives them an invaluable gift to look back on someday.

We know much of what we know of history today because people kept journals. Journaling is a window into your soul. Even though your child is answering simple questions, they are searching their true being to answer them. It gets them reflecting on what makes them motivated and why. This is a great tool to use for your kids and for yourself. If you have never tried to journal, why not start now. There are websites like this one, that will help you get started. Print out the suggestions and get writing. When the jar is empty try making prompts for each other. Let your kids give you prompts and you give them some.

At the end of the month, or year maybe take one night and read your favorite entries together.

Making Christmas Ornaments

Every year our kids make ornaments for the Christmas tree. Since they were little we have been collecting them and storing them. We have simple ones made of construction paper, plaster of paris hand prints, and even collectibles we have been given by the grandparents. While our tree may not win most exquisite tree of the year, it is top notch in our children's eyes. I love to see the joy in their eyes when they remind Grandma that they made this one when they were 2 years old, or that they painted that one when they were 4. We have enjoyed reminiscing about the ballerina ornament my daughter received when she was in the Nutcracker Ballet, and the boy scout figurine my son received last year. It's fun to see them talk about their past and remind them of all the fun they have had and all the memories that are stored in their hearts. As the years go on I know our memories will stay fresh as we spend time each year decorating the tree and talking.

My kids do not know it, but when they get married I will present them with a box of ornaments for their first tree. Maybe I will even include a new ornament for the occasion.

Gifts to bring out the child in all of us.

Last year for Christmas we bought our children several games that were intended to get us all moving. While we loved our WII and enjoyed more than anything racing each other, playing tennis and having cook-offs we still spent a lot of time in front of the TV. My husband and I set out to find some other fun interactive games that would keep us all moving and laughing while providing a non TV system. We were successful and found some great games. Here are three that we bought and have enjoyed this year.

HYPER DASH

Hyper Dash, the Target-Tagging Race Course Game! Set out the 5 targets to build the course any way you want it. Hyper Voice calls out the commands, from simple to super tricky. Race to tag the targets with the hand held unit in the correct sequence-fastest time wins!

For 1 - 8 Players.

We enjoyed placing these all over the house and having to run to find them. Our kids favorite was putting it at the end of a long wooden floor and having to slide to get to it. It was never boring as we could change the course anytime we wanted.

Cosmic Keep Away

Slide on one of the colored hand bands and choose the game. This talking ball will choose the teams. Now throw the ball quickly back and forth. But don’t let the player in the middle intercept it, or the know-it-all ball will call a penalty. And with three modes of play, you can keep the fun going for hours! Game 1 – Team Countdown: Complete 20 passes by keeping the ball away from the other team. Game 2 – Classic Keep Away: Make the most passes before a player in the middle intercepts the ball! Game 3 – One-Minute Keep Away: How long can you pass the ball before it gets intercepted? This was a great game for outdoor play. My husband and kids love to throw a football around and this added a nice twist that even I enjoyed playing.

SWINXS

Swinxs is the first screen-free games console that can play games, talk, listen and keep kids entertained and active for hours. Swinxs is durable, lightweight water-resistant and cordless. Its long-lasting battery approximately four hours of playtime ensures hours of fun whether in the playroom, at the park or at the beach. While a single player mode is available, up to 10 children can play Swinxs at a time, making it a great option for birthday parties. The package includes a Swinxs Console with 10 games pre-loaded, 4 colored wristbands, an adapter and USB cable.

This game is on the more expensive side but combines the first two games and more into a go anywhere game console. Play tag on the beach, take it camping for a night time game, or take it to grandmas house to keep the kids entertained.
The most important thing to remember is that our kids love it when we play a game with them. Finding a game that is just as challenging and fun for adults as well as the kids can lead to hours of quality time together and will make lasting memories for your children.

Date Night

One of the best things you can do for your growing family is to take a night off with your spouse. A date night once a month or once a week can help to keep you grounded and let you talk about the things that matter most. Date night does not have to include dinner in a fancy restaurant, a movie and dessert. Between that and paying a babysitter it can get expensive.

One way to cut the cost and ensure you will continue going out is to trade babysitting with another couple. My sister in law and I used to trade weeks. She would watch my kids on Friday night and the next week I would watch hers. It was free and easy. My husband and I enjoyed getting out and not worrying about taking too much time. We knew our kids were in good hands.

During the summer it's easy to save money by taking a picnic dinner to your favorite park and walking a trail afterward in the cool of the evening. When the weather turns cold heading to the local coffee shop for dessert can keep your budget in tack while still spending good quality time together.

Try to avoid running errands, shopping or bringing up past grievances. Take this time to reconnect so that you can in turn come back refreshed and ready to spend time with the kids again.

Span the Generations with Card Games

Some of my favorite memories growing up and even now as a mom with young children have been playing games with the extended family during the holidays. I love it when everyone, young and old, can sit around the living room or table and play a game that puts us all on equal ground. While kids love video games, grandparents can find them challenging and frustrating. A wonderful medium is card games like Uno and Skipbo, or games like Catch phrase and Would you Rather. These games can be played by many people at once or team up to make it more fun.

My family likes to play a game we call "dictionary". You would use the dictionary to look up a word you were sure most people did not know. Everyone was asked to write down a definition that could convince the other players that it was the correct one. Who ever got a vote for their definition got a point. The person with the most points won. We had more fun playing with a simple book and paper then any other game we could come up with. The creative and sometimes complex definitions that came up would have us laughing for hours. This game is a great way to get teens and their grandparents involved together.

During the holidays instead of the kids going off to play video games, and the grandparents heading into the living room to chat, why not pull them all together this year and play a game. Grow some wonderful memories for your family.

Take 30

Take 30, thirty minutes that is and go outside with your kids. Kick the soccer ball around, throw the foot ball, make an obstacle course or play keep away. Getting your kids active with you each day helps instill a life long love of being active. It builds great memories and can give your own spirits a boost after a long day at work.

Spending time together as a family will only help to keep communication lines open as they get older. It may take a little effort to get it started but the memories that it creates will last a lifetime for your child. Invest in your children now while they are young and start a cycle that will be passed down to generations to come.

Bonding in the Kitchen

Spending time in the kitchen with your younger children can help them feel needed, while encouraging them to eat healthy. Most kids want to at least try the vegetables they helped to cut. As your children get older, having them know how to cut and chop veggies for soups and stews can really be a huge time saver.

Kids may not always do a perfect job, but practice makes perfect. This is a great time to encourage your child's heart while teaching them how to prepare healthy meals for the family.

Finger Paints for Toddlers

One of my favorite things to do when my children were little and still in high chairs was to let them finger paint. This isn't your normal finger painting works of art however, mine were edible. Therefore, it was very safe.

Preparing a box of sugar free pudding and letting it set up for 5 minutes was the perfect medium for my little artists. I would put about 1/2 cup on the tray of their high chair and let them smear it all around. Not only did we have fun, but I felt good knowing that anything that got in their mouth was completely safe. Playing with pudding finger paints is not mess free, but it is very easy to clean up. Not to mention it also kept them very entertained while I cleaned up after dinner.

Growing your Family with Love Notes

A great way to keep the communications open as your children get older is to start a notebook of notes together. In each of my children’s rooms is a simple little notebook and pen. At bedtime or in the morning they may write me a note. Sometimes the notes say "I love you" sometimes they say "Thank you for buying me new shoes" and at times the note asks me to come see them the next night to talk. I try my best to check them each day and respond. A few times I am the one to start it by telling them how proud I was of something they did. One example, the other night I wrote and told my son how proud I was that he had helped his dad stack wood for a neighbor. These notes will be kept for many years and I hope they will look back at it when they are feeling sad or lonely and see all the good things they have done to make their parents proud. My hope is that as they grow they will be free to write me anything and keep the communication lines open.

For your little ones, as soon as they can write simple sentences this is especially fun. My seven year old and I have a story going back and forth. She writes a sentence or two and I come in the next day and write another. We have a very long story now. I usually try to throw in some funny sentences to make her smile. The story we have going right now is about a cat that had kittens. I wrote “The mama cat began to dig under the fence" To which my daughter replied "The kittens bit their mom’s tail. She came back." We both have a good time writing and laughing. By writing back and forth it is also helping her to practice her reading, writing and story telling skills.

Growing Your Family with Family Meetings

Every Sunday evening we meet as a family for a family meeting. We get to bring up any new business (schedules for the week, etc) and talk about our goals from last week. Did we have any successes or failures? What could we do differently?

The biggest thing we do at family meeting is that it allows us as a family to feel safe about bringing up issues we have with one another or other people. Sometimes it might be a miscommunication that lead to an argument. Our kids get to safely bring up grievances and work it out with the other members. Parents can do the same but we only bring up family issues not marriage related issues. Everyone has a voice and everyone feels heard.
What do you do with your family that works?

Growing a Budding Artist in Your Family Tree

Do you have any artist wanting to bloom in your family? Have you thought of ways to support them? Given them the tools to become an artist?

We set up a cupboard full of supplies for our children to grab. It is right by the table in our kitchen so that when Mom is making dinner or lunch and the kids want to play we can be together.

It doesn't cost a lot and you can be creative about paper supplies. Who says you can't do a painting on a cereal box or the inside of the newspaper? What ideas have you come up with to help your budding artist?

In Times of Deepest Need- How To Be There For Your Friends and Family

The days that follow the death of a loved one all seem to run together. People come and go, plans have to be made for the funeral/memorial service. Final arrangements and documents have to be submitted. Gifts that have been given may go unnoticed for weeks. Not because the gifts are not appreciated or wanted, but because their days just blur into each other and before they realize it weeks have passed.
What is something you can do that will stand out? Can you give a gift that will make an impact now and years down the road? Sure you can. Memorial trees are growing in popularity as a sympathy gift. I suggest that you send a card with your sympathies stating your intention to plant a tree in the honor of their loved one. However, I am not talking about a large out door tree. I found this great little gift from www.planetgiftbaskets.com that is a ginkgo biloba tree. It is a hardy disease free tree, easy to grow. When you purchase this tree, send it to yourself. Plant the tree and tend to it for its first year. After all the last thing on some ones mind when they have lost a loved one is to water a plant. Most plants and flowers that one receives following a tragedy will not be cared for. Once again not because of ingratitude, but they honestly have other things plaguing their minds.
When should you gift this mini tree? On the one year anniversary of the passing of their loved one. The one year anniversary is another one of the hardest times after their loss. Remembering, replaying, reliving the events of that day the year before, but without the huge support this time. What better time to show up with a gift that is one year old, lovingly tended, as a memorial of their loved one. Not only will they appreciate the thoughtful gift, but it will become a treasured item as it serves as a living memorial. They can remember their loved one as they tend to and care for the tree. It serves another purpose too. It shows them that their loved one was not forgotten by others. Your gift will be remembered and cherished for years to come.

Are you Juggling Too Much? How to Find The Time You Need

If you are like most parents these days, you probably are feeling a bit overwhelmed at your daily and weekly schedules. How did we come so far from our grandparents lives? Did you ever hear your Grandma talking about soccer practice, gymnastics then piano lessons all in one day?

Around my town, parents go to every practice for every sport or event. I actually loved it when my oldest was little because I'd tote the boys (younger) with me and have my social hour with my friends on the soccer field while watching our daughters play soccer and our little kids play around our feet. We'd bring snacks to share with everyone and chairs and blankets. It was like a picnic two nights a week.

Then something happened. My second child grew up enough to have his own sporting events. And before I knew it, I was packing everyone around five nights a week to different ball fields and practices. We were exhausted and grumpy and couldn't take one more night of "crockpot". I thought it would never end.

The next few years got worse. Now all three of my kids had events and sometimes they overlapped. I now had to be "one of those" parents who dropped off my kid and ran to the next thing. I was missing out on my social hour with grown ups and I needed that time. I was tired and my kids were too busy and now I felt guilty for not staying around the fields. It was a destructive cycle.

So, I ask...when did this generation of ours decide we have to do it all and by ourselves? I'd think it was just this way in my town, but I've heard countless stories of other moms and dads being run ragged.

More to come....

Peanut Butter Playdough You Can Eat!

Everyone is always looking for an edible playdough for kids that put everything in their mouth. This one is great if you are not allergic to peanuts. You do need to make sure you that you store this in a very airtight container...

Peanut Butter Play Dough

One 18-oz. jar creamy peanut butter
6 T. honey
3/4 c. non-fat dry milk

Mix together to the consistency you desire. You can add more dry milk as necessary.

Store in an airtight container.

Warning: Do not use if you are allergic to nuts.

Recipe for Kool-Aid Play Dough

Yum...this playdough recipe smells so good. The kids really love it! Try different versions of it and have a "smell-a-thon". We like to make this for play dates with friends or to take over to Grandma's house.

1 cup flour

1/4 cup salt

2 tablespoons cream of tartar

1 package unsweetened Kool-Aid

1 cup water

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Mix flour, salt, cream of tartar and Kool-Aid together in a sauce pan. Then add water and oil. Stir over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes. When mixture forms a ball in pot, remove. Knead until smooth. Put in a plastic bag and refrigerate.

Family Entertaining

Does your family entertain other family members or friends for dinner? If so, we want to hear from you. We have some simple steps to make it easier and to help all your family members get involved.

• put all the chores that need to be done on a piece of paper and then put them in a jar. Let everyone take a turn and grab out two or three chores. This lets everyone get excited about what they might choose. It works for kids very well.

• Mix up the chores. If you kids have chores that are specifically theirs you will be surprised at how grateful they will be if someone switches with them.

10 Things to do for Family Night

Our Top Ten List of things to do for Family Night

1. Movie Night Rent a movie and make popcorn
2. Talent Show Everyone gets to show off a talent (be creative and silly)
3. Go Bowling
4. Eat a special meal from another country (make it an 8 week theme and pick different foods to cook or go out to ethnic restaurants
5. Do Charades
   
6. Play a variety of Board Games
   
7. Play Night Tag with Flashlights
8. Go Swimming
9. Have an Indoor Camp Out
10. Invite another Family for Dinner

Here is another great list of activities. remember the key is to spend time together that is quality and will make lasting memories.

Family Night

Family Night equals quality time spent with the family. Everyone is present and everyone participates. What do you do for family night? Why is it so important? Do you have an established plan or night?
We started family night about 10 years ago when my mother-in-law passed away. She gave us a great sense of family and we wanted to continue that tradition, but we didn't have any ideas how to create those great memories.
We started simple with Friday night being Pizza night and then we would play a game or sing together or go bowling. Our youngest was only 6 months old when we started.

Growing Your Best Family

Have you thought about what it takes to Grow Your Family? We have and we want to provide ideas and thoughts for you to ponder. We want you to share what you know about growing your family. You do it every day. You watch others. What works and what doesn't?