Fun

Adventures

When I am among the trees,

especially the willows and the honey locust,

equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,

they give off such hints of gladness.

I would almost say that they save me, and daily. 

I am so distant from the hope of myself,

in which I have goodness, and discernment,

and never hurry through the world

but walk slowly, and bow often.

Around me the trees stir in their leaves

and call out, “stay awhile.”

The light flows from their branches.

And they call again, “It’s simple,” they say,

“and you too have come

into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled

with light, and to shine.” -Mary Oliver (When I Am Among the Trees) 

I hope you enjoyed this lovely poem, by Mary Oliver, as much as I do! I’m currently reading through one of her collections, Devotions, and it’s been inspiring me to get out in nature and to learn more about our physical world. While we aren’t big on New Year’s resolutions and prefer to try our best the whole year through, every member of our family has expressed a longing to spend more time together in the great outdoors this year. Therefore, we’ve all been looking for any excuse to gather our gear and head for the trails, in hopes of discovering a new meadow or stream. On a day off, you will most likely find us out and about, either on our bikes or exploring a local nature trail.

Before we head for the trail, I usually pack what we’ve come to refer to as a wanderlunch. (For more information, see How to be a Wildflower: a Field Guide, by Katie Daisy.) Essentially, a wanderlunch is a conveniently bundled variety of trail-friendly treats. Then, we all have fun searching for the perfect spot to rest and enjoy our treats. (And I always enjoy an opportunity to once again test my scientifically unproven opinion that food tastes better when it’s consumed al fresco!)

If you would like to pack your own wanderlunch, here are some of the goodies we like to include for a day on the trail.

Wanderlunch Goodies:

-crackers (We prefer a seeded, whole grain cracker or Triskets.)

-cheese (I like Manchego, but you can’t usually go wrong when is comes to cheese! Sometimes, the boys like cheese sticks too.)

-guacamole (I purchase the individual packets.)

-olives (Olives are like cheese, you can’t go wrong here!)

-fruit (The boys like grapes or berries.)

-veggies (Baby carrots and grape tomatoes are perfect for little fingers.)

-dark chocolate (Dessert! Because life in uncertain and dark chocolate is good for you, which IS scientifically proven.)

-dried fruit and nut mix (We prefer cashews, almonds, and dried cranberries.)

-honey sticks (These are simply fun and delectable.)

-hot cider or hot chocolate (for cool days), iced tea or lemonade (for warm days)

**********

Snacks aren’t the only thing to consider when you’re heading outdoors. There are, of course, safety issues to consider, which I won’t be delving into here. I will, however, be highlighting some interesting and useful tools that can turn your nature excursions into learning opportunities. We bring these tools along because they make our adventures together even more enriching. We keep them in a specially designated Adventure Bag. These are the items we’ve consistently appreciated while exploring the great outdoors together.

Adventure Bag Favorites:

(Bring a few of these items along to make your adventures extra memorable!)

*a pair of binoculars (These are perfect for bird watching!)

*a pocket microscope (A pocket microscope is nice for discoveries that might be too small for a magnifying glass.)

*a compass (For finding your way home!)

*a flower press (We take our flower press if we’re heading somewhere that will allow us to pick.)

*field guides (Our favorites are the Fandex Family Field Guides and the Little Golden Guides.)

*a nature journal, pencils, micron pens, portable watercolors… (We participate in a co-op, so any opportunity to journal while outdoors is welcome.)

*a magnifying glass (A simple magnifying glass can open up a whole world of wonder for little ones!)

*a pocket knife (For older children.)

*a small net (The boys like using a net to collect samples from creeks and ponds.)

*a water bottle and a basic first aid kit (Of course!)

*********

Thanks for joining us on the trail!

There is an abundance of natural beauty in this place we get to call home. I feel incredibly blessed to reside in an area that provides year-round opportunities from which to choose. 

And if you’re looking to add a little wonder to your adventures, trying packing an adventure bag or a wanderlunch! Then, lace up your hiking boots and go exploring!

See you on the trail! 

Family

Happy Thanksgiving

Good morning, friends! It’s the day before Thanksgiving and my husband is home. We’ve had a nice, leisurely morning together. I hope you’ve had a pleasant one as well!

We’re all fond of the few slow mornings we get to spend together. The first thing I do when I walk into the kitchen is light a candle, and then prepare breakfast and morning tea.

This morning, we had hot buttered toast/buttermilk biscuits with instant pot apple butter and turkey bacon, a perfect fall breakfast in my opinion. Over breakfast, I asked the boys if they liked their new sheets. (I just switched out our ‘regular sheets’ for cozy, flannel ones.) Our oldest said the flannel was so warm that he didn’t want to get out of bed. I laughed and had to admit I agreed with him.

After breakfast, the boys refilled our bird feeders, and we’ve already had a flurry of takers. The little ones have been glued to the windows in excitement!

**********

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and you’re probably busy preparing. We wanted to wish you all a happy  Thanksgiving and briefly share a few of the things that have been bringing us joy.

We had a Cranberry Thanksgiving inspired poetry tea recently! If you’re familiar with this lovely story, you already know that there is a famous cranberry bread recipe inside! Making this recipe is one of our favorite Thanksgiving traditions. The boys asked to make muffins this year and added white chocolate chips! How could I say no to white cholocate chips!?! (We served them with this delicious cranberry butter too!) We also sliced some apples and served them with caramel!

In place of tea, we served wassail. I like wassail made with orange juice but the boys prefer pineapple juice. Since the boys were the one making it, I didn’t complain! And as my son prefers, a little whipped cream and caramel on top is delicious too…

For entertainment, we each took a turn reading a fall poem from Julie Bogart’s, Poetry Teatime Companion. (If you don’t have a copy of this beautiful anthology, here are additional Thanksgiving poems that we’ve enjoyed.) And of course, dad read the book that inspired our celebration, Cranberry Thanksgiving! If you’re interested in creating Cranberry Thanksgiving inspired art, you must try this Mr. Whiskers chalk pastel tutorial! My oldest son and I also cut and assembled these adorable free downloads to decorate with (banner, place cards).

After tea, we had fun decorating our thankfulness tree. I cut the leaves out of card stock. Next, we each took a turn expressing what we’re most thankful for, while our son recorded answers on the paper leaves. Then, we added string, and the little ones hung them on our thankfulness tree.`

Afterwards, the boys watched A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. (It just doesn’t feel like Thanksgiving if Charlie Brown isn’t included!)

**********

We had another special happening this month. It was our youngest son’s second birthday! The boys helped me make and decorate a woodland bonfire cake!

Thank you for stopping by! We hope you have a happy Thanksgiving and get to spend it with loved ones! Hopefully, we will all be with our extended friends and family again next year! 

 

Food

Picnic Breakfast

‘Hold a hard minute, then!’ Said the Rat. He looped the painter through a ring in his landing-stage, climbed up into his hole above, and after a short interval reappeared staggering under a fat, wicker luncheon-basket.

‘What’s inside it?’ asked the Mole, wriggling with curiosity. 

‘There’s cold chicken inside it,’ replied the Rat briefly; ‘coldtounguecoldhamcoldbeefpickledgherkinssaladfrenchrollscresssandwhichespottedmeat-gingerbeerlemonadesodawater-‘ 

‘O stop, stop,’ cried the Mole in ecstasies: ‘This is too much!’

-Kenneth Graham (The Wind in the Willows) 

Picnics are a regular occurrence in our family. We’re always on the lookout for an excuse to gather our gear and head for the great outdoors. We usually head to a local park or field. And we sometimes have picnics in our own backyard, or even on the living room floor on rainy days. 

If we’re heading somewhere off the beaten path, we take our wagon along to carry supplies. A small cooler is also nice for perishables, while a picnic basket can carry nonperishable items. And, of course, you need a picnic blanket to have a proper picnic. We make a game of searching for the best flat spot to spread our blue quilt. Folding chairs are also nice if you’ll be spending several hours outdoors.

While we usually have picnics at lunch time, summer can be hot and humid. As the days get warmer,  we turn to breakfast picnics! Picnic fare is already simple, with breakfast food being even more so. Here are a few things we like to included on a breakfast picnic.

Food:

(No cooking required!) 

-bagels, muffins (blueberry), and croissants: (The boys love Nutella, so I pack a jar for serving with the bagels and croissants. And we bring bagels from our favorite local bagel shop.)

-fruit and nut mix: (I prefer a mixture of almonds, cashews, and cranberries.)

-cherries, strawberries, blueberries, peaches: (These are also delectable with the Nutella, but isn’t everything!)

-green tea: (I pack a thermos of hot water to prepare our tea on-site. Bring coffee if that’s your breakfast beverage of choice.)

-orange juice (A glass carafe is nice for serving.)

Extras:

-a vase/flowers: (I usually bring chamomile from the farmer’s market, but if you have the ability to bring wildflowers, those are the best.)

-serving board/cutting board: (I use these to set out food.)

-a serving tray: (I keep our tea set, cups, glass carafe, flower vase, and anything else breakable on a tray for safety.)

-plates, cups/mugs, utensils, and CLOTH napkins: (The cloth napkins are not only softer and more beautiful in my opinion, they’re reusable too!)

We also have a bag that’s always ready to go for picnics and park days. It includes a kite, balls, and a frisbee. I like to bring easy games we can play on our blanket, such as chess and Banana-grams too. And I always bring a book for myself to enjoy while the boys play.

Thanks for stopping by! What are your picnic favorites?

We hope you get a chance to head outside with your picnic hamper soon. It’s an easy way to make some wonderful memories with your family. 

 

 

Family

Easter Weekend

Hello, friends! I hope you all enjoyed Easter weekend as much as we did! Egg decorating, hot cross buns, family time, delicious meals, and games are just a few of the things that we always look forward to! We wanted to share a few more simple things that make the Easter season an extra special time for our family.

Decorations: 

As I’ve mentioned previously on the blog, I keep decor very simple. The less clutter, the more we appreciate the things we do have! We have an Easter tree, an Easter calendar, home grown Easter grass, a banner, and a few bunnies, birds, crosses, and eggs (to decorate the table for Easter brunch). That is all, and we don’t plan to add more. It all fits easily into one bin.

I most enjoy the Easter tree. It also keeps our three year old occupied, as he ‘redecorates’ it each morning while I  unload the dishes, ha! We purchased our Easter tree several years ago. However, in the past, I collected branches to paint white, or simply used flowering branches when I could find them.

Good Friday:

We always start our official Easter weekend celebrations on Good Friday with hot cross buns. Some years, we make them completely from scratch. This year I took the easy route and just used all natural refrigerated crescent rolls and raisins, (along with organic powdered sugar and almond milk for the frosting), to make hot cross buns with the boys.

While eating the hot cross buns, I like to bring out Resurrection Eggs. The boys look forward to reading the story, and examining what’s hidden inside each egg. This visual representation of what happened seems to get through more than hearing the story alone.

After hot cross buns and Resurrection Eggs, we got messy with egg dying! Some years we use the store bought kits. We’ve naturally dyed eggs as well, using beets and blueberries. This year, we used food coloring with vinegar. We found an online egg coloring guide and got creative with a variety of shades.

Easter Day:

On Easter morning, the boys awoke to a trail of jelly beans leading to their baskets. We then spent most of the morning nibbling on bunny shaped pancakes and Easter treats. Our oldest used a cookie cutter to punch all of the pancakes out, while I kept them cooking on the pan!

Grandparents arrived shortly after for Easter brunch. We served ham, Belgium waffles, quiche, breakfast potatoes, and asparagus, along with sparkling strawberry lemonade, and strawberry pie and carrot cake for dessert! I hate to see food to go to waste, so this was the perfect amount of food for a small get together.

After brunch and dessert, the real fun began! My husband and father headed out back to hide the eggs, along with the elusive golden egg. After the big egg hunt, we tried an egg roll. I drew lines on the driveway with sidewalk chalk and everyone chose an egg and a stick. Then, we all raced to see who could push their egg to the finish line first without going out of bounds. The little ones, as well as the adults, had a good laugh!

How did you celebrate Easter this year?

Thanks again for stopping by!  

Fun

Spring

‘A kite, a sky, and a good firm breeze,
And acres of ground away from trees,
And one hundred yards of clean, strong string —
O boy, O boy! I call that Spring!’  -Mark Sawyer

Spring is a season of renewal, after the cold and dark of winter. The world around us is literally coming back to life. There are signs of this new life, both plant and animal, all around us. The flowers are blooming. The birds are chirping. There are fresh spring winds and refreshing showers, making nature clean and green again. Inspired by nature, we’ve been making some plans for this spring. Here’s what’s on our spring list so far…

Spring:

–Visit a Local Farm or Zoo: We like to take the whole family for a visit to a local farm. We admire the new born lambs, staying close to their mothers, and the yellow chicks waddling about. We toured a local farm last spring, and it was such a treat! The daffodils were in full blooms, and the animals were clearly enjoying the warmer weather. We also enjoyed a delicious spring meal. If there’s not a farm offering tours in your area, try your local zoo. Our zoo has partnered with a local non-profit to create an exhibit that enables visitors to touch, feed, and groom farm animals.

–Visit a Botanical Garden: Each spring, we look forward to visiting our local botanical garden. We take our time wandering about. The botanical garden we visit has a children’s garden the boys love to explore. There are climbing boulders, whimsical bridges, a waterfall, and a small cave. There are also fish to feed and peacocks strolling around the gardens as well.

–Go Strawberry Picking & Make Strawberry Treats: We try to go strawberry picking every year. We’ve also grown our own strawberries several times, to varying degrees of success, lol. I plan to get my hands on some strawberries as soon as possible, and we’ll be making strawberry ice cream, strawberry milk shakes, and strawberry shortcake. So delicious!

–Make a Trip to the Nursery: If you are highly ambitious, plant a garden. Or start small by experimenting with some herbs or container gardening. We just moved into a new house. So this spring, we are sticking to growing a few herbs in pots. But we’re hoping to start a small raised bed and composting soon!

–Get Creative with Spring Crafts: Look for spring crafts to do with your children. One of our favorite resources for seasonal crafting is The Artful Year, by Jean Van’t Hul. It’s full of ideas and recipes to help your family celebrate the seasons. Our boys made their own stepping stone last spring. It’s now proudly displayed near our front door. We’re still waiting for some craft inspiration for this spring. Any ideas are welcome!

–Visit the Farmer’s Market: Your local farmer’s market is the place to go for seasonal produce such as spring greens, fresh herbs, and spring veggies (like radishes, peas, and baby carrots). Use the goodies you find to prep some mason jar salads or cook up a pot of your favorite spring soup.

–Attend a Spring Festival: Spring is the time when outdoor festivals really kick into gear. Search for festivals offered in your area. Many are free and entertaining for those of all ages. We attend our local spring festival yearly. It’s held right along the banks of a local river. There are arts and crafts, pony rides, food trucks, music, a parade and more!

–Bring Symbols of Spring Indoors: Watch for signs of spring and bring them into your home whenever possible. Look for spring flowers, flowering branches, egg shells, bird nests… Go daffodils picking and bring home a large bouquet. We attend a daffodil festival. The boys run around picking the flowers, and then we get to enjoy the hand-picked bouquets back at home. Better yet, obtain the bulbs and grow them yourself to pick from the comfort of your own home.

–Explore Nature, Get Active, & Have a Picnic: I look forward to the first warm spring days all winter long. It’s the perfect time to enjoy the fresh air, so nature hikes and walks in the park are in order, as are bike rides, and games of catch or frisbee. Don’t forget to take your kite along, and bubbles are a fun way for the kids to pass a spring Sunday afternoon as well. It’s also the perfect time for canoeing, floating, or fishing! You might be hungry after all of this activity so don’t forget to pack a spring picnic on your way out the door. Grab strawberries, spring veggies, olives, and cheese and crackers or make up some salads or sandwiches. And bring strawberry lemonade to drink. Yum!

–Create A Rainy Day Box: Mrs. Sharp’s Traditions, by Sarah Ban Breathnach, first inspired me to create a rainy day box for our boys. Although, Mrs. Sharp has an entire cupboard dedicated to ‘rainy day amusements’. I’d haphazardly been doing my own version of the rainy day box for years, but Mrs. Sharp inspired me to be more intentional with its use. As with any good tradition, limits help preserve the excitement. So, the rainy day box only comes out on snowy or rainy days. The possibilities for what to include in your box are limitless, but I usually have various types of paper, stickers, popsicle sticks, tape, glue sticks, pipe cleaners, kid safe scissors, brown paper bags, and ribbon. I’ve also added activity books, small puzzles, and a variety of other arts and crafts supplies that I’ve collected over the years.

–Take a Walk in the Rain: Why not go out for a short walk when there’s a light spring shower, no thunder or lightening of course! Put on your rain gear and take an umbrella too, if you wish. Our boys love to jump in puddles. Then, head home for a bath to get everyone clean and warmed up again!

–Let the Fresh Air In: Early spring is a great time to open the windows to let some fresh air in, unless of course you’re suffering from seasonal allergies, in which case, I’m truly sorry. I try to open our windows for at least an hour a day starting in early spring. It seems to make a noticeable difference in the air quality of our home.

–Do Some Spring Cleaning: I’m usually in the mood to do a bit of spring cleaning after being inside more during the winter months. I’m planning to focus on declutting this year, with a bit of actual cleaning along the way when necessary. If you are looking for guidance in this area, consider Marie Kondo’s Spark Joy. It’s an illustrated companion to her bestseller The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. Her plan is easy to follow and will help you simplify and declutter your home quickly. Another great book that I’ve returned to for years, (anytime I need some help with decluttering, organization, or intentional living), is Tsh Oxenreider’s Organized Simplicity. This book addresses more than your physical environment. Not only will it help you get your home in order, but it will guide you through how to make a family mission statement, manage your time and money, create a home management notebook, and so much more! Finally, if you’re short on time and like working in short bursts over a long period, you might want to consider Organize Now: a Week-by-Week Guide to Simplify Your Space and Your Life , by Jennifer Ford Berry. It’s another book that I often consult when needing to overhaul paperwork, routines, events, or personal spaces. Lots of great tips here!

–Read Books About Spring: Go to your local library and check out books about all things spring related. As I’ve mentioned, we love reading and I’m planning a separate post about our favorite spring picture books. So please watch for that. One of my personal favorite reads for spring is The Secret Garden. I would reread it each and every spring if I didn’t already have an exorbitantly long reading list!

That’s our spring bucket list for this year.

What are your spring plans? We can’t wait to hear! 

Thanks for reading! 

 

Food

Gingerbread


‘In the room on the left a long supper table was seen, set forth with great pitchers of new milk, piles of brown and white bread, and perfect stacks of the shiny gingerbread so dear to boyish souls.’ -Little Men (Life at Plumfield With Jo’s Boys)

Old-fashioned gingerbread is at the top of my holiday comfort food list. There is something incredibly warming and unique about its taste, scent, and texture.

My grandmother always made gingerbread during the holidays. It was one of the few things that could draw me back inside and away from the outdoor excitement with neighborhood friends. I still recall holding a warm piece of that delicious gingerbread between my cold hands. It tasted like heaven!

Our family continues making memories with gingerbread during the holidays. It’s now a family tradition to serve gingerbread with fresh whipped cream (or occasionally sprinkled with powdered sugar) on New Year’s Day, and we usually make it several other times throughout the season as well. It brings back fond memories from my childhood whenever we serve it. I also associate gingerbread with one of my favorite childhood novels, Louisa May Alcott’s Little Men. Jo had gingerbread waiting for her boys at Plumfield. This part of her story left such a warm and inviting image in my young imagination. Baking and sharing gingerbread still makes me feel a connection with Alcott’s story and her beloved characters. I like to remind our boys that we’re eating the same heavenly treat as Jo’s boys whenever it’s served.

As usual, we made our gingerbread again over the holidays this year. And our boys helped out in the kitchen too. They are very enthusiastic little helpers! I’ve used the same recipe for years, from Fine Cooking, only slightly adapted. It’s the closest I’ve come to the gingerbread of my childhood. It’s perfectly moist and simply delicious.

If you’re looking for a good old-fashioned gingerbread recipe, give this one a try!

Ingredients:

-1 & 3/4 cup flour

-1 1/2 tsp. baking soda

-1 & 1/2 tsp. ground ginger (up to 2 & 1/4 tsp.) -The little ones like a bit less ginger, but we adults prefer it strong.

-1/2 tsp. cinnamon

-1/4 tsp. ground cloves

-pinch of salt

-5 tbsp softener butter

-1/3 cup sugar

-1 large egg

-3/4 cup dark molasses

-3/4 cup water

For the fresh whipped cream (so delicious that my 2 & 1/2 year old requests his own bowl full, ha!), or sprinkled powdered sugar as an alternative:

-1 cup heavy cream

-1/4 cup maple syrup

Directions:

-Preheat the over to 350F and butter an 8×8 inch cake pan.

-Sift the flour, baking soda, spices, and salt into a separate bowl and set aside.

-In your mixing bowl, beat the butter until creamy. Then, add sugar and mix until fluffy. Add the egg and mix until combined.

-While on lowest speed, slowly pour the molasses into the mixing bowl.

-Add half of the dry ingredients and mix until just incorporated. Then, add the remaining dry ingredients.

-Slowly add water and mix until just combined.

-Pour the gingerbread batter into your prepared cake pan and bake for 35-40 minutes. Or until a toothpick comes out from the center clean.

-Let it cool for an hour and serve topped with whipped cream!

-For the whipped cream: Mix heavy cream in the mixing bowl and beat until thick. Slowly add the maple syrup and beat until soft peaks form. It’s as simple as that!

-And most importantly, ENJOY! We sure do!

What are your favorite childhood recipes? Do you still make them? 

Thanks for stopping by!

Fun

For Auld Lang Syne


‘Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.’

It’s almost New Year’s Eve again! Can you believe it? Christmas is past and another year has come and gone. How the time flies! I can’t believe how quickly these years seem to be passing with our little ones.

I’m trying to cherish the memories we’re making, while also including the traditions we keep. ‘For auld lang syne’ means for old times sake. There’s nothing quite like celebrating New Year’s traditions together, for old times sake. We gather together with our loved ones to recall the blessings of the past year, and share our dreams for the future. And we have a whole new year ahead to look forward to. As Anne Shirley says, this new year is ‘fresh with no mistakes in it yet’!

Another heartwarming thought is that, while holidays around the world vary, New Years is celebrated by cultures throughout the world. How exciting to be part of a celebration that’s happening around the globe! Here’s our celebration plan.

New Year’s Eve:

-Food:

  • Dinner: We all have a fondness for Indian food. I’ve heard others mention such family traditions as having Chinese takeout on Christmas Eve. Well, in our family we have Indian food, complete with mango lassis, on New Year’s Eve. We don’t treat ourselves to take out very often, so it’s something everyone looks forward to, plus it’s a break for me. What a great way to start the new year!?
  • Dessert: We make sparkling jello jigglers! The recipe is so simple and the boys have fun making them. They also think the jigglers are hilarious. (They’re giggling while eating their jigglers!)
  • Drink: We toast the new year with sparkling grape!

–Fun:

  • Games: To pass the time until midnight, we bring out our favorite boardgames, card games, and puzzles. We get a new boardgame every Christmas. This year, it was Harry Potter Clue! We haven’t had the chance to open it yet, so it’s the first game on our list.
  • Good Riddance Bonfire: Each person writes down any regrets they’d like to forget from the past year. Dad builds a fire in the fire pit. Then, each person takes a turn throwing their paper into the fire, starting the new year afresh! It helps children to see how we can all put the past behind us and have renewed hope for the future. (Of course, the boys want s’mores whenever we have a bonfire, so out come the sticks and marshmallows.)
  • Sparklers: After the bonfire, we light sparklers left over from Fourth of July celebrations. We wright our names in the air and watch our sparklers shine as they slowly burn down.
  • Movie Time: When the little ones start to slow down, (or mama begins to slow down, lol) out come the whirley pop, the popcorn bowl, and a family movie. We grab our popcorn, hot coco, and other goodies. Then, we settle in for a movie.
  • Happy New Year: For those still awake after the movie, we of course find our plastic wine glasses (for the little ones). After the big countdown, it’s all hugs and toasts of Happy New Year!

New Year’s Day:

–Food: Our New Year’s Day food varies year by year. We’re still trying to decide what to serve this year. But there are three things we always include on the menu:

  • Black Eyed Peas: Black eyed peas are a must on New Year’s Day! I usually make hoppin’ John, but this year I’m trying black-eyed pea salsa with blue corn chips.
  • Wassail: I’m not sure how this began, but we serve hot wassail on New Year’s Day almost every year. We are going to try a new crockpot wassail recipe this year though. It sounds delicious!
  • Old Fashion Gingerbread with Whipped Cream: We’ve used the same gingerbread recipe for years, and it consistently turns out well! (I love that the fresh whipped cream calls for pure maple syrup instead of sugar.)

-Fun:

  • New Year’s Resolutions: On New Year’s Day, we write down New Year’s resolutions. (I tuck them away in our family binder so we can review them the following year.)
  • New Year’s Resolution Game: We’ve played this game for several years. It’s fun and a nice way to start interesting conversations! After writing our New Year’s resolutions down on paper, we take turns guessing who the resolution belongs to. I just came across these fun New Year’s Resolution card printables , and we’re going to try them this year. We’re going to print this  ‘fortune teller‘ for the kids as well!
  • Interview: I would like to do an interview with each family member on the first day of each year but do not always accomplish this goal. I’m determined to get it done this year! I like these questions and plan to make a video of the boy’s answers for them to enjoy in the future.
  • Prayers for the Coming Year: We take time on New Year’s Day to write down prayer requests for the coming year. These also go into our family binder. And we review our prayers from the previous year. Last year, I’d written down ‘buy our first home’, and that prayer was answered! We then give thanks for the blessings of this year. Finally, we take a moment to review our family mission statement, which we also keep in our family binder.

With three little ones, there are usually a few detours along the way, but this is what we have planned.

What are your plans? Do you have any special traditions? Are you trying anything new this year? 

Thanks for reading!

Fun

Christmas Eve Is Coming Soon…

Christmas Eve is coming soon, and the excitement around our home is palpable! There are lots of helpful little hands, filled with delight and anticipation.

I have a special family notebook set aside specifically for planing and collecting thoughts about holidays, birthdays, and other special occasions throughout the year. In addition to being a useful tool, I enjoy looking back through our notebooks from previous years and recalling the happy memories made. It also helps me reflect on what worked or did not work for making future plans.

I sat down this weekend to review the Christmas Eve plans we made at the beginning of the season. We have several fun family traditions planned for this Christmas Eve. Along with making sure the fire is lit and Christmas tunes are playing (Bing Crosby or Nat King Cole), here’s our Christmas Eve plan.

Christmas Eve:

  1. The Gumdrop Tree: We don’t have too many sugary snacks around the house during the holidays, so I wait until Christmas Eve to bring out our gumdrop tree. Not only does it make charming decor for Christmas Day, the boys enjoy sticking the gumdrops on the tree, munching on several as they work. It helps keep the boys occupied while mom and dad work too.
  2. The Mistletoe: I try to remember to give kisses under the mistletoe throughout the season, but I make sure everyone gets a hug and a kiss under the mistletoe on Christmas Eve. Mistletoe isn’t easy to find in our area, so I have an artificial ball. But, this year we ordered real mistletoe online.
  3. The Yule Log: We always have a Yule log for dessert, with hot chocolate, on Christmas Eve. And in honor of the true meaning of Christmas, everyone gets a slice and settles in front of the fireplace to hear the story of the first Christmas read aloud from the Bible.  Some years, we also have a Yule log in our fire pit or as a centerpiece with candles.
  4. The Christmas Eve Box: After cake, we unpack the Christmas Eve box. Each year is different, but we usually try to include a movie (this year it’s The Veggie Tale’s: It’s A Meaningful Life, which the boys will watch while mom and dad exchange a present), a treat (this year it’s chocolate covered popcorn), and a new book (The Little Blue Truck’s Christmas, in honor of our truck loving 2 year old ).
  5. The Night Before Christmas: Reading The Night Before Christmas probably goes without saying, but we also like to have a little fun with a Night Before Christmas Madlibs first. The whole family is in a fit of giggles before we can finish! Then, we gather on the couch and dad reads the original version.
  6. The Reindeer Food: Our boys don’t want to forget about Santa’s reindeer! Before bed and after dressing in our Christmas pajamas, we head outside to scatter reindeer food, made with hay, oats, and sprinkles.
  7. The Christmas Star: After scattering reindeer food, we search the night sky for the ‘Christmas star’ (or the brightest star in the sky). And I ask the boys to think what it must have been like on that first Christmas evening so long ago.
  8. The Milk and Cookies: Santa needs fuel for his trip around the world, so of course, we leave a plate of cookies with milk by the fireplace.
  9. The Christmas Pickle: We leave our pickle ornament beside the milk and cookies for Santa to hide on the tree. The child who finds it Christmas morning gets a treat, this year they will receive a peppermint Christmas tree lolly pop!

Finally, we get the little ones off to sleep, and mom and dad’s real work begins… And before turning in ourselves, we hide some little chocolate gold coins around the house. This has been a tradition for several years, and it’s exciting for the little ones, especially later in the afternoon when the novelty of opening presents has worn off.

What are your favorite Christmas Eve traditions? Are you trying anything new this year?

Hope you are having a wonderful season! Merry Christmas!

 

Fun

Fall Bucket List

Fall is my favorite time of year. I love the crisp air and the changes occurring in nature. I especially like bringing items from nature, such as pumpkins and gourds, into our home as a daily reminder of the changing seasons.

As a family with several introverts, our favorite fall evenings are often the ones spent at home together, where it seems there’s never enough read aloud time or cinnamon, apple, and pumpkin spice everything. And the entire family looks forward to fall outings as well.

Each year, I gather our fall books and my family notebook, along with lists from previous years, and start planning. Everyone contributes to our bucket list, which includes old favorites and new ideas to try.

Fall Family Favorites:

Out and About:

–The Fair/Fall Festivals: Every October we gather the family for an outing to the fair or a fall festival. The kids look forward to the rides, animals, games, and treats (for us funnel cakes and fried Oreos)! Also, our library system holds a Fall Festival each year with games, candy, and a costume contest for the kids!

-Apple picking: This is something we’ve done as a family for years. The orchard we visit is picturesque, and we’ve made so many wonderful family memories on these trips. We take along a picnic and our sense of adventure!

–The Farmers Market: We are fortunate to live in an area with an incredible farmers market. In Fall especially, the selection is fantastic, apples, muscadines, persimmons, pears, and pecans! We try to make it to the market as often as possible this time of year.

–Pumpkin Patch: We all get excited when there’s a trip to the pumpkin patch ahead! In addition to pumpkin picking, the patch we frequent has animals, hayrides, and a sunflower maze to purposefully get lost in. You can even take home a bouquet of freshly picked sunflowers, along with your pumpkins. There’s also a hay tower we climb for a family photo each year. Most pumpkin patches offer as-they-grow photo ops that you can take every year too! Additionally, these patches are a great place to find bargains on corn stalks, heirloom pumpkins, and other natural materials for crafting or decorating.

–Corn Maze: We love navigating a corn maze together as a family. and its an entertaining way to work on team building skills! There’s a corn pit at the maze we go to and the boys love burying themselves in corn. There’s also a petting zoo and pony rides.

–The Great Outdoors: We love the great outdoors! We also enjoy the cooler fall weather, so we get in as much biking and hiking as possible this time of year!

–Picnics: We try to have as many picnics as possible in the fall to admire the glorious red, yellow, and orange foliage. We aim for at least one a week, even if it’s in our own backyard!

At Home:

–Fall is in the Air: I usually have a fall scented candle burning, especially in the morning, at meals times, and in the evenings. I also like to simmer mulling spices on the stove.

–Fires & Bonfires: These is nothing better than sitting in front of a cozy fireplace, with the people you care about most, on a cool fall evening! Telling stories and roasting marshmallows around a bonfire is a close second!

–Pumpkin Carving and Painting: We make a special event out of our evenings spent carving and painting pumpkins. This year the boys want to try painting a minion pumpkin! We do a mix of painted and carved pumpkins because the painted pumpkins last so much longer, but the boys relish getting their hands dirty with the carving!

–Games and Puzzles: We pull out a fall themed puzzle at the beginning of the season and put it at the end of the dining room table to work on as time permits. Games come out every family night, as usual, but they are especially fun around the fire or while enjoying fall treats.

–Leaf Pile: Raking up a huge pile of leaves for the boys to jump in, usually makes the list too.

–Front Porch Decor: We decorate the front porch with pumpkins, mums, homemade wreaths, and other homemade seasonal decor. Several years ago we made a scarecrow with some old overalls, stuffed with hay, and with  a pumpkin head to greet anyone who came to our door. Our oldest son still speaks fondly of his scarecrow making memories.

–Halloween Movies: We watch a ‘not so scary’ Halloween movie with the family every year. There’s a great selection of family friendly Halloween movies at your local library.

–Home Halloween Party: After trick-or-treating on Halloween night, we all settle in for a family party. We bob for apples, play a bean bag toss game, and see who can eat their hanging donut the fastest, with their hands held behind their backs. It’s great fun and even the boys end up tuckered out after these shenanigans!

Fall Crafts:

–Apple Prints: We make apple prints with apples we pick at the orchard. You can cut the apple in different ways for prints. Make sure to find the star inside of the apple and read an accompanying story about it!

–Homemade Play Dough: We make cinnamon or pumpkin spice scented play dough in the fall. We’ve been making our own play dough for years and these scents in particular are pleasant for the kids to work with.

–Preserve Leaves: We’ve had fun in the past preserving leaves with glycerin for decorations and crafts, and we’re going to give it a try again this year.

–Leaf Art: We appreciate simple art projects that use items collected from our own back yard or on nature walks. We have been collecting leaves, and we’ve painted them, made leaf impressions, and are planning a leaf wreath.

Fall Food:

–Apple Everything: With our yearly trips to the orchard, there is an abundance of apples. So, we are usually busy making as many apple recipes as possible. Our favorites include baked apples, apple chips, apple crunch muffins, instant pot apple butter, and caramel apples…

–Pumpkin Everything: As far as I’m concerned the more pumpkin I can fit into my diet the better! We make pumpkin bread, pumpkin butter, pumpkin spice waffles and pancakes (we also add pecans.) Pecans are plentiful at our farmers market this time of year!

–Apple Cider: Everyone in our family loves apple cider. I’m planning to linger over my first hot apple cider of the year shortly!

–Popcorn: Popcorn balls are a hit with our boys. They’re a little messy and a whole lot of fun. We used the Pioneer Woman’s popcorn ball recipe, with candy corn, last year and plan to use it again this year. Anything with candy corn is going to get an approval from our boys! In the fall, we also like to make caramel corn and haven’t met a recipe yet that we didn’t enjoy! I especially like sweetening popcorn with maple syrup and sprinkling a bit of sea salt on top.

–Soup with Homemade Bread: We make and devour soups, stews, and chili, served with homemade bread or cornbread, and the more autumn veggies, the better!

–Silly Food: The boys are big fans of funny food, like drawing jack-o-lantern faces on oranges and ghosts on bananas. I’m always trying to come up with fun food ideas to get them laughing!

What are you most looking forward to this Fall? What are your favorite traditions? Do you have any new ideas you want to try with your family this year?

Fun

Day at the Orchard

 

The boys and I packed up and headed to the apple orchard this weekend. We had a wonderful time! It was a beautiful day and our first glimpse of the glorious fall weather to come.

We read several picture books in anticipation of our trip to the orchard.

–Apple Picking Time by Michele Benoit Slawson

–How do Apples Grow by Giulio Maestro

–Johnny Appleseed by Reeve Lindbergh

–The Seasons of Arnold’s Apple Tree by Gail Gibbons

During our journey out to the orchard, we listened to Jim Weiss’s recording of American Tall Tales. It includes an educational and entertaining story about Johnny Appleseed!

At the orchard, we took our time searching for the best apples and enjoying the fresh air. We picked two bags of peaches, a wagon full of apples, and a whole bag full of grapes!

Unfortunately, most of the grapes were consumed at our post-picking celebratory picnic (complete with cheese, crackers, olives, sparkling cider and, of course, the apples, peaches, and grapes).

We managed to get some nature study in at the orchard as well, making observations about the apple and peach trees and the grapes vines!

Back at home, we had fun making apple prints! While our boys stamped their little hearts out, I read aloud the story of finding the hidden star inside of an apple.

We’ve mostly been enjoying our crisp, juicy apples straight out of the fruit bowl or sliced and dipped in caramel, but our oldest son pitched in to help make an apple pie and baked apples chips before we ran out!

Do you have any special plans for this fall? 

Thanks for reading!