Simple solutions for anticipation-oriented traditions, like an advent calendar and Jesse Tree.
avatar by on November 19, 2012   •   41 Comments Family Bonding Your Family

6 Steps to a Relaxed Christmas: make that tradition happen

I know you’ve been there, like me—on the evening of November 30, you realize the official month of Christmas begins tomorrow, so you’d better whip together your family’s advent calendar.

Every year, I have grand ambitions to thoughtfully, methodically prepare our holiday season with an Advent calendar or Jesse Tree. And every year, I scrap it together at the last minute. Or scrap the idea for next year. Not the biggest deal in the world, of course, but I do wish I had more time to enjoy the preparation of these sweet, simple family traditions.

Well guess what? I’ll enjoy them more if I start preparing now. I know, who wants to think about Christmas activities the week of Thanksgiving? But there’s only two weeks until December, so by doing a little bit of prep this week, you’ll be sitting prettier by the first of the month.

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avatar by on October 24, 2012   •   44 Comments Family Bonding Your Family

How a singer balances travel and family

Written by Shaun Groves.

It’s the question I’m asked most on the road. When women find out I’ve got a family back at home they wonder…

“How do you do it?”

Behind the question are legitimate concerns about a father not being there for his kids’ soccer games, a wife worn out from raising four children alone, a marriage losing heat from too many days and nights spent miles apart.

I’ve made my living as a singer and public speaker for twelve years now. These days I’m in 80 cities annually. And while you’re not likely to be soft rocking across America for a living anytime soon, someone in your house may be a bit of a traveler too – if not year round then for a season now and then.

How do we do it? How do we keep our families together – and thriving – when mom or dad are on the road?

My wife and I didn’t do it well at all in the beginning.
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avatar by on October 10, 2012   •   1 Comment Family Bonding Your Family

Beyond bobbing for apples: Cool new Halloween games for kids

Written by contributor Miss Dottie of Modernkiddo.com

I think the best party you can have for kiddos is a Halloween party! Costume + candy + friends = FUN!  That’s my favorite kind of math.

But how do you turn up the fun factor to 11 at your kiddo’s Halloween party? Add some Halloween-inspired party games!  Let’s leave the old bobbing for apples game for some new ones that don’t involve a crying, wet, wee one.  So, I rounded up some super fun games that you might want to try at your next Halloween party

1.) Pop Goes The Pumpkin

Of course, the doyenne of fabulous parties, Martha Stewart, has a few good tricks up her sleeves for children and this one, Pop Goes the Pumpkin,  is my favorite involving confetti filled balloons is sure to be a party-pleaser for older kiddos.

2.) Pin the Spider on the Web

I love this Halloween inspired version of the classic Pin the Tail on the donkey.  You could also make a web using white masking tape on a wall, which would be pretty darn awesome.

2.) Witch’s Stew Game

I love this witchy game since it involves things all pre-schoolers can do–sucking on a straw.

4.) Monster Mash Tag

This monster version of tag is great for a little outdoor game for your little monsters actually a lot more fun than a basic game of tag.

5.) Walk on the Witch’s Hat

You can play Monster Mash as the music of choice for this game as children walk over the witch’s hat.  No witch would like that!

Hee hee!  Man, Halloween party games are a lot more fun than when I was a kid.

What were your favorite games to play as a kid? What are the ones your kids enjoy playing?

avatar by on August 15, 2012   •   5 Comments Family Bonding Your Family

The best of summer

Written by contributor Jenny Mitchell of Frecklewonder.

Hi friends! Jenny here and I’m feeling a little nostalgic! I’m not quite ready for summer to end but the reality is the clock is ticking pretty loudly now. Here comes that old familiar feeling of slight end of season panic… when the majority of the vacation turns to memories. Suddenly I’m looking at the calendar and asking myself what’s left on our to-do list!

Did we travel enough, did the kids have more fun than they could handle, did we fill our days with that perfect mix of adventure and relaxation?

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avatar by on July 23, 2012   •   31 Comments Family Bonding Your Family

Ten ways to use your creativity for good

Written by Nicole Bennett of Gidget Goes Home.

It seems like summer brings a big sigh of relaxation and a feeling of extra time to do, make, create and enjoy. Everyone seems to be creating bucket lists and planning out all the fun things they want to do as a family.

But we can do even more than come up with fun ways to fill our summer days. We can use our creative minds purposefully to focus on using less resources and blessing others. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with projects (Pinterest-overload, anyone?) so here are just ten easy ideas and activities for using our creativity for good this summer.
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