My kids know who Santa is, but they don’t believe he is a real person. They enjoy him as a fictional character, just as they do fairy tale princesses and superheroes. This isn’t the case for most of our friends and family members. The children in these families believe that Santa is real, and this is an important part of their Christmas … [Read more...] about How to Keep Unbelieving Kids from Ruining Santa for Kids Who Believe
8 Alternatives to New Year’s Resolutions
Since the very first year we were married, my husband and I have set aside time to set goals before the start of each New Year. This has worked well for us in general, but it has become difficult to find time for this—and we’ve had a more difficult time achieving our goals—as our family has grown. In an attempt to make sure we … [Read more...] about 8 Alternatives to New Year’s Resolutions
Caramel Apple Nachos
My Bible study group had dinner together the week before Thanksgiving. We decided to make breakfast burritos, so everyone was bringing ingredients to make these. I wanted to bring some fruit as a side dish/dessert, so I decided to make some apple “nachos” to go with our breakfast burritos. I’ve seen dozens of pictures of apple nachos on … [Read more...] about Caramel Apple Nachos
30 Questions to Ask Around the Christmas Dinner Table
Our everyday lives are so busy that I find it increasingly important that we use the time we have with our families strategically. Holidays are times that we can really slow down and enjoy being with each other. However, on Christmas, it’s not unusual for things like presents and baking to commandeer our focus away from family and … [Read more...] about 30 Questions to Ask Around the Christmas Dinner Table
Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt
One of the things my kids really enjoyed doing this past fall was going on a scavenger hunt. We used a printable that I created a couple of years ago (find it here). They had so much fun walking through our neighborhood in search of the items pictured on the printable. I’ve made a similar printable for a Christmas light scavenger hunt! … [Read more...] about Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt
December 2019 Dinner Menu
I know we are still in the month of November, but things get so busy after Thanksgiving that I’m trying to get my dinner menu for December ready to go. I plan a month’s worth of meals at the start of each month (you can see past menus here). It takes a bit of time and effort to do this, but it works for my family because it saves us … [Read more...] about December 2019 Dinner Menu
Pumpkin Chili
I love having a pot of soup or chili simmering on the stove for dinner when it is chilly outside. We’ve had some pretty cold days recently, so it was the perfect time to try this recipe for Pumpkin Chili. Ingredients (Inspired by this recipe.) 1-2 lbs. ground meat (I used a combination of ground beef and ground turkey) 1 medium … [Read more...] about Pumpkin Chili
Why to Eat Pie the Night Before Thanksgiving
Pie is the traditional dessert to eat after Thanksgiving dinner, but the best time to eat pie may actually be the night before Thanksgiving. I don’t know what it’s like in your house, but we tend to be pretty full after Thanksgiving dinner. It’s common for us to not even be hungry for dessert after eating turkey, sweet potatoes, … [Read more...] about Why to Eat Pie the Night Before Thanksgiving
