wall journal

This requires the right place in your house or garage, but it would be neat to see. Each year on a wall in your home (I would choose the storage room in our basement) right down a few things from 2010 each year add to the wall for a wall of memories. You could also use the wall to measure your children each year. We also pick a word for our family each year. A word we work in through-out the year. This year was joy! We constantly remind each other of the word and focus on growing in what the word represents! Enjoy!

A collage of memories

As we wrap up 2010 it is always fun to remember the year with past memories. In the next week work with the kids, husband, and any other family members to create a collage of all the highlights from 2010. You can use magazines, crayons, pictures, ticket stubs. This could be a page in the scrapbook or a piece of art you hang until next year. I would love to hear how you treasure the years past! Enjoy!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas! Hope your family finds time to create lasting memories! Can't believe that 2010 is almost over and 2011 is on it's way. Looking for ways to kick off the new year stay tuned!! Enjoy!

Adult fun

Each year we always play a game with my mom's side of the family. For years we played Bingo, everyone loves a good game of bingo. Last year my cousin put on our Christmas party and she did things a little different. We did an auction. Weeks before she asked everyone to bring a few things to her house new or used. She bundled them together making them themes like:
brrr it is cold out here -this might consist of hot chocolate and a used sweater
hope your feeling lucky-maybe a lottery ticket
Each player gets monopoly money and we go at it! It was a hit. you can check out more variations here

Last year at Dan's family Christmas we divided into teams and dressed up one player like a Christmas tree. Check it out here

Another fun one is minute to win it. Check out ideas here.
Bunco-you can buy this at many stores

Christmas brunch

Each year our family does a little something special for breakfast on Christmas morning. Monkey bread (great recipe here) is a must, but we may have other things like Christmas oatmeal (oatmeal with a little red and green sprinkles), or Christmas pancakes (pancakes with red or green food coloring). Somehow we try and make Christmas morning a little more then cereal and milk! Any other fun breakfast ideas~
Enjoy!

letter

I love special notes that I write to my kid's and Christmas is such a special time to do jus that. I envision my kid's waking up Christmas morning to not only Christmas goodies in their stocking, but a very special letter to them. A letter that reminds them about the true reason of Christmas and all the things this past year has brought. I have yet to write my letters, but have good intentions. How about you what would you write in your letter?

homemede gifts

We love making homemade gifts and we have a line up of them this year. We are still planning our bake-off and hopes of making lots of homemade goodies for our special neighbors and friends. We also made these this year for a very special lady who helps watch my kiddos on mondays when I work and we made one for mommy. We also made one for my mom combining all the grandkid's (she only has three so we used Malachi's foot, and one hand of Korra's, and one of Makayla's).

Each year we have a special time where both sets of grandparents come over and we eat and enjoy each other. We always give them one gift from or about the kids. This year we made books (from an online source...if you watch careful you can get these pretty cheap this time of year). The books are titles, Lessons learned from these little blessings. It is full of fun things that kid's remind us. Last year we made a book about how to pray for your grandchildren (inspired by my friend, Katie). We have done ornaments in the past as well as frames. It is always a special time to celebrate what grandparents mean to us.

There are so many great ideas especially when you have kids...presents are a lot easier to come up with. I am already thinking about next year!

Ornaments

While E Each year at Christmas time I give my children a new ornament to represent the previous years. This year mMalachi will be getting a quad, because of he has mastered riding his new quad all by himself. Korrayah will be getting a sucker because of her love for sweets. They will hang their ornaments on their own tree along with the ornaments from the previous years. This is my favorite thing to shop for at Christmas. Enjoy!

Christmas chain

This is a small twist to the Christmas chain. On each day that you rip off have a small passage of scripture about Christmas and take time to read that to your children.

Birthday party celebration!

Make and decorate a birthday cake with your children. Get messy and have fun (maybe even lick the mixers). While the cake is baking read the Bible story. After the cake is finished sing Happy Birthday to Jesus and enjoy. This might be a time to share your cake with a neighbor or friend! If you live in Holland area there will be a birthday party for Jesus at Central Wesleyan Church click here for details.