• Good Times

    Noel Games: Fun for the Whole Family!

    Noel Games

    About 20 years ago, I invented a fun holiday tradition to play with my grandparents, parents, aunt, and cousins: Noel Games.

    The tradition went on for many, many years. Then, however, I switched holidays and started spending a week at the beach with my family at Thanksgiving instead of Christmas break.

    I’ve been missing this sweet tradition! Especially now that the boys are older, I think it’s time to resurrect the tradition. Here’s how it goes:

    Noel Games Preparation

    1. Purchase and wrap small gifts (approximately $5 each—things like lottery tickets are fun!). You will need one gift per participant (although you will be buying generic gifts—not particular gifts for particular
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  • Good Times

    Christmas Fondue Party: Brainstorming Ideas

    Christmas fondue party

    When I was brainstorming 24 holiday activities for our family to do in the days leading up to Christmas, I thought of a Christmas fondue party. My extended family eats fondue every Christmas Eve. Now that my immediate family goes to Florida during Thanksgiving but not Christmas, we miss out every year. I think it’s time to recreate the tradition here in Austin!

    It’s so hard to schedule holiday events in December! I’m thinking we might do it the night before school gets out for break. That way, everyone is likely to be in town but we won’t be competing with parties on weekend nights.

    I’m thinking we’ll just invite … Read More

  • Good Times

    Happy Early Birthday, Matt!

    Dearest Matt,

    It’s always a treat when your birthday rolls around and we get to spend time lavishing you with joy and affection the way you lavish us the rest of the year.

    Do you know how lucky we are to have you in our lives?

    You are the cement foundation upon which our lives our built (not like a dinky foundation—more like the 30-foot foundation rising from the yard next door but without the crack in it).

    You are the water that we all swim around in and breathe oxygen from without even realizing it.

    You are the hot air balloon which helps us rise beyond our daily reality … Read More