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Noel Games: Fun for the Whole Family!
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
- 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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Christmas Fondue Party: Brainstorming Ideas
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
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Christmas Activities with Kids: Ages 6 and 8
It’s Christmastime! My boys are so excited. It’s time to think about our ideas for the best Christmas activities with kids.
When I was pregnant with Henry, I sewed a fabric advent calendar and wrote activity ideas on cards. Now that the boys are 6 and 8, it feels like it’s time for a little update! Here’s what I’m planning for this year. The boys will get to pick one activity a day leading up to Christmas:
Christmas Activities with Kids
- Carve handmade holiday stamps out of rubber and make gift-tags using stamps
- Cut down an evergreen tree (or buy a potted one and plant it after Christmas); decorate the