a heart a day...

Every once in a while I come across an idea and think "hey now THAT is something I can do!" I have also learned that my kids have amazing memories when it comes to traditions.  So if I start something...I better plan on doing it for the rest of time...  This idea is so easy and fun!  It is fun to see how excited they are each morning to read their new heart!

Starting February 1-Valentines Day they wake up to a new heart added to their ribbon. My husband and I divide up the kids each night and try to make sure we are switching off. It's been fun to end each day thinking about something I love about each one of my children.

I bought some chevron ribbon at Hobby Lobby and it was enough for me to make them for all 5 of my kids. No sewing involved...I literally cut 5 strips of the ribbon about 2ish feet long each.  At the top I cut circles out of white yardstick and hand printed their names.  I also stuck a bit of pink and red tulle behind the circle and then just stapled it to the ribbon. I picked up a few small command hooks from the store and used these to hang the ribbons on the outside of each of the kids bedroom doors.  Next I cut a bunch of hearts out of pink, red, and white cardstock.  I have a Fiskars cutter that has a heart stencil so I used that to mass produce enough hearts for the whole time. 14x5 (or however many kids you have).

I make a new ribbon each year so we fill out our hearts and staple them to the ribbon each night.  So fun and meaningful!

#whitefriday...

My friend Mandy posted this idea and I loved it:

"My mom gave me the idea last year to start a new tradition on "Black Friday." We are calling this new tradition WHITE FRIDAY. If you are a religious person, consider kicking off your holiday season with goodness and joy in purity and reverence for the gift of our Savior's life on the Friday after Thanksgiving. We will do this by enjoying the peace and quiet of one of the temples dedicated to our Heavenly Father, rather than the chaos of retail stores. Maybe if lots of people start this tradition we can make this a thing. A good thing. ‪#‎whitefriday‬ ‪#‎holidaykickoff‬ ‪#‎bethegood‬

White Friday instead of Black Friday....Brilliant!!  I have never been into the craziness of black Friday shopping.  I think the mister went once about 12 years ago in hopes of getting a DVD player on sale for only $100!!  The thought of staying up late, battling crowds just to save a few dollars never made sense to me.  So when my friend suggested this idea I was on board right away.  I am always on the look out for doable traditions to enhance our holidays and this one totally fits the bill.  The mister and I and our oldest son went to the temple this morning. We are totally making this a tradition in our family!! I created the button to post. Feel free to share! I echo her thought...what if our temples were just as packed as the retail stores the day after Thanksgiving!

to party...or not to party...that is the question...

When I was growing up the rule in our house was that we could have a "friend" party on our even birthdays and "family" parties on the odd birthdays. I didn't mind this as a kid, and now as a mom I totally understand why my parents came up with this rule...parties are a LOT of work.

So as I started having children and those children starting having birthdays I threw my first "friend" party. It was for my first son's 3rd birthday...now it wasn't a disaster, but after all was said and done I thought, "it was fun, but I don't think he even cared whether his friends were there or not...and really he has friends, but mostly they are my friends kids.." Then I remembered the rule from my childhood and decided that we would adopt it into our family with their first "friend" party starting when they turn 6.

So far this has worked fantastically! By the time they turn 6 they have a fun cluster of their own friends to invite and they are old enough to really enjoy having them all over to celebrate.

I have also noticed that my kids enjoy our "family" parties too. I enjoy the more cozy nature that a family party creates, and because the friend parties are less often when they do come around it is funner to plan and do them.

Why the "friend" parties on the even birthdays?...well all the really important age milestones seem to fall on even birthdays...8...12...16...18...

Having this rule in place since my kids have been young means that they don't really even question or throw a fit about wanting a friend party...(so far)!

About 2 years ago I got a great idea from a neighbor of mine. We were talking about having things to do during the summer to keep our kids entertained. She said that she made of list of fun things to do and fun places to go. In the fun jar you place things that you could do everyday like eating Popsicles, playing in the backyard pool, going to a park, having a picnic lunch etc... the kids get to draw out a slip everyday. Then in the adventure jar you put places to go and you do once a week. We draw ours on Sunday and then plan a day that week that our adventure can take place! These are places like the zoo, the city pool, children's museum, planetarium, aquarium, splash park, having a sprinkler party with friends, getting ice cream from Arctic Circle etc... My kids had fun putting the lists together and then I just printed them out and cut them up. I got the jars at Walmart and used a rub on alphabet to put the titles on the jars. My kid love it and I can't wait to pull them out and do them again this year!

st. patricks day...

Poor St. Patrick's Day is in the same boat with Thanksgiving...completely looked over! The stores change from Halloween to Christmas and Valentines to Easter with out so much as a thought about the holidays in between. Well...maybe they might have an end cap or something, but seriously!!

When I was little I remember forgetting to wear green and painting a green shamrock on my cheek with a marker, or telling everyone that I had on green underwear or something...heaven forbid I should be pinched by a cute boy! ; ) Now that I have kids of my own holidays are SO much fun! Especially now that I have a few in school...their teachers usually make St. Patrick's Day a big deal! I LOVE it! In kindergarten they usually find tiny green foot prints around the classroom as the mysterious leprechaun gets into trouble each night while the kids are gone. My boys have both been so excited each day to tell me what the leprechaun did! They build traps to try and catch him and they talk joyously about what his treasure is like!

So I thought I would share a few of the fun things I like to do with my kids to celebrate this fabulous holiday!

We usually dress up in green. I usually find $5 shirts at Walmart that fit the bill! We have fun taking pictures!

One year my sister sent us the cutest story about a leprechaun and his treasure. The story said that if you put a treasure box out the night before St. Patrick's Day the leprechauns will leave you a little treasure. Only the leprechaun doesn't like to leave it where you put it...you must follow the trail of leprechaun dust to the spot that he hid the box! She sent us an unfinished craft treasure box with some green paint and stickers. The kids had so much fun painting and decorating their box! She also included some stuff for me the "leprechaun" to complete the mischief. She had paper shamrock confetti and a bag of hershey's treasures! I hid the box in a great spot and then created a trail out of the confetti. It was so fun that we have done it every year since!

We also have a green breakfast...for dinner! I make green french toast and orange juice! The kids LOVE eating something completely green!

service hearts...

Okay...I'll be honest...I would like to think that Valentines Day is a HUGE deal for the Mr. and I, but it really isn't. I remember our first year of marriage. We were overwhelmed at all of the holidays that you celebrate with gifts and fuss. It seemed like every other month we were on the hunt for the perfect thoughtful gift. It was ridiculous!! So we decided to strip the way we celebrated way WAY down. Most things we celebrate by going out to dinner or something else where we get to spend time together. Actually the only event we buy gifts for each other anymore is birthdays...and occasionally Mother's Day/Father's Day. (Thats right folks...not even Christmas!) I LOVE it this way! It takes the stress out of the holiday and we can just look forward to spending time together with out the pressure of finding the perfect gift!

Anyhoo...that was a long little jaunt...as my kids have gotten older it has been fun to add in little traditions for the holidays. Last year I made some "I love you" hearts. Each person in our family was given 5 hearts the week leading up to Valentines Day. I explained that they were to find ways to serve in our home and then leave a heart behind. It was so fun to watch their excitement at being "sneaky"while looking for something kind to do. I found my bed made with a heart on my pillow or the loft clean with a heart on the couch. It was just so fun!! It quickly became apparent that this HAD to be added as a yearly tradition in our home!

Supplies:
1 pkg 6 inch foam hearts
a pen

Seriously folks all I did was buy a package of pre cut foam hearts at Wal-Mart and I wrote the words "I Love You" on each one! Simple as that! I stash them in with my Valentines decorations and bring them out when I decorate!

Christmas advent calendar...

A tradition in my family growing up was to make a candy advent calendar. Each night one of us girls took a turn cutting a bundle of candy off for the family to eat after dinner! I LOVED this tradition. I wish I could say that I make it every year, but alas...some years it has been skipped! Not this year! I had some time yesterday and so I decided that THIS year it wouldn't fall to the wayside.

Now I have seen many many cute, elaborate advent calendars...super cute...AND super time consuming. This one is amazingly simple and you can do it from start to finish in under 30 minutes! Plus the kiddlets can help too!

Here is what you will need:

• a roll of cling wrap (I didn't have to go run out and by any...you really don't use a lot)
• bags of your favorite candy
• curling ribbon
  

First step is to separate your candy into 25 piles with 1 piece of candy per person. I did a few less since we are a few days into the month already. We have 5 people in our family who will be enjoying the candy (sorry baby Max...maybe next year). I like to use 5 of the same kind of candy so that we don't have fights over who gets what. I like to make the pile on Christmas day nice and large so that everyone gets several pieces.

Next find a nice long spot and pull out the cling wrap. Don't cut the wrap off yet because you may find you need more or less as you get going. Lay your candy piles onto the wrap leaving space in between each pile.

Fold over one side of the wrap

and then the other side of the wrap.

Next cut lots of 8ish inch long strands of curling ribbon. Start by tying one at the bottom and then work your way up. Make sure you leave space so that you can cut an inch or so below the ribbon each day.

Finally find a door to hang it on. We traditionally hang it on the pantry door in the kitchen!

It is amazing to me how much my kids enjoy these quick simple easy traditions. It doesn't take too much time and yet creates a memory that will last forever. I have so many memories of traditions from my childhood. Traditions that make Christmas...well...Christmas to me!

the thankful jar...

Every year when I pull out my Thanksgiving decorations I also pull out my Thankful Jar. It is a simple jar filled with questions. We pass it around the table on Thanksgiving and take turns answering. Sometimes it is hard to get the "what are you thankful for..." ball rolling, or your family has little kids and they need ideas. This little jar of questions helps...trust me!


Supplies:

• Clear jar (I used a squarish mason jar)
• fun Autumn colored ribbons
• a "Thankful Jar" tag (I printed mine out on tanish/brown cardstock...if you would like mine just shoot me an email and I will send it to you!)
  
• cream paper (one jar used 4 pieces...I like cream instead of white because it looked prettier in the jar)
• questions (mine supplied below)

Questions:
(print them out and then cut them into strips...make sure to leave plenty of room above and below each question so that you can cut them apart)

Which of God’s creations are you most thankful for?

Name and tell about someone in your life you are grateful for.

Describe a part of the gospel, or part of being a member of the church you are grateful for.

Tell what part of living in a free country you are most grateful for.

Tell about an experience that has made you grateful for your health? (or body)

What is something in your home that you are grateful for?

Why are you grateful for your mom?

Why are you grateful for your dad?

Why are you grateful for you grandma?

Why are you grateful for you grandpa?

Pick a favorite food you are thankful for and explain why.

Name someone in your life that makes you feel special and explain how.

What modern convenience are you most thankful for?

What would life on earth be like without the feeling of gratitude?

Name someone who has passed away who you are thankful for.

Name one of the Young Women's values you are thankful for and tell why. Yes... do this even if you are a guy!

Name an ordinance of the Priesthood you are thankful for and tell why.

Which President of the United States are you most thankful for?

Which product that you use to get ready in the morning are you most thankful for?

Which food in your 72 hour kit are you most thankful for?

Which product in your food storage are you most thankful for?

Which store are you most thankful for?

Name an ancestor you are thankful for that is further back than your grandparents and tell why.

Name a founding father that you are grateful for and tell why.

Name an inventor in modern history, 1700 A.D. on up, that you are thankful for and tell why.

Which breakfast food are you most thankful for?

Which city are you most thankful for?

Which month of the year are you the most thankful for?

Name a positive learning experience you had as a child that you are thankful for.

Which of your Primary teachers were you most thankful for and why?

Which Prophet in Modern times are you most thankful for and why?

Name a woman in the Bible that you are thankful for and tell why.

Name a woman in the Book of Mormon that you are thankful for and tell why.

Name a place anywhere in the entire world that you are thankful you don’t live.

Give 3 reasons why you are thankful for your Chemistry or Biology teacher.

Which are you more thankful for… gas or electricity and why?

Which paper product are you most thankful for?

Which beatitude in the Bible are you most thankful for and why?

Name a parable in the New Testament that you are thankful for and tell why.

Which are you more grateful for… pens or pencils? Chalk boards or White Boards? Why?

homemade birthday cake...

When I was growing up my mom always made a homemade cake. Not the homemade from scratch kind, but the pick your mix and frosting kind. It was the choice of the birthday child to pick what they wanted mom to make. Chocolate with vanilla frosting, rainbow chip with rainbow chip frosting etc... My ALL time favorite is Lemon cake with Chocolate frosting! (Hey...don't knock it till you rock it!! It is seriously amazing!) I looked forward to this choice every year! I loved the idea that I could pick ANYTHING I wanted and she would make it just for me!

Now that I have kids of my own I have continued with this tradition. I am an anti "leave it in the pan" cake maker. So I started out always making a two layered round cake. As my kids got older they started wanting a theme for their birthdays. I have discovered you can do some amazing fun things with sprinkles! I also LOVE the Family Fun website. It has some great ideas for cakes. That is where I got the idea for some of my more elaborate cakes. I have done tiger stripes, spider man, batman, a princess castle, a snake, a moon, a Lego, and a dot cake! Probably the funnest was the snake cake. It was super easy and the boys loved that it was made with red velvet cake so when you cut into the cake it looked like blood!


A very wise man recently said:

"In my office is a beautiful painting of a wheat field. The painting is a vast collection of individual brushstrokes—none of which in isolation is very interesting or impressive. In fact, if you stand close to the canvas, all you can see is a mass of seemingly unrelated and unattractive streaks of yellow and gold and brown paint. However, as you gradually move away from the canvas, all of the individual brushstrokes combine together and produce a magnificent landscape of a wheat field. Many ordinary, individual brushstrokes work together to create a captivating and beautiful painting."

I like to think that every tradition that my husband and I bring into our family is like a single brush stroke. I hope that someday each of my children will look back at their childhood and remember times filled with happiness. Here and there a "stroke" or event will stand out, but for the most part it will be the traditions that they remember most. The things that we always did!