Enjoy Some Family Time During the Holidays

Rush, rush, rush seems to be the overriding theme of the holidays. Sometime during the holiday season plan a time to change that pace. Set aside a specific evening to sit back, relax, drink some hot chocolate and do some reading aloud with your family.

You may be thinking, “Right! My kids are way too old for that. If it doesn’t involve a screen there will be an eye rolling extravaganza.” Come on; give a try. After a little moaning and squirming, everyone may just settle down and actually enjoy the experience. 

First make some hot chocolate. You can’t go wrong with that. Below is a recipe for hot chocolate mix. It make enough to last you for much of the winter or enough to package up and give as a gift to friends.

Next, pull out some favorite stories that you’ve bought, downloaded or checked out at the library. There are many wonderful ones to choose from. 

For the littles in your group how about “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” by Dr. Seuss? News flash; this was a book long before it was a cartoon. It’s such an old tale that even my mom read it to me! Came out just after the stone tablet and chisel era. As you may know, “Every Who down in Whoville liked Christmas a lot…” and so will your clan when you read this book to them.

Some other good choices to please the younger set are Richard Scarry’s “Best Christmas Book Ever.” You can’t beat Richard Scarry. There’s “Babar and Father Christmas” by Jean de Brunhoff. “The Legend of the Candy Cane” by Lori Walburg is referred to as, ”A story that helps families celebrate the mystery and miracle of Christmas.” “The Shepherd’s Christmas is an Arch Bible story book that tells the Christmas story from the viewpoint of a shepherd; based on Luke 2: 1-20. 

For an older crowd, ages 7 and up, their is a book of older and longer Christmas stories called “The Children’s Book of Christmas” by Asa Dickinson and Ada Skinner that can be downloaded free onto a Kindle. There is “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. This classic story can be read by the whole group, each one taking a character to read. Of course, these longer stories can be read over a series of evenings.

So turn off your television, phone and other electronic devices, tune up your voices, make some hot chocolate and prepare to enjoy a family evening together. Happy Holidays!

Please leave a comment about holiday stories and activities that you and your family enjoy.

Hot Cocoa Mix
ingredients:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1  2 pound box Nestle’s Quik 
• 6 or 7 oz. jar of coffee creamer
• 1  8 qt. box instant powdered milk

prep:

Into a large bowl, sift together powdered sugar and cinnamon.

Add all other ingredients and stir well until mixed. 

Store mixture in an airtight container.

When you're ready for a cup of cocoa,

Fill a mug ⅓ –½  full of cocoa mix, add boiling water and stir. 

Good served with marshmallows or a peppermint stick