Making Time for the Family: Family Dinner Fun with Word Play

Filed under: CREATING MEMORIES

I took the kids on a little road trip to the bigger city with an actual mall to pick up a package for Stephen. While we were waiting for the store to open the kids and I ran around the child’s play area. Everett, my drifter, saw the electric cars across the way and took off. Everett and Adelin jumped from one seat to the next pretending to be an ice cream truck driver, in a Nascar race, an astronaut… A young boy and girl approached the stationary cars. The boy an awkward teen. The girl giddy with a crush. I watched the boy show off by squeezing into the circus van. His girlfriend rewarded him with a giggle that said “you are so funny…and cute.”

When I was young I did some pretty lame stuff too like speaking in different accents in public or having conversations with people I did not know using certain precalculated words in a sentence. We thought we were so witty. I am sure most people saw us as knuckle-brained teenagers.

Games are a fun way to strengthen the family. They can break down barriers relieving awkward feelings. Games such as Word Play not only help little children with their language they provide a means for communicating.

How to Play:

1. Make a list of 3-4 words.

2. Choose a topic to talk about.

3. Start the conversation. During the discussion each person must use all the words on this list.

For example one time the topic was God and the words were astronaut, popcorn and pencil.

You may also choose to time the game. Maybe who ever does not use all the words in five minutes has to do the dishes that night.

Technorati Tags: dinner games, family games

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Saint Nicholas Feast Day: Breakfast with Santa

Filed under: CREATING MEMORIES

The legend of Saint Nick began with a real man. And while he did not fly a reindeer-powered sleigh or slide down chimneys, he did become famous for his gift-giving.

Saint Nicholas was born in Lycia (modern-day Turkey) in the fourth century AD into a wealthy family. Upon the death of his parents he received a considerable inheritance, but he kept none of it. While he was still a boy, Nicholas was chosen by the people of Myra to be their new bishop. But it wasn’t long before the king began persecuting the Christians, and the new bishop was imprisoned. Eventually Saint Nicholas was released living the remainder of his life rendering kindness and charity to others.

The most famous story of his generosity was about a desperate poverty-stricken man. The old man knew that without a dowry his daughters would never marry and so was prepared to sell his three daughters into slavery. Saint Nicholas heard about the old man’s plight and for three nights as everyone slept, he slipped past the man’s window and tossed in a bag of gold. The money was enough to provide a dowry for all three daughters.

Eventually, in Northern Europe his name was changed to Father Christmas or Santa Claus. In many parts of the world, December 6 is celebrated as Saint Nicholas Feast Day, reserving Christmas day for the religious observance of Christ’s birth. On the eve of this feast day children fill their shoes with carrots and hay, for the white horse Saint Nicholas rode, and leave them by the fireplace. When they wake they find them stuffed with oranges, chocolate coins, nuts and small gifts.

This year celebrate December 6th with a Breakfast feast. Below is a list of some kid friendly breakfast foods. It is certainly not limited. After the feast perform a service project such as leaving an anonymous basket with goodies on someones doorstep or raking the leaves or shoveling snow in your neighbors yard.

Breakfast with Santa menu:

-Beverages-

Hot Chocolate

Orange Juice

Milk

-Main Course-

Pancakes

Sausage or Bacon

Scrambled Eggs

-Extras-

Yogurt

Bagels with Cream Cheese

Muffins

Oatmeal Bar

Omelet Bar

Cranberry Chicken Salad Croissants

Technorati Tags: breakfast with santa, celebrate Advent, Christmas, Saint Nicholas Feast Day

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December Website Review: DadLabs.com

Filed under: THE BOOKSHELF

“Back when I was a kid…” dads generally did not play a major role in the upbringing of children. Dad was the primary provider. The intimidating figure you did not want to cross; a trump card mom could play to keep the kids in line. Today those roles have shifted significantly. In modern day households dad is sharing the load of household responsibilities including the rearing of children; poopy diapers, car pooling, story time and all. The stay-at-home dad is no longer a comical figure as played by Tom Selleck in the 1987 film “3 Men and A Baby.” Fathers are scaling back their work week and even in some instances, by necessity, replacing the mother at home to play a larger role in their child’s upbringing.

DadLabs wants to help foster that need by providing an informative witty place to go to for advice. Troy Lanier, Clay Nichols and Brad Powell founded DadLabs in 2004 on the belief “that parents must be the primary movers in the lives of their children and fathers must play a leading role in this journey.” The genre of videos cover everything form breastfeeding to car seats. You will also find a place to voice yourself in the DadLab Community and read more from the creators under Blog. This place is for dads so expect off color remarks and well basically man talk, hence the beer mugs.

Dads, be sure to tune in to the Live webcast every Thursday 1pm central for parenting news and giveaways!

Technorati Tags: dadlab, family, kids, parenting for dads, stay at home dads

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