Tag Archives: holiday

It’s a well known fact that I have LOVED Christmas my entire life! When my baby sister was in grade school she wrote a school poem about me entitled, “Christmas Freak”. (Yes, even then she had a biting sense of humor.) I love the cold weather, the lights & decorations, the music (I’m listening to it as I write this), the cards, selecting presents for people & wrapping them creatively, making holiday cookies & crafts and the general feeling of goodwill among people during this time. It’s just the most wonderful time of the year…made even more magical by our daughter!

It’s always been amazing to watch her little mind develop, but this holiday just puts her into overdrive. There are lights and colors and new tastes, sounds and textures! An everyday trip to Target is an adventure when she spots the holiday aisles from across the store. She tells me “keep going mommy” until I reach the sparkly trees. When we decorated our own tree, she couldn’t wait to hang ornaments and then examine each one carefully. Don’t get me wrong, her excitement lasted for about three ornaments…three longer than my husband’s…but she had fun in the moment! Now she has her favorites that she visits daily, and each morning as we walk downstairs she says, “Lights on!”

We’ve painted paper plate wreaths, made a handprint Christmas tree, cut Play-Doh shapes with cookie cutters, glued puff balls on foam shapes, decorated her own tiny tree in her play room and made daily “peanut butter guys” with our gingerbread man cookie cutter. Every morning she tries to stand higher on her tippy toes than she did the day before to put a new felt ornament on her Advent calendar. I’m loving it!!! She’s learning new concepts and I get to indulge my passion for the season.

One concept she’s got down quite well is a fear of strangers….particularly those in big red suits with long white beards. She loves the guy from afar, can’t wait to yell his name at every opportunity, gets excited when we read about him in books, but the moment we get up close, all bets are off! Last year’s Santa picture attempt was so traumatic I won’t even show you. This year we tested the waters at a local party, and in mom’s arms, with fun auntie making faces behind the camera, it wasn’t so bad.

We’re still not going near the mall Santa, but this was progress. And progress is what it’s all about with a toddler. It’s also what it’s all about with a first time mom…like the lesson that you don’t take your 11 month old to visit Santa and expect her to smile for the camera. Parker and I are navigating these waters together and everyday is an adventure. I agree that her puff ball penguins should have eyes on their tails and she agrees that our craft time together is more important than me cleaning the house….besides it develops her fine motor skills as she picks up and hands dust bunnies to me J

– jolynn

Bell Family Company, Family

BFL – Teaching an Attitude of Gratitude

December 1, 2014 bellfamilycompany

Thanksgiving has just passed, and of course I am excited about so many things. Holiday from work, vacation to Denver, CO, to see my wonderful old friends, and my first gluten free turkey day dinner!

I get very nostalgic and joyful around this time of year. Like many of us I become aware of how much I love life and others and how I want to spread my wings and give back to my community. And while I’d like to have a smaller waistline, less student loan debt and vets bills, and have more time for yoga, I am aware of just how blessed, lucky and down right thankful I am for all the gifts I have in my life!

Teaching kids about gratitude and thankfulness is a hot topic around the holidays in America and other parts of the world. We participate in food drives to feed the hungry, donate clothes, volunteer at soup kitchens or get involved in other ways of giving to others in our communities and beyond. It feels good to give back, and it feels even better when a child participates in service work and acknowledges their own gifts and want to share with others.

Here are some helpful tips on teaching kids about gratitude and being thankful during the holidays and and throughout the year.

Teach simple manners: Please, excuse me, thank you.
Sharing is caring and is the foundation of giving to another.
Make a gratitude list at the start or end of your day.
Play gratitude ping-pong.
Create a gratitude art project. Have your child draw a picture of what makes them happy and discuss the connection of happiness to thankfulness and gratitude.
Read a book or watch a movie that sends the message of gratitude and appreciation. Then talk about it!
- The Giving Tree, by Shel Silverstein
- Small Blessings, by Erica Becker
- Have you Filled a Bucket Today?, by Carol McCloud
Have a regular conversation about gratitude and giving back!
As parents and caregivers the best way we can teach our youngsters is by role modeling.
Gratitude starts with respect and acknowledgement of others and having polite manners.
Acknowledgment of others and a positive outlook!
Teach empathy.
Get involved with a community outreach program that support underserved populations.

Have a very Happy Holiday Season!

– Ali Sheppard

Bell Family Company, Events, Family

BFF – A Christmas Spectacular – Radio City Style

November 29, 2014 bellfamilycompany

Just in time for the onset of the official holiday season, the Bell Family Company headquarters had the privilege of attending the opening night of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular performance on November 13th! There is no better way to kick off the holiday season. Not only is it an old New York City tradition, but it is a great outing for the whole family!

The show keeps the traditional performances of the “Living Nativity” as well as the “wooden soldiers”, while bringing in the new traditions such as digital projections, floating snowflakes, and of course real animals. This year’s plot is about two young boys cannot afford to buy their sister a Christmas present. The eldest boy is a Santa nonbeliever, but he soon sings a different tune when he and his brother are taken on a journey to the North Pole, where presents come alive, and teach the boys that Christmas is not really about the toys, it’s about feeling the magic and believing in the spirit of it all.

My favorite part had to be the floating snowflakes in the number “snow”. It truly felt like magic was coming alive, and left you feeling like a believer yourself. I would recommend the show for children ages two and up.

Bell Family Company, Family

BFL – Gift Guides Galore, oh my is it that time of year?

November 17, 2014 bellfamilycompany

Is that Jingle Bells I hear already? Halloween is barely over and the holiday music, decorations and displays are abundant. I swear each year it moves up a week, soon we will be making lists right after Valentine’s Day. While this is great for planners (such as myself), not everyone has the headspace to make a list, check it twice and buy everything in advance. So BFC is making it a tad bit easier and doing you a favor… We’ve gathered a few of our favorite gift guide picks…

Cool Mom Picks – always a favorite for their out of the box thinking and eclectic taste. This year they have 2 guides… Their Indie Gift Store & The Classic Holiday Gift Guide chock full of amazing categories from Foodies, to DIY, Homemade, Frozen Toddler Gifts, In Laws and more. Don’t forget to check out the Cool STEM gifts for girls then scroll down and ETW the greatest gifts with a prize package worth over $800…

Uncommon Goods is a gem of a website and catalog. Always inspiring and just plain neat (yes I’m aware that word went out in the 70’s). Great stuff for everyone at every price point. Check out their 20 Gifts for People Under 20 Gift Guide while you are perusing through.

Red Tricycle has a whole slew of mini gift guides for tots to tweens and beyond. While you are there, sign up for your city edition of the hottest happenings in your area each week.

Stem photograph courtesy of Cool Mom Picks

– Kelly Miller is a contributing writer and consultant for BFC. She has 90% of her holiday shopping done already, but ill probably now spend more after writing this article as she discovered lots more cool stuff her kids must have….