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Holiday Family Night

© Becky Doland

The Holidays are upon us again, with all the hustle and bustle that comes with them. This year more than ever, I think we need to slow down and take the time to enjoy them with those who we love the most: our families. One great way to do this is to organize an evening at home into a fun holiday party just for you and your family.

First, check everyone's schedule and pick a night that everyone is free from other social, business and school commitments. Circle the date on a calendar in the kitchen and let everyone know that you will be doing something special that night. You might even want to make special invitations and give them out - at the breakfast table, under bedroom doors, in lunch boxes.

What to do when the big night arrives? Well, start with dinner. Make it something everyone really likes. Or make it something fun and festive that nobody's ever tried before. Or make it a sit-down gourmet meal. Maybe you'd all have a lot of fun making homemade pizza together. Everybody gets something to do - mixing up the dough, oiling the pizza pan, cutting up green peppers, or putting on the pepperoni slice by slice. Be it pizza & root beer or chicken cordon bleu, as long as it fits your family it'll be great.

The rest of the evening can also be tailor made to you and yours. Are you putting up a Christmas tree? This would be the perfect night to decorate it. Do it the old-fashioned way and get everyone involved. Pop popcorn and string it up. Make cranberry garlands. Remember those red and green paper chains we made as kids? You can make really pretty ones using strips of wide satin ribbon and fabric glue or a glue gun. Put some holiday tunes on the CD player, make hot cocoa, pop some more popcorn (to eat this time) and I bet when you're finished everyone will have a soft spot for this year's tree.

No tree? Bake holiday cookies together. Watch a favorite holiday movie complete with popcorn, candy & hot apple cider. Play board games. Read a book out loud. Get some decorative rubber stamps, paint, and make your own holiday wrapping paper. Yes, you can even roast chestnuts over an open fire. Or any combination of things - you choose whatever will be fun and suitable for your family.