This past Easter weekend, the Healthy Hen Household spent four days at the Broadmoor resort in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  It is quickly becoming a family tradition (our second Easter there), and you may want to consider making it yours.  We focused on one thing: pure, family fun.  Memory making, we sometimes call it.

The Broadmoor is one of the finest resorts in the world, and remarkably family friendly.  It has so much to offer that it was recently designated as a Forbes (previously Mobil) five-star resort for a record fiftieth (50th) year in a row.   It is currently only one of fifty-four (54) hotels in the world with the Forbes five-star designation (list here), so to have that distinction for half a century is a testament to its enduring quality, culture and history.

What makes the Broadmoor such a magical place for us is its family friendly amenities.  It is a worthwhile getaway no matter where you are from, as evidenced by visitors from throughout the United States and around the world.  So, what were some of our favorites on this holiday, spring time trip? In no particular order:

1. Accommodations: The rooms at the Broadmoor are spacious and lavishly decorated.  And the details, from the linens and robes, to the bedding and personal care products, were befitting of a luxury resort.   It was a great retreat for rest and relaxation after enjoying the day’s activities, and a treat to call home during our stay.

2. Activities: There are so many activities at the Broadmoor, whether for kids or just adults, that this could be a post of its own.  We didn’t even come close to utilizing the offerings, yet we did enjoy all of the following: Easter carnival (with games, face painting, jump houses, cupcake decorating and engaging employees), watched a movie in Broadmoor’s own theater, spent time in the library (a book store straight out of a classic novel), enjoyed the Carriage Museum (full of amazing antique horse carriages, cars and Native American artifacts lovingly cared for by the in-house curator – it takes your breath away), the indoor pool and outdoor hot tub (impeccably clean facilities and  views over the golf course), a nice playground and walks around the lake enjoying the ducks and swans.  Oh, and don’t let me forget the family BINGO night.  We played two nights and, to the kids’ delight, won some beautiful Easter candy.

Among the list of things we thought we would do, but just didn’t get to:  the free shuttle to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo or Seven Falls, or a trip to the Garden of the Gods.  And, when we return in the summer, there is an incredible outdoor pool, paddle boats, tennis lessons, and the “Bee Bunch,” where the kids can do activities and play under supervision of the Broadmoor while mom and dad enjoy one of the many fine dining restaurants on the grounds.

3.  Dining: We enjoyed casual (but great) meals in all of these “kid friendly” establishments on the Broadmoor property (and the kids ate free!):  The Golf Club Grille (comfortable but beautiful atmosphere, including patio seating overlooking the golf course); the Golden Bee (an English style pub that takes you back to Olde England with great fish and chips, black and tans and ragtime piano);  the Lake Terrace Dining Room (views of the lake, richly decorated, fantastic service and food); and of course, lots of in room dining for the kids.  The food was great, the presentation was beautiful, and the employees were a joy.  And this doesn’t even touch on the many fine dining establishment and the gorgeous Sunday brunch.  Those will be for the next trip!

4. Fitness Center: Since I am still  training for the Horsetooth Half Marathon, I needed a treadmill available for two hours.  The bellman graciously arranged for reservation of a treadmill for my running day, which was wonderful.  The fitness center is nicer than most local clubs – quality equipment, spotless facility, locker rooms with tranquil music, tile showers and personal care products.  My Rooster swears he could spend an afternoon just relaxing in the locker room!

5. Spa: The Broadmoor also has a five star spa, which I enjoyed following my training run (with the compliments of the Broadmoor staff – thank you!!) .  It was pure bliss.  Professional staff, a soothing environment, aromatherapy rooms, a sauna, indulgent showers, and a swedish massage that left me feeling like I floated around the Broadmoor property the rest of the day.  A special, though necessary retreat that was good for body and soul.  Moms and dads just don’t do this often enough!

6.  Customer Service: While the Broadmoor facilities and grounds are spectacular, what often sets a luxury resort apart from its competition is the quality of service.  Every member of the staff we interacted with was pleasant and gracious.  Anything we needed, we received, and they had a way of making you feel special with every interaction.

So, I know this is a long post, yet I can’t do the Broadmoor justice without writing a short novel.   I didn’t even touch on their three golf courses, which are in a magnificent setting and have been home to major professional golf events.  In fact, the Broadmoor will be hosting the U.S. Women’s Open in 2011. As many of you followers know, the Healthy Hen House does a fair amount of traveling and  I strongly recommend The Broadmoor as a destination.  You will be surprised how much it has to offer as a family retreat, and if you review the many “package offers” it has throughout the year, you will also find it to be surprisingly affordable luxury.  We hope to return to enjoy it each season, as the ambience and environment are unique and special throughout the year.  We can only imagine playing outside in the summer or the decorations at Christmas.  So give it a try, and let us know your favorite features.  Remember to tell them the Healthy Hen sent you!

As Easter approaches, I’ve been thinking about fun spring activities for the kids. It made me remember a not-so-fun Easter event from the past.

A couple of years ago, a friend told me about a local egg hunt at a garden center. Her children loved it the previous year, and she thought it would be a lot of fun for our kids, too. Since our kids love egg hunts (who doesn’t?), we decided to go. The kids got dressed up, dusted off the old Easter baskets, and were ready to look for some eggs! When we arrived, we were a little surprised to see that the line for the egg hunt was very, VERY long, but the kids were hopping around with excitement, so we took a place in line. At the appointed time, the doors were opened and the line surged forward. By the time my kids got in the door, the place was packed full of kids grabbing eggs left and right. We looked behind flower pots, in plants, on garden sculptures, and we found… zero. Absolutely nothing was left. Now, I understand that we were pretty far back in the crowd and there were a lot of kids who got in before us, and I can take that in stride. What really bothered me was that there were MANY parents who were helping. Not in the “Look, Johnny, there’s a green one in the petunia. Why don’t you get it?” kind of way, but in the “Here, you hold my infant (who can’t eat candy and couldn’t care less about eggs) while I fill a couple grocery sacks with booty” kind of way. It was terrible. I don’t know if it was the lure of free candy or the pretty, shiny plastic eggs, but something about the situation drove those parents into a competitive frenzy. Maybe they were all hosting egg hunts later in the day and were using their babies as cover to get free supplies. Whatever it was, it was appalling. So there we stood in the garden center, my (then) four year old daughter crying (along with several other kids) while a small percentage of people (and very few children) walked away with the bulk of the goodies. Luckily, we ran into a friend who gave each of my kids an egg, a gesture that made them very happy!

If you’re going to an egg hunt this year, I hope you have a better time than we did. I also hope that you and the other adults remember what the egg hunt is about. It’s not a contest to see whose parent can grab the fastest, but a time for kids to enjoy themselves and get a little candy. So happy hunting, and have a happy Easter!

If you have young kids, you can’t help but appreciate the unbridled joy that follows a visit from Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny or Tooth Fairy.   There is a small window of opportunity as parents to let kids’ imaginations run so freely, to believe in these “magic” beings.  So, why not extend the magic with Liam the Leprechaun on St. Patrick’s Day?!  Our chicks received their first visit from Liam three years ago, and he was a major hit.  He leaves little things about the house or outside – the kids have a blast and we get a chance to talk about St. Patrick’s day, which obviously holds a place of significance in U.S. as well as Irish culture.  So, here are few suggestions if you want Liam to visit this year!

1.  Talk to the kids about St. Patrick’s Day coming up, and share with them some of the history and “myths” that go with it.

2.  Move a few things the kids pay attention to around the house – question whether Liam the Leprechaun may have been involved – they will start to get very curious.

3.  If you have a St. Patrick’s Day parade in your community, go to the parade. They are usually a few days before the holiday itself, and the kids can have lots of fun while also thinking about Liam.

4.  Set traps for Liam.  Leprechaun’s are elusive little suckers, so you can have fun with the kids by having them set “traps” to try and catch Liam.  Maybe the ole’ shoebox, leaned up on one side, supported by a stick, with a coin inside.  The kids will want to check the trap in the morning – if you remove the coin, knock out the stick and have them look under the box, they will wonder how that magical little fellow got the coin, set off the trap, and then escaped.

5.  The morning of St. Patrick’s Day, leave out a few little treasures or gifts in the house or outside – the kids will feel like they got a treasure from Liam and really LOVE it.  If they have preschool or school, maybe include something green they can wear so they don’t get pinched and can share their story of Liam the Leprechaun coming to visit.  Trust me, its a blast.

If you have any St. Patrick’s Day traditions, or you get a visit from Liam this year, share your story with us!

Here’s a quick and easy breakfast idea for Valentine’s Day that’s healthy too!  I saw a picture of this recipe in a magazine many years ago (I can’t remember which one).  My Rooster and I were both working full-time and this caught my eye as a nice way to surprise him with a cute Valentine’s breakfast that fit into our early morning schedule.  I’ve made it every year since and it’s a hit with our kids who also love oatmeal and yogurt.  I use old-fashioned oats, but instant will work too.  The same goes for the yogurt – pick your sweethearts favorite; and the oil – use what you have on hand.  You may need to adjust the amount of oatmeal and yogurt depending on the size dish and cookie cutter that you use.

Oatmeal with a Yogurt Heart

1 cup cooked oatmeal

1 6 oz. container strawberry yogurt

Large, heart-shaped cookie cutter

1 tsp. canola oil

Small plate

Sliced strawberries (optional)

1. Lightly grease both sides of cookie cutter with oil.  Place in center of plate.
2. Fill inside of heart with yogurt.  Spoon oatmeal around outside of heart.  Remove cookie cutter and garnish with sliced strawberries.  Serve immediately.

For our kids, picking the theme of their birthday party is a very important decision.  And of course the cake is a big part of the celebration.  At first, I considered myself lucky if our party theme was included in selections offered by our local supermarket bakery.  I found out pretty quick that what was shown in the picture is often not what ends up on your cake (I guess that falls under artistic license).  Although the kids initially loved the little plastic trinkets that were scattered on the top of the cake, they were old news by the end of the week and they would get tossed in the trash.  What was getting the decorations, the cake or the landfill?  The next year I began to customize the cakes myself and the decorations were either edible or they were useable.  Here are a few options for decorating your child’s birthday cake:

Order the cake, add your own toy for the decoration

If you already have a toy that you were planning on giving your child as a present, this option is the least amount of work for you, but it could also be the most expensive.  This will work for almost any birthday theme, just take the toy with you when you order the cake and have any frosting decorations colored to match.  We have used the same style of store decorated cake for three separate parties and customized them with the following toys:

• Pirate party: Pirates of the Caribbean pirate ship (and pirate candles).
• Thomas the Tank Engine party: New engine for your little one’s collection placed on a piece of track wrapped in plastic wrap.  Use a bit of sticky-tack or tape to keep the engine from rolling.
• Underwater Adventure party: Scuba diver and treasure chest bathtub toys.

Bake your own cake, use a cake mold and concentrated icing paste

You will need to take the time to bake your cake, but if you watch for those 40% off coupons from your local craft store you can go beyond the basic round layer cakes for less than the cost of a store-bought sheet cake.  Many companies give several cake ideas for each mold, so there is the potential to reuse them for future parties.  A friend showed me the beautiful and vibrant frosting colors you can make using the concentrated icing paste available at many craft stores.  A little goes a long way with these colorings, so I’ve been able to get a lot of mileage from the small containers.

• Outer Space party: Make a Saturn cake from a soccer ball cake mold.  Use extra cake batter for cupcakes (moons, asteroids or stars).  Saturn’s rings are made from melted chocolate wafers (craft store).  Spread melted chocolate on waxed paper in a half circle and let harden.  Slice cake and insert chocolate rings.  Add a bit of frosting to the rings so they stick to the inside of the cake.  Frost planet with base color and add swirls of accent color.
• Crayon Box: I saw this cake at a party several years ago.  The idea came from a cake decorating book, and this is where I learned that you need concentrated icing paste to get rich frosting colors.  Use a rectangular tray to bake the crayon box, cut out a notch for the box top opening, and cover ice cream cones with frosting for the crayon tops.

Bake your own cake, cover cake with fondant

Jump in and try fondant to give your cake a unique look.  Little Red Hen shared an easy recipe for making your own fondant.  Her rocket ship cake turned out beautifully, and after her assurances that it wasn’t that hard to make, I was ready to give fondant a try.  It was pretty easy, I just needed to use a lot of cornstarch to prevent the fondant from sticking to the table when I rolled it out.

• Rocket Ship party: Use a football mold for the body of the cake and cut the fins from a circular layer cake.  Cover body of ship with one color fondant.  Cover fins with accent color fondant.  Place covered pieces together to assemble cake.  Cut out letters with cookie cutters and add cinnamon dots for rivets.
• Monsters vs. Aliens party: Can you guess what movie hit theatres before my son’s birthday?  Turns out fondant is the perfect “cover” for this B.O.B. cake.  In case you’re wondering, B.O.B. is a “gelatinous mass”.  Use a soccer ball mold for the top of the head, and round cake layers to stack up the body.  Offset the cake layers to give the body an irregular shape and place head on top.  Push wooden skewer vertically into cake to prevent layers from sliding.  Note: Cut the skewer an inch shorter than the stack as the layers will compress due to their weight.  Drape with fondant, leaving folds along the base.  Color a ping-pong ball for the eye and push into cake.

We all love a good party, and what better reason to celebrate than our child being a year older?  But where are the backyard parties with a few games, balloons, and a homemade cake (I’ll admit several of my cakes could be on the Cake Wrecks blog)? Many of today’s birthday celebrations have grown into elaborate events.  This year, we decided something had to change!

In the past few years our weekends have included a birthday party about three out of four weekends a month, and if the frequency isn’t overwhelming enough, certainly the surrounding venue, entertainment and number of gifts are!

A few of the activity based birthdays we have recently hosted or attended include:

• Gymnastics
• Petting Zoo
• Ponies/Rides
• Clowns
• Pump It Up/Bounce House Gyms
• Dance Classes
• Karate
• Craft/Pottery Classes

To simplify this year we tried something new.  We contacted other families in our six year old chicks’ class with January birthdays to see if they had interest in a combined party.  They were thrilled!  We ended up planning a combined party for four girls at once. With a single location at a local gymnastics center, we are able to simplify and celebrate at the same time.  The biggest issue, after deciding a location, day and time, was how to handle gifts.  The whole idea was to try and minimize the number of events and not have four separate parties with all the gifts and hullabaloo that goes with it.  Since donations have become somewhat common for gifts, our minds went towards something positive in lieu of personal gifts for each child.  So, with four six-year olds from the same school, I thought it would be nice to invite the families to purchase a book for the school library, which definitely has room for some new books.  The kiddos get to celebrate together, and the consumption is not at an all time high.  Rather than four different parties, at four different locations, with four times the gifts, we end up with one venue, one party, and “gifts” that have a true community feel and support everyone at the chicks’ school (and its nice for parents’ budgets, too!).

The party is this weekend. So far, the reception from other parents and the school library has been very positive, so it should all work out great.  If you have any ideas for how to break away from the regular party “formula” and do something positive and creative, be sure to let us know!

We recently stayed in a cabin at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado.  It is one of our favorite family vacation spots for numerous reasons.  We highly recommend it as a great family destination anytime you think about making a trip into the beautiful Rocky Mountains. Following are a few of the reasons it will become a favorite if you try it too:

1.  Affordability.  There is no better family destination that can compete with this!  You name an activity it and it is included in the price of staying.  If you choose to stay in a cabin you can even bring your own food and cook in, a great way to save money and calories!

2.  Activities.  Where else can you hike in Rocky Mountain National Park, swim indoors, roller-skate, ice-skate, mini-golf, cross-country ski or snowshoe, play basketball or volleyball, the list is impossible to exhaust.  And amazingly, there is even more. If you’d like to join in a group activity, by all means they’ve got ‘em.  We’ve enjoyed their animal detectives class, family bingo, square dancing, holiday cookie and gingerbread decorating and crafting Christmas ornaments, all while meeting people from all over the country.  Heck, we even visited with a fellow from the North Pole.  Santa Claus and one of his elves knocked on our cabin door on Christmas Eve to assure the kids he knew we were on vacation! (We did sign-up for the visit at no expense).

3.  Variety.  There is something for everyone.  If you want to hit the Livery for a horseback ride, you are likely to see some amazing wildlife (we saw bull elk and wild turkeys).  Small kids can enjoy a pony ride outside of the stable.  There is great hiking direct from the YMCA grounds into Rocky Mountain National Park.  And if you’d rather not spend all your time outdoors, try reading in the Maude Jellison Library or venture over to the new craft center (be prepared to pay for the crafts here which are NOT included in the price of staying.)

4.  Natural beauty.  You can sit in the lodge or on your cabin porch and enjoy a hot chocolate or latte while enjoying breathtaking views.  It is the Rocky Mountains up close, yet in a relaxing and comfortable family setting.  No lines to wait in, and internet access only if you need it.  Leave the DVD player and radio at home and dive in to some awesome new experiences!

How about you? Do you have any great family getaway destinations to share? If so, we would love to hear about them. We are always looking for great places to enjoy some fun family time and expose the chicks to new experiences.

The countdown is on and we are looking ahead to a great year.  There is just something about the sound of 2010 that is particularly strong!  So let’s talk about resolutions.  Some people are goal oriented throughout the year, and some are just not.  Somewhere between these two groups, we all seem to gather at January 1 each year and discuss New Year’s resolutions.  For some, it is a time of optimism, where each year the focus on achieving a goal leads to an accomplishment.  For others, it can be a difficult time remembering goals that were not achieved. So how can you ensure that you reach your goals in 2010?

Set yourself up for success.  Reach and trust yourself, but recognize where you are, who you are, and that establishing realistic goals will really lead to more success in the end.  Have you ever decided to join a gym and work yourself into the ground because you really mean it, that this is the year?  When did you next return?  Was it two days, two weeks, or two months?  Hey, I’ve been there.  I can recall a particularly awkward feeling after attempting a Jane Fonda workout video and waking up the next day feeling sore and humiliated!  I don’t remember how many times more I tried the video, but it wasn’t many.

Also remember that the goal CAN be a big one!  It’s not only about setting a realistic goal and achieving it, its about pushing yourself in a realistic way based on where you are.  For example, whether it is a marathon or a 5K, it begins by lacing up the shoes and making a commitment to yourself to keep moving.  It may start with walks or short runs that slowly build and increase each day.   It could be reading more to your kids or reading an hour together everyday, but it starts with just sitting down and picking up the book.  It could be walking at the lunch hour three times a week, or dusting the exercise equipment in the basement everyday that you don’t use, but just to remember it is available so you are more likely to use it next time.

Resolutions are a process.  Be committed to the process and allow yourself flexibility when the day or week doesn’t quite go the way you hoped, but don’t quit on yourself.  You and your resolution are worth the continued effort!

So what will it be for you this year?  We’d love to hear about your goals and the process along the way.  Remember to congratulate yourself for your good deeds in 2009, and carry that positive energy into 2010!

This Christmas, my husband’s parents gave our family a wonderful gift: they took us all to a Colorado Ballet performance of the Nutcracker. Grandparents, parents, aunt and children, all excited for the kids’ first ballet. Their only previous experience with the Nutcracker was in the form of a Barbie movie. To sum up, the Barbie movie has some of the same character names as the ballet, but they throw in a rock giant, a scary grandfather, a mouse king who turns his minions into statues, a talking bat and a quest to find the magical “Sugar Plum Princess” to turn the Nutcracker back into a prince. (But other than that, they are exactly the same?) Also, the tickets were a surprise, so we couldn’t discuss the real ballet much beforehand. Basically, my kids were pretty unprepared for the show, and I was a bit nervous as to their reactions.

When we arrived at the theater, the kids were amazed! The crowd was amazing! The stage, amazing! The lights, orchestra pit, ushers- you guessed it- amazing! I could tell what my 6 year old daughter was feeling; she wanted to be the one on the stage, dancing away for an adoring audience. My 3 year old son was less easy to read. He was quiet, and fairly still (odd for a 3 year old), taking everything in. When the music began and the curtain went up, my daughter settled in to watch the show and ooh and ahh with her Grandma over the dances and costumes. But my son had other ideas: he wanted to know! “Grandpa, is that real snow?” “How did the tree get big?” “Who is that guy?” “What happened to the Mouse King?” “Which spotlight is that?” and on and on. His Grandpa quietly answered all his questions while Dad, Auntie and I giggled behind them. I was very impressed that, for once in his short little life, my son remembered to whisper! (Only once did I hear a question about a rock giant.)

We had a wonderful time! My kids have been playing Clara and the Nutcracker Prince ever since. And while they like the Barbie movie for its action and adventure, they both appreciated the dream-like, slower paced beauty of the ballet. (My son didn’t start to fidget until nearly the end of the show.) It’s nice to know they don’t have to be bombarded with animation and wild special effects to be interested in something. The Colorado Ballet put on a great show, and I hope there are more in our future!

Imagine the excitement of a three year old at Christmas.  Pretty much bouncing off the walls right about now, and only occasionally reigned in by the thought of Santa’s naughty or nice list.  I’m guilty for using that list for all it’s worth this time of year.  And now he’s old enough to pick out/make gifts for other family members – what’s your guess as to how long he keeps that a secret?

I decided to try a new approach this year, we would wait until just before Christmas to take him to pick out whatever gifts we were buying.  That way the wait wouldn’t be too long for him.  Early Monday morning we head out, find the perfect present for Daddy, and return home to wrap it and hide it before Daddy walks in the door.  We even talk about not telling Daddy what the present is, so that it will be a surprise.  I do know the little guys limits though, on Christmas he will tell everyone what their present is before the wrapping paper is even opened (of course that’s because our guess is always socks or underwear).  No problem though, only 3 days to wait.

A little later Daddy walks though the door, and yes, my little guy instantly says “Daddy, we got you a new model rocket for Christmas!”  No hesitation, the secret is out.  My Rooster and I look at each other and laugh, looks like this holiday tradition is with us for another year!

I’ve been baking ginger cookies a lot this holiday, but they are so delicious I’m not sick of them yet! A couple of recipients have asked for the recipe, so I thought I’d give it to everybody. These make great gifts for neighbors, teachers or the milkman, and are a great addition to a cookie platter. As a bonus, they are VERY easy to make- a needed attribute this time of year! This recipe was originally given to me by a dear friend of the family, but I’m not sure of her source. You can use it to make either giant or more traditionally sized cookies (I’ve included instructions for both, so be sure to double check baking times). But better make two batches- they are hard to resist until company comes!

Giant Ginger Cookies

4½ cups flour
4 tsp. ground ginger (the fresher the ginger, the spicier the cookies)
2 tsp baking soda
1½ tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground cloves
¼ tsp salt
1½ cup shortening
2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
½ cup molasses
¾ cup coarse or granulated sugar

1. In a medium mixing bowl, stir together flour, ginger, soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt. Set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl, beat shortening on low for 30 seconds to soften. Gradually add 2 cups of sugar. Beat until fluffy. Add eggs and molasses. Beat well.
3. Add ½ of the flour mixture to shortening mixture. Beat until combined.
4. If using a hand mixer, mix the rest of the flour mixture in with a heavy spoon. If using a heavy duty stand mixer, use it to stir in the remaining flour mixture.
5. FOR GIANT COOKIES: Shape dough into 2 inch balls using a ¼ cup of dough per ball. Roll balls in the ¾ cup sugar.   FOR REGULAR SIZED COOKIES: Scoop out dough with ¼ cup measuring cup, then split in half. Roll each half in sugar.
6. Place on ungreased cookie sheet, about 2½ inches apart (2 inches for regular sized cookies). Bake at 350 degrees, 12-14 minutes for giant cookies, 10-11 minutes for regular sized. Bake until they are light brown and puffed.
7. Let stand 2 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool. Makes about 22 giant cookies or 45 regular cookies.

I hope you love these cookies as much as I do! Enjoy!

While cleaning house for the holidays, I got to gazing at my Christmas tree (anything is better than mopping, right?). Some people decorate trees as an accessory to their decor- certain colors, styles, etc. We go the other way- we have quite a variety of ornaments! Some are the basic glass balls, resin birds and sparkling snowflakes that many people have, but others are very special. It’s these other types that make decorating the tree such a treat- the ornaments that let you walk down memory lane as you decorate. There are three types of special kinds of ornaments we have. What do you have on your tree that makes it unique and special for your family?

1.The first category we have several of, and which are my absolute favorites, are our travel ornaments. When my husband and I went on our honeymoon, we picked up a Christmas tree ornament representative of the city we traveled to. Over the years, we’ve continued this tradition. We have ornaments from South Carolina, Boston, Kansas, Nebraska, England and several other places, some specific to cities, some representing a particular activity we enjoyed on our trip. Every time we get them out, we relive all the fun we have had on our adventures together. And it’s always a treat to see guests’ reaction to our glass alligator, Beefeater or WWII plane! Strange things to put on a Christmas tree, maybe, but they help make the tree our own.

2. Years ago, my husband and his great uncle made several origami ornaments: swans, boxes, antelope, shrimp and others that are intricate and beautiful. Every year we take great care to put the best ones toward the top of the tree and keep them safe, but we also have a number that are showing their age. They also have teeth marks in them. We hang them at the bottom of the tree, and at night as we lie in bed we listen to one of the sweet sounds of the Christmas season: our cat beating the living daylights out of paper ornaments! Hey, a Christmas tree is a family affair!

3. Lastly, and something I think most families have, are the ornaments that have been passed on to us from our own childhood Christmas trees. Years ago my mom passed her pretty felt “12 Days of Christmas” ornaments to me. I love to put them on my tree (high enough to be out of reach of the aforementioned cat) and remember decorating the tree as a kid. And yes, Mom, I still have the horribly ratty cotton ball snowman. My husband’s parents have also passed along treasures of Christmas Trees Past: the ornament to commemorate his first Christmas, some homemade ornaments he made as a child, and the only glass ornament from their long-ago tree that my husband didn’t break. Now, my children’s bead-and-pipe-cleaner candy canes hang next to mine, and my husband’s clothespin Rudolph has a younger herd to keep it company.

Of course we have the beloved crafts our children make at school, ornaments our family and friends have given us, and other things that are beautiful, and all have a place on our tree. But the ornaments I’ve listed are the ones that make our Christmas tree. I hope our readers will share the things that make their homes special over the holidays. So please, leave a comment!

Recycled Christmas Card/ Wrapping Paper Gift Tags

Supplies Needed:

old Christmas cards

used wrapping paper

ribbon

glue

scissors

Directions:

1. Cut a circle out of an old Christmas card.

2. Cut a slightly larger circle out of wrapping paper.

3. Cut a piece of ribbon 6 or 7 inches in length and fold it in half.

4. Glue the smaller circle over the larger circle with the ribbon sandwiched in between.

5. Trim the end of the ribbon at an angle.

Voila! A beautiful handmade gift tag to brighten up your presents! Thanks, Joy!

The other three kids and I zipped out to the lake with our skates in hand ready for a crisp, sunny Christmas afternoon on ice. Kids chattered about the loot Santa had brought and tightened skates and buttoned up jackets. Not being much of a “hockey mom” I skated around in the smaller side rink attempting a pirouette or two. I got the occasional, “Come on, Dorothy, we’ll go easy on you, grab a stick and come play!” Maybe later, much.

Now I don’t consider myself a primadonna but apparently I have some of the traits. Not wearing hockey skates and definitely loving very shiny shoes. In fact, in one of the boxes with my name under the tree that Christmas morning was a pair of very sparkly silver sequined flats. Truth be known, I purchased the shoes myself at a “Day-After Thanksgiving” sale at Target, for seven dollars. I can’t remember if I signed the card from my husband or Santa, but one way or another I received those shiny shoes and wore them all morning. Loved them!

Ding Dong. That’s my cell phone’s ringtone. The display identified a call from our home phone. “Hey, when are you two going to get out here? The ice is perfect and the sun keeps shining!” My husband replied, with some dramatic flair, “Your son is a hero.” “Yeah, yeah, my little guy is definitely my little hero.” Replying that he wasn’t just being cute, he said this child REALLY saved the day!

It turns out my little hero was getting his snow boots on to come over to the skating rink with my husband when he noticed something strange. “Dada, why Mama’s slipper smokin’?” Uh huh, my brand new sparkly silver sequined flats, which I had left on the sofa to discourage our black lab puppy from eating, were smoking away next to a magnifying glass near the sunniest window in the house (gotta love that southern exposure!).

Why the magnifying glass was out I do not recall, but sure enough it created fire. Stunned at this report, I am still embarrassed to relate that my first words were, “But are they still wearable?” As you can see from the picture below, they are and they are still very comfortable and of course, very shiny. Since then, I have had time to reflect and can say how blessed we are that our home and our Christmas (yes, the shoes too) were saved and I am so thankful for little boys and cowboys and Indians, and husbands who love to play.

If you’re looking for great Christmas music that happens to be FREE, look no further because iTunes has you covered with 20 holiday tunes from a wide variety of artists. Just head over to the iTunes Holiday Sampler here and click on Free Album. Wait for the download to finish, make some hot chocolate, start the fireplace and snuggle up for a cold winter night with some great tunes. Thanks Apple and iTunes for helping to rock the holidays this year.

Here’s the complete song list:

• O Come All Ye Faithful – Amy Grant
• The First Noel – David Archuleta
• Silent Night – Sarah McLachlan
• Carol of the Bells/Jingle Bells – Barry Manilow
• It Snowed – Meaghan Smith
• Above the Northern Lights – Manheim Steamroller
• Baby It’s Cold Outside – Lady Antebellum
• We Three Kings – Toby Keith
• God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen – Rascal Flatts
• Silent Night – Wynonna
• 12 Days of Christmas – Mexicani Marimba Band
• We Wish You a Merry Christmas – Weezer
• A Snowflake Fell (and It Felt Like a Kiss) – Glasvegas
• Another Christmas Song – Stephen Colbert
• Greensleeves – Vince Guaraldi
• Dream a Dream – Charlotte Church
• The Nutcracker, Op. 71, Act 2: Character Dances – Kirov Orchestra & Valery Gergiev
• Angels We Have Heard on High – Aretha Franklin
• O Holy Night – Musiq Soulchild
• Auld Lang Syne – The Lonesome Travelers

For the Kids

1. Bone Chillers

2. Ice Princess

3. Fossil-iced Dinosaurs

4. Classic Lego Bricks

5. Lego Pirates

6. Lego Belville

7. Hello Kitty

For Your Inner Geek

8. Han Solo Frozen in Carbonite (with R2D2 Ice bucket!)

9. Ice Invaders

10. Tetr-ice

11. Pi-ce

12. Stone Cold Stonehenge

The Ocean Theme

13. Shark Fin

14. Fishbones

For Moms and Dads

15. Gin and Titonic

16. Cool Jewels

17. Cool Jazz

For Grandma and Grandpa

18. Frozen Smiles

For the Environmentalist

19. Global Warming Ice Tray

For the Season

20. Snowflakes

I don’t know about you, but I have a hard time picking out gifts for my children’s teachers.  It’s a rare occurrence for inspiration to strike early and I’m usually left scrambling the night before the class party.  What makes it such a struggle for me is that I really want to find a gift they will enjoy using and not think is impersonal.  While gift cards are a great option, how can you be sure your kids teacher really does like Starbucks?

The PTSO at my son’s school came up with a great questionnaire that they give to all of the teachers and it really helped me pick gifts that they would like.  So check to see if your school has collected similar information.  If not, consider putting together a quick list of easy questions for your child’s teacher and I’m sure all of the other parents in your child’s class will thank you.

Here are some examples to get you started:

What is your favorite..

• Color
• Sport
• Sports Team
• Restaurant for Breakfast
• Breakfast Item
• Breakfast Drink
• Restaurant for Lunch
• Lunch Item
• Dessert
• Author
• Book
• Movie
• Movie Theater
• Place to Shop For Yourself
• Flower

Do you have any hobbies?

What do you like to do for fun?

If you were to treat yourself to something special, what would it be?

As I mentioned in Part I to this post, our decision to get a dog turned out to me more complicated than we thought, but it was a lot of fun. We drove out in the country to a great breeder we had researched, and there he was (much to my Rooster’s chagrin): Dancer, the tiny toy poodle. My Rooster immediately started humming the Elton John song Tiny Dancer in his head, while the chicks nervously but joyously said hello. Dancer was excited, cute and irresistible, so of course we committed to taking him home. This started Phase 2 of the great dog commitment. We didn’t have ANY supplies yet, so when we got back to town, we hit the local pet superstore to gear up and go home to get Dancer settled in. Here are the top five things we learned from the experience:

1. Get supplies before you get the dog, or as soon as possible afterward. Make sure you have an appropriate kennel, a place in your house for your dog, food, leashes, dishes and toys so you are not scrambling for supplies while trying to integrate the dog into your home. Routine is important to help both you and your dog settle in, so having the supplies available right away with help with a smooth transition.

2. Take it to the vet as soon as possible. Make sure it is healthy and gets any upfront care it needs. It will save time, money and heartache going forward.

3. Don’t forget the pup WILL go potty, often, and it could be on your floor or in your neighbor’s yard, so be prepared to do house training. And don’t forget to take a bag with you on a walk. Occasionally, I send my Rooster out with Dancer and that is a particularly nice way to handle the messes! Let me tell you, he REALLY classes up the neighborhood when he heads out at night and in the morning in his pajamas with a bright blue doggy bag.

4. Buy a book or use credible online resources for tips on training your dog. Taking the time and setting boundaries upfront will help keep you sane and ultimately enhance everyone’s enjoyment.

5. Have Fun! We all love our dog and it is a great addition to the home. Sure, there are a few accidents and upsets here and there, but overall, we have a lot of fun with Dancer. He is excited to see us all the time, we take it on fun family walks, and play outside while the sun is shining.

Dancer has been a great addition to our family, and with a little effort upfront, we have all had a chance to have fun and enjoy the excitement he brings to our house. How about you? Any tips for caring for, training or integrating a dog into the home? We’d love to hear your stories.

Almost every child’s holiday wish list includes a cute little puppy. Who doesn’t love the image of a cute puppy popping out of a box with a big bow on its head? If you are considering getting a family dog, take some time to plan and prepare.

For years, we resisted adding a family dog to the Healthy Hen house. Eventually, with the chicks’ clamoring for a dog, coupled with images of walks in the sunshine, running and giggling in the yard, and a buddy who is always excited to see us when we get home, we decided we were ready. After all, our dog would never need the vet, never go potty in the neighbors yard, wouldn’t eat or need grooming, right? So we made the decision, and talked about it with the kids. We thought that was the hard part, but then we started talking about what kind, when, and from where, and quickly realized this was going to take a lot of planning and preparation. Our talks went a little something like this:

1. What kind – at least two of us have allergies, so what breeds are hypoallergenic? Holy cow, there are a lot of options!

2. How big – should it be large so it can be a running mate, or small, cute and easy to travel with, as the chicks wanted? Not an easy issue to sort through, and apparently size really does matter!

3. Where – do we try to get one from the pound, a cardboard box in front of a grocery store, or purebred from a breeder? If a breeder, which are good and which aren’t? And how much would this all cost?

4. When – when would be a “good” time to add a dog to the family? Uh, good luck with that one!

5. Male or female? If you have boys and girls helping to pick your dog, good luck navigating this issue!

None of these were easy decisions, turned all of them into a fun and educational activity. We looked at breeds online, located and researched a breeder, daydreamed about what the dog would need and what we could do with it. Finally, we decided on a small dog, from a breeder, and once we located one, she just happened to have one little six month old puppy. We drove about three hours to “look” at it. Who knows why we thought we were really just “looking.” There is no such thing, at least not with the chicks involved. Once you “look,” it will be impossible to ignore your smiling kids, who so sweetly ask: “Are we going to get it?”

If you have thoughts and ideas for how to decide on the right dog for our readers’ families, please share them. And up next in Part II? Tips and ideas on supplies and how to integrate your new dog into its new home.