To make resolutions or to not make resolutions?

Different years I have made resolutions and other years, I have not. I will admit that most years that I have resolutions that I've broken them eventually. Rules are made to broken, eh? It's like it they are there tempting you to break them... or, rather, question why you made them in the first place?

I'm making my Oldest Minion wrote 5 "goals" for the New Year as part of his holiday journal and then after the obligatory 5 lines are take up, then talk about what he would like to do in 2015. So far he has play with water swords in the summer and build forts in the Winter. Fair enough and doable. So, taking a page out of his book, I should keep my resolutions reasonable.

1. V1.0 Get more sleep. (Not going to happen)

1. V2.0 Wish for more sleep? (Doable. Check.)

2. V.1.0 Eat better. (Why is this always on the list? Rather vague. I can do better).

2. V.2.0. Eat less chicken fingers. (Also not realistic).

2. V3.0 Eat all real-meat chicken fingers. (Done).

3. V1.0 Try to work out more. (Yeah.... need I say more?)

3. V2.0 Take the Minions around the block on the weekend at least once. (Works for me.)

4. Learn new children's songs. (I think that's reasonable thanks to YouTube. Check out 7 8 9 by the Barenaked Ladies if you haven't already)

5. V1.0 Do more things with the family out of the house. (That's a big commitment.)

5. V2.0 Do more things with the family out of the house starting this winter and summer will take care of itself. (Winter Wish-list here I come. And note to self, if I tell the Oldest Minion about it, then I have to do it.)

Keeping Up with Reading/Writing Over the Holidays For Older Kids

My oldest Minion (aka offspring) is in elementary school and what could be termed a reluctant reader/writer. He'll do it, but begrudgingly. Heck, I know more than a few adults like that, but we gotta do, what we gotta do. Sure it's easy enough to get them to write a letter to Santa, but what after that?

We've made a lot of progress this year and don't want to loose that motivation over the holiday break.

1. Our creepy plastic holiday goblin Elf on the Shelf helped.

Sure, I wasn't keen on the Elf on the Shelf, but his teacher had one last year and he loved it, so what are out going to do? Get on the bandwagon kicking and screaming I guess. If I have an elf, I'm going to make it useful. The elf left little blank mini-books with  instructions for oldest Minion  to write holiday stories for his brothers. Bonus, he had to read it out loud to his brothers.

2. Writing a holiday journal.

My oldest Minion had to write a holiday journal every second day over the holidays. If you want a keepsake, you can keep one, too.

3. Write mini-stories around Christmas ornaments.

Assumption = you celebrate Christmas. If you do and put up a Christmas tree, then have the kid(s) pick a Christmas ornament off the tree and write a little mini-story about it. If you don't celebrate Christmas, then you can pick any culturally significant or interesting object to write about.

4. Books under the tree!

Giving books under the tree is a great way to get them read afterwards. It might not be a hit on Christmas morning, depending on the kid, but it can be. We have a 30 minutes reading time per day that we try to stick to, so that helps. It's all Star Wars and superheroes here.

5. Book advent calendar.

Wrap 25 books (thank you Pintrest) and put them under the tree. Unwrap one and open every night. They can be your own books, or books from the second hand store. Use newspaper for wrapping to make it sustainable. The kids can even decorate the wrapped books with numbers and holiday themed stuff.

Winter Wonderland or Snowpocalypse? Things Parents Can Easily Forget in Winter

Our family lives in a place where there 50/50 shot you’ll be trick or treating with a snowsuit under you costume and it stay through until April (May if you’re not so lucky). Technically, there are places which are way colder (not that many), but there are days when you face bone-chilling, frigid sub-zero temperatures. One those days, it certainly is tempting to just give up and stay housebound during the winter months. Bundling up two toddlers and a squirrely eight year old is not my idea of a good time, but hibernation while tempting, doesn’t seem to be the answer either. There can be, and is, a happy medium. On those days when the sun is shining and wind-chill isn’t too bad, we try to get out as a family.

Bathroom Break - Try to “encourage” everyone to go to the bathroom before you suit them up, even if they say they don’t have to go. Nothing is worse than getting everyone ready, only to hear, “I’ve got to go!”

Layers Are Your Friends - Make sure to have the appropriate clothing for the weather. If you are going to be outside for an extended period of time, dress in layers. For little athletes who might be into skiing or skating, moisture wicking materials make an excellent first layer. I personally prefer fleece as a middle layer because it’s soft for kids, but wool can also be used. A waterproof/windproof, lined outer layer can finish off your cozy ensemble. For extra coziness, wear two pairs of socks and even mitts. Mini-mitts or mini-gloves can fit nicely under a heavier pair of mitts.

Mind the Gap! - What’s the gap? The little bit of wrist or ankle exposed with the mitts or boots ride up. There are long mitts that come out past the wrist or elbow which can help. But, what about kids who at times refuse to wear their mitts… like my boys? For toddlers, this quick and easy trick was a lifesaver…  socks! I put socks (clean ones borrowed from my older son) over their mitts, then slipped their jacket on. If you want an added craft, you can even let them, or older siblings, decorate the socks.

Sunscreen? What? - We so easily can forget this in the winter. You can just as easily get a sunburn in the winter as in the summer. If outside for an extended period apply sunscreen to any exposed skin.

Take Kleenex – As another twin mom reminded me, don’t forgot the snot rag for the endless snotty noses.

Last, but not least… mitts vs gloves? - Mitts are warmer than gloves, more easily trapping body heat, but gloves can be easier for dexterity.  I guess it depends on what you need them for. I recommend mitts for younger children, but for everyone I recommend keeping a spare pair of dry mitts to change into if need be.

Finally, don’t eat yellow snow, and enjoy your time outside!