One of my favorite things to do to prepare for Valentine’s Day is to share stories of love with my little ones. A tradition of ours is to snuggle on the couch with some fresh chocolate chip cookies and milk while we read some of our favorite Valentine’s Day books. I wanted to share a list of some of our favorites that we have shared through the years.

The Day it Rained Hearts by Felicia Bond

One day it rains hearts, and Cornelia Augusta catches them. Each heart is special in its own way, and Cornelia Augusta knows exactly who to send them to.

Happy Valentine’s Day Curious George! by N. Di Angelo

George and his friend celebrate Valentine’s Day with decorating, card making and the kind of mischief that only a monkey can make!

Clifford’s First Valentine’s Day by Norman Bridwell

When Clifford was a baby he got into so much trouble on Valentine’s Day, but continues to be Emily Elizabeth’s favorite year after year.

Hedgehug, A Sharp Lesson in Love by Dan Pinto

A great story that you have to find the right person to love you for who you are.

Happy Valentine’s Day, Mouse! by Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond

Our favorite mouse from If you Give a Mouse a Cookie celebrates Valentine’s Day.

Roses are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink by Diane de Groat

The story of a prank gone wrong changes the pranksters heart in the end.

The Valentine Bears by Eve Bunting

An old favorite from my childhood shows that even if you have never celebrated Valentine’s Day you can always start!

There Was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Rose! by Lucille Colandro

If you have read any of the books in this series you know that this book makes the classic song come alive in a different manner.

I Love You Stinky Face by Lisa McCourt

This book shows that a mother’s unconditional love will never be changed.

Olive, My Love by Vivian Walsh

We love the book Olive, the Other Reindeer by Vivian Walsh so were excited to see this title.  This funny story is a great example that anything can happen if you follow your heart.

Guess How Much I Love You by Sam Mc Bratney

My boys have heard this story since they were first born. They love the story of the endless amounts of love a father and son can have for one another.

Pete the Cat Valentines Day is Cool by Kimberly and James Dean

Pete discovers how special Valentines can be and makes Valentines for everyone.

Print this list and take it to your local library, then snuggle up and enjoy the stories of love with your little ones all this week!

 Kim Ross also writes at  A Little Bit of This and That ~ The Adventures of a Stay at Home Mom.

Elf on the Shelf has become a hilarious and fun tradition for families during Christmastime. You can really get creative with the mischief the elf gets into. Here’s a collection of some standout ideas for your little elf that will entertain your kids throughout the season.

 Elf is taken hostage by Legos from Picklehead Soup

Elf does some wrapping from Over The Big Moon

Elf makes a “flour angel” from Mommy Savers

Elf watches a movie from One Orange Giraffe

Elf has a delicious “accident” from Mommy Shorts

Elf writes a letter to Santa from Lil Blue Boo

Elf has some fun with stamps (washable of course) from Mommy Upgrade

Elf steals some candy from Operation $40K

Elf plays dress up with Barbie from iVillage

What Elf on the Shelf ideas are YOU doing this year? Share them with us on Facebook!

Like many holidays, Thanksgiving is usually a time of tradition…same old turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes etc. For some of you, that might get a little stale year after year and it’s nice to change things up a bit. For those of you looking for some unique recipe ideas this year, check out some of these delicious dishes!

• Apple, Bacon & Onion Stuffing Muffins
• Pumpkin Mac and Cheese
• Cheesy Mushroom and Broccoli Casserole
• Stuffed Acorn Squash
• Double Potato Mash
• Cranberry-Orange Sauce 
• Bacon, Cheddar & Chive Biscuits
• Pumpkin Baked Alaska 
• Pumpkin Bread Pudding with Toffee Sauce
• Turkey Tom Cupcakes

Share your unique Thanksgiving recipes with us on our Facebook wall!

Photo Credit: Parents Magazine

As I’ve gotten older I’ve realized just how important traditions are. As a child, seasonal and holiday traditions were things I looked forward to all year. There’s excitement in knowing a special activity or outing is approaching…they are some of my fondest memories, and now as an adult, I love seeing the children in our family experience the same excitement. Here are some of our fall traditions to inspire you…perhaps you have your own or will start some new ones this year!

Apple and pumpkin picking

At the beginning of every October we pack the family up for a fun-filled autumn day of pumpkin and apple picking. We go to “pick your own” places where you can pick them right off the tree and vine. The kids love climbing the trees and picking the apples, and selecting their own pumpkins. The places we go to usually have a corn maze and other fun activities for the kids to enjoy. I, myself, love the seasoned corn on the cob and apple cider they sell…YUM! After a long day out, we come home and make a warm, hearty meal like beef stew or chili.

Baking pies and banana bread

The kids really love helping make pies from the apples they pick themselves! Apple and pumpkin pie are my usuals, but berry pies are delicious as well. My family has a chocolate chip banana bread (no nuts) recipe that has been passed down for generations, so we make a few loafs for the house and a few to give as gifts to friends and family. Here’s a popular recipe similar to mine (can’t give away all the family secrets!).

Pumpkin carving and painting

Needless to say, this is the most popular tradition with the kids…it’s a great way for them to get creative. Sometimes we use stencils we print online and other times they just let their imagination run. The little ones use paint to safely decorate their pumpkins instead of carving utensils.

Halloween books and movies

Since Halloween can be a somewhat scary time for kids, it’s nice to read books that celebrate and poke fun at the holiday. When I was little, my mother used to read me my favorite Halloween book, The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams. GoodReads has a list with other great titles you can see here. For the little ones, watch It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, and the older ones will enjoy Nightmare Before Christmas (bonus, two holidays in one!).