Troy’s parents, who are doing missionary work for our church in Belize, came through in a big way, helping us plan our family vacation.

The agenda for day 1? Visiting Xunantunich, ancient Mayan ruins about an hour and a half north of Belize City. Learning vacation? Check!

Travel Tip: For long car rides, take extra toilet paper, bug spray, activity bags for the kids, and as always, don’t forget your camera. The colorful countryside is something you won’t want to forget.

Also, to make this activity part of the learning vacation, research ahead of time and share information about the culture and area you are visiting, which is rich in history. Consider hiring a tour guide while you are there to explain the significance of all the sites.

Transportation to Xunantunich

While there are tourist companies that organize tours and bus people to the ruins, including cruise lines, we drove as a family. The drive north took us from dry Belize City into lush Cayo, where we enjoyed a delicious Mexican lunch. To get to Xunantunich, which is only 15 minutes outside of Cayo, you have to cross a river on a ferry manually operated by a local who turns a crank that pulls you via a cable from one side to the next. Mr. Dadventurous himself gives the crank a try below.

Travel Tip: Have back-up plans. If the river is too high, the ferry will not run and you’ll be out of luck!

Floral and Animal Attractions at the Ruins

You must pay a nominal fee to enter Xunantunich. This helps with maintenance of the ruins and grounds.

The area is beautiful and green. Many varieties of trees and flowers abound.

In addition, howler monkeys swing high in the tree tops. Though they are not often visible to the public, their sound is heard by all. They are small, but have a loud roaring (and a little bit scary) voice, which sounds very similar to a tiger’s.

Travel tip: Although it’s groomed and well maintained, the ruins are in the jungle. Make sure and put on ample bug spray.

Xunantunich Mayan Ruins

The ruins themselves are breathtaking, literally. They are a beautiful sight. And, after climbing the equivalent of 13 stories to reach the top, you may be a bit winded.

Travel Tip: If you at all suffer from a fear of heights, you may want to climb the first set of steps, take in the view, snap some pics, and call it good. Or, hang at the bottom, check out sites like this below, and snap a pic of your party when they reach the top.

The Castillo

Here is view 1 of the largest ruins in Xunantunich called “El Castillo,” which is the halfway mark (taken after climbing the first set of steps).

The craftsmanship is amazing. Check out this detail.

An Educational and Adventurous Activity for Kids

Our two boys loved both the educational and adventure aspects of visiting the ancient Mayan ruins. They learned a lot about the history of Belize and the Mayan Indians. And, they were able to get out all their energy, running around, climbing up stairs and walls, and swinging from tree branches. Score!

How do you build education into your family vacations? What activities do you like to do that are both educational and fun when you travel as a family?

So, what will we do if there is going to be six more weeks of winter? Never fear, friends. There is plenty to do that will help you get through the next six weeks!

3 Ways to Beat the Winter Blues

Turn Off the TV and Computer

We know being active and maintaining a healthy diet are important parts of self-care, for ourselves and our children. Instead of watching the tube mindlessly or checking our Twitter account while munching on comfort food, let’s make a pact that we’ll be active every day this winter. Need inspiration?

• Have a snowball fight or build a snowman.
• Have a dance-off contest or set-up an indoor obstacle course.
• Play board games or Twister.

Get Crafty

• Make Valentine handprint cards.
• Make a living room A-frame tent.
• Paint the snow.  Fill bottles with food coloring and water; go outside and paint.

Do Good

Local heroes, the needy and sick, senior citizens, and children are just a handful of the people you and your family can connect with on a regular basis. Not sure where to start?

• Spread bread.
• Provide love, warmth, security and comfort to a child with Project Linus.
• Organize a makeover/fashion show event for a local senior home.

What does your family do during a long winter? What have you incorporated into your family that you did when you were growing up?

Photo courtesy of Flickr.

Desiree Allen is a thirty-something single parent with two children. A native of Denver, Colorado, she lived there until 2009, when she moved across the country to northern New Jersey with her kids. She is doing her best to avoid ‘picking up’ a Jersey accent, but she’s not making promises that she won’t eventually start sounding like some of her new friends. You can find her blogging at Writing to Sanity and tweeting @writingtosanity.

We, as parents, are so busy keeping our kids busy that we may not really know our children. We talk about our day in passing from one activity to the next but often do not take the time to discuss our children’s lives. Some kids are great at hiding emotions, grades, or problems. So, let’s slow down, spend quality time together, and get to know our kids!

I am as guilty as the next when it comes to being an on-the-go mom. I feel like keeping my kids involved in activities will help them understand the importance of team work, giving 110 percent, and responsibility.

I have come to realize that making time for the family is important. The kids are involved in one activity each, which still keeps us very busy. We find ways to spend quality time together that interest everyone. We watch football and baseball, play volleyball in the front yard, play card games or dominoes, go bowling, or just sit around a bond fire together and talk. I love to take the kids to school every morning — it is our special time to talk. It is amazing what you can learn about your child on the way to school!

Spending family time together is very important for your children. While the extra sports and activities are great for the kids, they need to have a relationship with mom and dad. It is important for parents to know their kids — know them well enough to see when they are happy and even when they are sad or have a problem. Take advantage of free time with your kids and get them talking!

How do you keep your family? What is your favorite part of the day with your kids?

Photo courtesy of Flickr.

Robin Greene is a mother of two teenagers, a wife and a Kindergarten teacher. Robin enjoys spending as much time with her family as possible. She also enjoys teaching, participating in church activities and freelance writing for mybabyclothes.com.  Your little one will be the talk of the town in their unique baby clothes, cute baby hat or beautiful tutu.

Painting on canvas is a really fun exercise. It takes thought, generates imagination, and engages the mind and soul. It is also a project everyone can do. Rarely do you find an activity that is for all ages and will create a bonding moment as well. When is the last time you painted? Very few of us ever do, and yet painting is about telling a story and creating a product from your own mind.

As a homeschool mom and entrepreneur, I tend to lean towards projects that foster creativity. But even for traditional school kids, supplementing the things they learn in school, or breaking out the canvas for a family project one night a month, is a fun and unexpected surprise.

Our paintings from when our guests visited are still hanging in the kitchen, each one reminding me of the child who created it. Some of the themes are deeply profound, others frivolous. Each one is beautiful in its own way.

Are your kids feeling cooped up in the house on weekends? Go buy some blank canvasses and paint. Give them license to create art for your walls. If have guests in town, this is an unforgettable memory that even grandparents and all relatives and friends can participate in and have fun.

What craft projects do you like to do as a family?

Photo Courtesy of flickr.

Tammy Kling is a life coach, crisis management expert, and advocate for the homeless. She is an international author of 37 books including The Compass. Tammy is also the founder of The Homeless Writers Project, an organization that helps those living on the street write out their hopes & dreams via writers workshops, free journals and other resources. Tammy is a mom of two boys, an avid trail and mountain runner, blogger, and adventure travel writer

I’ve decided to do more than just this in 2012. In addition to my “as-yet-unannounced” keyword for 2012, I’ve compiled three ways that I want to begin the new year with my family.

3 Ways to Bring Your Family Closer Together in 2012

Discover our purpose as a family and begin living it.

I really love this article on Simple Mom that I found this year (first published in 2009). In it, Tsh speaks about realizing your family’s priorities and forgetting about the rest. She gives her readers a solid template to understand what you want and need for your family to really be successful, including:

• What are a few strengths of each member of our family?

• What are the top four priorities we want our family to value?

• What are practical ways we can serve others outside our family?

Eat dinner together.

As the oldest child in a family with six children, I know fully the importance of eating together as a family: increased communication within the family, better nutrition and the building of family traditions. I’ve really striven to eat the majority of home meals with my family, and I’ll continue this into 2012. Some of the best conversation starters which I’ve used in my family have come from the Aha! Parenting website.

• If you could change one thing about your appearance, what would it be?

• What do you think makes a happy family?

• Have I never not noticed when you’re sad?

Vow to laugh more.

I am way too hard on my kids and way too serious — it’s hard not being this way when life is unbalanced like it is for me now. Fortunately, I have a choice in how I respond to this life. I am vowing to spend more time laughing with my kids, telling jokes and living in the moment, instead of hollering at them and making myself nuts over the little things.

• Why did the bacon laugh? Because the egg cracked a yolk!

• Why do you put band-aids in the refrigerator? For cold cuts!

• What has two humps and is at the North Pole? A lost camel!

How will you begin the new year with your family? Are there traditions you have carried with you from your years of growing up?

Desiree Allen is a thirty-something single parent with two children. A native of Denver, Colorado, she lived there until 2009, when she moved across the country to northern New Jersey with her kids. She is doing her best to avoid ‘picking up’ a Jersey accent, but she’s not making promises that she won’t eventually start sounding like some of her new friends. You can find her blogging at Writing to Sanity and tweeting @writingtosanity.

But why wait until next Christmas to try them? Confetti Squares, not to be mistaken with the sweet treat variety, are a delicious, colorful appetizer sure to start off your New Year’s Eve party this week (or really any party) with a healthy bang.

How To Make Confetti Square Crescent Roll Appetizers

Feel free to get crazy with the ingredients. Add as much variety as you’d like in flavor and color.

Ingredients

• 2 pkg. crescent rolls (the kind you buy in the a package in the refrigerated section at the grocery store like these from Pillsbury.)
• 2 8 ounce pkg. cream cheese
• 2/3 cup mayonnaise
• 2-3 carrots (shredded)
• 3 celery stalks (diced)
• 1/2 yellow pepper (diced)
• 1 bunch radishes (shredded)
• 5-6 green onions (chopped)

Directions

1. Pat crescent dough onto a cookie sheet (jelly roll pan) and bake according to directions. Let cool completely.
2. Beat softened cream cheese and mayonnaise and spread mixture evenly on baked crescent dough (will be flat).
3. Sprinkle veggies evenly on top of the mixture.
4. Cut into small pieces before cooling.
5. Place in refrigerator and chill 3-4 hours before serving.

What is your favorite appetizer to serve during a New Year’s Even celebration?

This is a fantastic way to bring the spirit of Christmas back and help you connect with loved ones on a whole new creative level. Everyone can write a poem! The crazier and more mixed up the better. Throw them off the scent or make it meaningful. This may be the beginning of a wonderful new family tradition.

My husband’s family has been writing poems for presents for three generations. Every Christmas they would choose a few special gifts and write a fun poem to go along with it. This would liven things up and extend the giving, because along with the present was a little bit of themselves.

I joined the fun 20 years ago and I love it! Some of my most memorable gifts are the ones that my husband wrote. One year, the poem began “Crunch, crunch, munch, munch…” I still have the box of leaves that he collected. He said everywhere I went I would go out of my way to walk on the crunchy leaves. The poem made those leaves come to life!

This year, I am writing one for him (I hope he is not reading this!) for a special gift I plan to give. He loves model airplanes and I have arranged the next step up — a private flight  in a small aircraft. So here is the poem-

  The obsession started long ago, one crazy gift, one year,

  And now is like a freight train, UNSTOPPABLE, I fear!

   So, why not take it further, don’t let this chance go by,

   And take your love and passion straight up into the sky!

See? Easy! And fun! I just can’t wait to see his face!

Try it! Write a poem for a few presents and see what happens! You will be surprised. Encourage your family members to do it as well. And next year it will get easier. And when you are out shopping, you may find a few things that are just begging for a poem. You don’t have to be Dickens and nothing really has to rhyme. Just give it your best shot and have a good time! Hey, what do you know, there’s a poem right there! Merry Christmas!

What are your family traditions? What traditions have been passed down for generations?

Photos courtesy of Flickr.

 Susan lives in Boise, Idaho, and is a self-taught artist and a jack of many artsy trades. She is married to professional artist and has two great teenagers. She has her hand in a lot of pots. She in very involved in her community and church. She loves friends, family, movies, eating out, laughing, and  vacationing to warm destinations! She just started her own blog: visit  susansspinningplates.wordpress.com

There are always two very important parts of the family. Dad being the head of the home does not make him more important, he just has a different job; however, Mom’s job is the most important for she is the glue that keeps everyone coming back home. No matter where life takes the kids and the Grandkids, if Mom has done her job well, they all come back home.

With so many memories so dear to me around her kitchen or dining room table, it is hard to imagine, but in that same room, we said our last good-byes to her as she was carried away just before the holiday season. Unfortunately, the spindle and glue were gone and we all kind of went our own way. We still see each other, but really only once a year and even then, things are not the same. Everyone has their own way of coping and finds new relationships to fill their days.

A familiar song to me about Grandma says, “Now that Grandma’s gone, we all spend our Christmases at home. All the Aunts and Uncles have Grandkids of their own. Lord let our homes be filled with love and joy like Grandma knew and may she have a Merry Christmas celebrating there with You.”

Now we’re the Moms. We’re the center and the glue of our home. Hold the torch high, fill the home with lots of love, so when the kids go off into the world, even if they roam far, they’ll always come back home.

Alicia Ivey wants to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and hopes that everyone gets to spend time with family and friends.  Alicia is a wonderful wife and mother.  She enjoys traveling, singing and freelance writing for mybabyclothes.com.  No matter what the occasion this holiday season make sure your little one looks their very best in the most fashionable baby clothes or the perfect tutu with a matching baby headband.

Forming memories is one of the building blocks of successful relationships. And since you never know when you’ll bond over a specific event, activity, or topic, the key is to spend quality time with the people you love so you have ample opportunities to build memories. For example, like when my mom, sisters, and I went to Disneyland, wore matching shirts, and snapped this pic in the hotel bathroom mirror while we were getting ready (see above).

When I think of fun memories, two words come to mind: Muppets and mini horses. Let me explain.

Family Bonding Over the Muppets

After Thanksgiving dinner last week, my sisters and I piled into the car with our families and headed out for our annual tradition of going to the movies on Thanksgiving day. We had been waiting for months to see The Muppets. Who am I kidding? We couldn’t wait at all! We were dying in anticipation of reliving childhood memories of Miss Piggy and Kermie. And we weren’t disappointed.

As children, we watched The Muppet Show each week. We also saw Kermie on Sesame Street. We watched the release of the first The Muppet Movie on the big screen and the others on DVD. We wore out our tape of The Muppet Movie soundtrack and knew the words to every song. We’ve even been known to dance around the house, falling over laughing, as we listened to them in our older years. Image six adults dancing to the Muppet Movie soundtrack. Kind of embarrassing, right? But that’s what memories do. They bring out the kid in you and make you giddy at the thought.

The new movie The Muppets did not disappoint. It had lots of flashbacks to the 80s, including awesome music and a reference to my then favorite actress, Molly Ringwald.

My sisters and I laughed out loud throughout the movie. But, no part struck us as funny as when Walter did his whistling act. Our mom is a non-stop whistler. And, when Walter started whistling, we all erupted in laughter. It was too perfect! (Laughing now as I write this!)

Reliving memories was the perfect ending to a perfect Thanksgiving, reminding me of how grateful I am to have such an awesome family.

How Friendship Formed Over Mini Horses

What I love about memories is that they can help form new relationships.

This past summer, my family took a family vacay to Branson, Missouri. We went to Dolly Parton’s The Dixie Stampede and saw some mini horses race. It was all of our first time seeing a mini horse. My 8 year-old son thought they were hilarious and couldn’t stop laughing for an hour after seeing them.

For whatever reason, I brought up the experience on a drive into the city with Cynthia from Nap Warden—who we had just met—and Jen and Jill from the Mom It Forward team. Cynthia quickly informed us that her mom raises and shows mini horses. She went on to explain that some are used as seeing eye ponies. I immediately texted Troy. His response? He texted image after image of seeing eye ponies wearing sneakers no less so they wouldn’t slip. By that point, we were crying we were laughing so hard.

I’m still trying to figure out how Jen, Jill, and I can get ourselves back to Chicago to road trip to Cynthia’s mom’s house to meet her mini horses.

It sounds ridiculous—similar to why Walter whistling would make us double over in laughter—but that’s how memories are. Sometimes they only make sense to the people who share them.

What memories are you making with the people you love the most? What can you do to create memories to strengthen your closest family and friend relationships?

Tips For Strengthening Family Relationships at Dinner:

1. Involve kids in the preparation.  Meal time is bound to feel more stressful if you are doing it all solo.  There are tasks for kids of all ages – even my not quite two-year-old can help lay out the napkins and silverware on the table.  Not only will you get some help in the kitchen, the kids will love feeling involved.

Allison Ruth, mama to three hungry girls, blogs at Some the Wiser where she takes life as it comes and tries to learn a little something as she goes. Whether she’s baking bread, sewing, or contemplating the fate of socks gone missing in the laundry, she looks for the peace and creativity life offers to everyone who is paying attention. Living life deliberately isn’t easy, she admits, but it helps when you have good things to eat.