*Babies grow fast and will quickly outgrow many of their firsts from the close*t. It won't take long to realize your baby is growing at a record pace; just when you've picked out the perfect baby jacket and matching shoes, don't be surprised to find that the shoe no longer fits a month or two later.

Instead of buying dozens of outfits every few months, you can save some money by planning ahead and buying a larger size whenever possible. Here are some other ways to cut back on baby expenditures so you can keep up with the family budget:

Rely on the Onesies
Outfits that snap on, zip on or are draped over baby's shoulders like a gown are some of the most versatile and cost effective baby clothes money can buy. Stock up on these outfits to make them the foundation of your baby's closet. You can buy these in a larger size so that they grow into them. Since most are made with a stretch fabric, they'll last much longer than your average cotton and polyester blends.

Consider the Weather
If your baby is going to be between 6 and 8 months come summer time, make sure you're buying clothes for that baby. It's easy to forget how quickly your newborn will grow by the end of the season, so plan on buying clothes that will fit them in the right season. If you're worried about the high price of new items coming in for the season ahead, shop the sales and clearance aisles for last year's lineup and make the most of the discounts.

Don't Be Afraid to use Hand Me Downs
While having a fresh new set of clothes for your newborn is important, you don't have to buy every item right off the rack. Consider asking friends, family members and neighbors for any gently used items or even nearly new items they mistakenly purchased for their newborn. You can focus on building up a basics baby wardrobe and count on used clothing for play wear or even baby accessories when the budget's tight.

Ice candles can provide an otherworldly, magical quality to your backyard landscape. (Or put them out front as a winter time decoration at night.) You can make ice candles together as a family to enjoy each other's company and do a fun winter activity.

Making ice candles is fairly easy. All you need to do is create a holder out of ice. When you put little tea lights inside, the frozen ice distorts the light so that it looks a little different. In order to make the candle holder, you will need one tub or bucket (use an empty coffee can or a play bucket from the sand box). You will also need a tin can from canned soup or vegetables or a plastic cup.

First, place the cup or tin can inside the bucket or tub. Place rocks or weights inside the tin can or cup to hold it down. Next, being careful not to get water in the small cup or can, fill the bucket or tub with water. The water line should come to about an inch below the rim of the cup or tin can. This is the basis to form the ice candle holder.

Set the bucket outside on the porch to freeze. While you are waiting, you can play in the snow together as a family. Have a snowball fight or build a snowman. It may take overnight for the water to freeze, so go inside and have some hot cocoa and have a cozy evening.

*When the water is frozen, take out the candle holde*r. If the holder is stuck, run warm water on the outside of the bucket to loosen things up. Once you have the ice candle holder out of the bucket or tub, you can put a tea light or other small candle inside the holder. Set the holders you have outside and light the candles. Make sure everyone has hats and gloves, as well as warm coats. Watch the beautiful candles in their ice holders.

Looking for a fun activity to keep the kids busy during your Valentine’s party, or to ignite your kids’ enthusiasm in the days leading up to Valentine’s Day? Why not organize a Valentine’s Day treasure hunt!

Check out these creative clues surrounding all things Valentine for inspiration:

• Red Rose: Red and perfect, smells pretty too.
• Heart: Shaped like two swans’ necks paired together, it’s brimming with joy always and forever.
• Valentine: I may be red or pink, come in an envelope or a box, never mind it’s what this day is all about!
• Chocolate: Whether milk or dark, filled with caramel, nougat, or cream, I am a part of every Valentine dream!
• Candy Hearts: Whether pink, green, or blue, and with a hard crunch or two, share these with your friends to learn their feelings true.
• Candle: Strike a match and watch me flicker, quickly I alight and shine forth light.
• Stuffed Bear: Soft and plush, darling to hold, I am all yours.
• Poem: A few lines here and there, but my words will pack a punch and leave you with no more than a care.
• Cupid: I shoot my arrow with a bow to your heart to make it grow!

Hide these items throughout your home or party area so the kids can uncover Valentine’s treasures.

Today many families rely on electronics to keep them entertained. While electronic gadgets from video games to computers are fine forms of entertainment, it is sometimes good to do something together as a family that doesn't involve popping in a video or game disc. One of the best ways to improve your connection as a family is to learn to do something together as a family. This is especially true when you have multiples as everyone can participate in the learning experience.

Woodworking Projects
Woodworking projects are great for families with multiples. Woodworking projects are great because there are many different levels of skills that are involved in completing a project. This means that simpler tasks, like sanding and gluing can be done by younger kids, while the more complicated tasks can be handled by the parents. What is great about woodworking projects, like building an activity table, is that you have to work together as a family to complete the project and when you are done you have something special to show for your efforts.

Learning a New Language as a Family
Learning a new language as a family is another fun activity that works well for families with multiples. You can learn a new language by taping language cards to various items in your home so you all can learn new vocabulary words, you can go to local cultural events and you can also go to ethnic restaurants where you can practice ordering food in your new language. You can also watch your kids' favorite movie in the language that you are learning. To do this you will need to go to the settings in the movie disc and change the language setting.

Learn Traditional Skills
While modern conveniences like sewing machines and electric tools make completing many tasks a lot easier, it is sometimes good to show your kids how things were done before these inventions were created. For example, you can all learn to sew clothing by hand or to saw pieces of wood by hand for a special project. This not only provides your multiples with new skills, but it helps them appreciate the modern conveniences that are in their world.

The challenge of choosing a great family vacation destination may be daunting enough to send chills down the spine of any parent. The quintessential family vacation should be memorable, exciting and fun for everyone. What destination provides that experience for family members with different tastes? Black Hills, SouthDakota, is a diverse area with activities perfect for today's family.

The Main Attraction: Mount Rushmore
Mount Rushmore National Memorial features the faces of Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. These 60-foot high, breath-taking carvings are best experienced in person and provide the perfect opportunity to sneak in a history lesson. Enjoy the fresh air and scenery while meandering through the Presidential Trail, which spans a half mile. Highlights include exhibits at the Lincoln Borglum Museum and the Evening Sculpture Lighting Ceremony.

Black Hills, South Dakota, Side Trips
Mount Rushmore is near a variety of attractions sure to leave lasting vacation memories. Seeing the progress of the Crazy Horse Memorial gives visitors better insight into the construction of Mount Rushmore. After approximately six decades of work, the 563-foot tall carving of Lakota leader Crazy Horse is still under construction with only his face completed.

Jewel Cave in Custer, South Dakota, offers scenic hiking and spelunking for the adventurous. Watch the buffalo roam in Custer State Park, view the world's most extensive collection of reptiles and birds at Reptile Garden in Rapid City or pan for gold at Big Thunder Gold Mine.

Culinary Delight
The Corn Exchange in Rapid City, South Dakota, is an unexpected source of fine dining and wine. The eatery prides itself on using organic and local ingredients, including buffalo. Elle, Gourmet, Bon Appetit, Food Art and the Washington Post are just a few of the publications to praise the restaurant.

Fjord's Ice Cream and Coffee Shop, also in Rapid City, offers a unique selection of fresh, homemade ice cream with flavors ranging from beer to lemon chiffon to strawberry cheesecake.

Chubby Chipmunk Hand-Dipped Chocolates in Deadwood sells homemade one-and-a-half ounce truffles. The owner, Mary "Chip" Tautkus, creates specialty flavors and generously offers samples to visitors.

Anyone who claims that names don't matter has forgotten the trials of elementary school.
Inevitably, there was one child with a name that seemed made for torment and teasing.

For example, you may have had a sixth grade friend named Pearl ... and her last name was Button. And then there are parents who adopt celebrities' often peculiar baby name choices, or upon seeing their first glimpse of their completely bald son was born bald, parents might decide to name him Baldy.

For pregnant women, trying to decide what to name their baby is often filled with input from well meaning friends and family. There's always the in-law who says hopefully, "I'd love it if you named your baby after me." Your husband probably has his own views. And then, of course, there's the trend with celebrities to come up with unique baby names.

To ease the naming process, consider these tips:

Remember the importance of middle names. Choose a combination of first and middle names that go well together.
Consider the pros and cons of naming your child after a relative or friend (for example, you'll probably delight that individual while annoying others).
Evaluate the implications of acronyms for the first, middle and last names that you consider (would YOU want to go through life with the initials U.G.H.?).

In addition, beware of the "Name That Baby" party that's become fashionable. Typically arranged by a well meaning friend or relative, these gatherings are similar to baby showers with one major difference: the primary entertainment consists of guests coming up with suggestions for names for your baby.
The parties usually include a pink and blue beribboned room and the traditional fluffy cake decorated with miniature cribs and rattles. But the party games consist of playing a "name the baby" contest, and it's your baby who is supposed to be named.

Recommendation: be prepared. If you discover that what you thought was a standard baby shower party is a peculiar twist on Name That Tune, just nod, smile and say that you'll discuss all the suggestions with your spouse. In other words, take the gifts, write the thank you cards and don't risk having your child be nominated to a member of the Weird Baby Name Club.

What’s all red and rosy? Your kids’ enchantment at your upcoming Valentine’s party, of course! It is mid-winter and having something bright and cheerful to look forward to is sure to excite your kids.

Here’s a sweet tip! If you are mailing your guests’ Valentine’s Day party invitations, you may want to use the Loveland, Colorado Valentine Re-Mailing Program.

Just bundle up your pre-addressed, pre-stamped party invitations (or even your valentines) and send them off to Loveland, Colorado for the official Loveland stamp!

This is a popular practice this time of year, and if you plan ahead, a lot of fun for your party guests!

Now that the holidays are over and the family is getting things back in order, surviving the cold months ahead may be at the top of your agenda. Jumpsuits made with fleece and plush cotton materials are the best option for keeping your newborn warm and toasty; some suits are designed with detachable gloves and hats, while others feature a cozy hood for extra comfort. When your newborn is spending most of the winter's day indoors, you'll need to stock up on a few of these basics for baby:

Ribbed Jumpsuits
A ribbed suit is a very lightweight and versatile one-piece made of cotton. The cachcach Carousel Pony Jumpsuit is perfect for your little boy, and features long sleeves and a snap-on inseam for extra versatility. This one can also be layered with gowns or a jacket when temperatures drop.

Velour Jumpsuits
Velour Jumpsuits give them the royal treatment in a plush, velour jumpsuit like the cachcach Rocket Sub Footie. This adorable suit is designed with cute embroidered images and a snap-on inseam for easy removal. It's made with a cotton and polyester blend and is designed with black footies that will trap in the heat.

Bunting Jumpsuits
Let them cuddle up in a warm and cozy costume made with plush fleece and cotton.The Obermeyer Kids Cuddle Bunting suit is designed with a full-length zipper and fold-over hood for extra winter protection. It's also machine washable and designed with mittens and booties, making it a super-versatile winter one-piece.

Baby Bundler
When it's time to head outdoors and brave the snow, you can bundle them up in a thick baby bundler that traps in the heat and keeps that frosty air away from baby's skin. The Hatley Kids Baby Bundler is designed with a soft lining and zips together at the bottom for an easy fit. The bundler is an easy way to brave the winter storm and enjoy the season frostbite-free.

From velour jumpsuits to baby bundlers, there are plenty of ways to kick the winter blues and enjoy the season! Fill up baby's wardrobe with a few of these winter must-haves as you forge through the season ahead.

Playing in the snow is one of my favorite winter family recreation activities. Unfortunately, in the depths of winter, it isn't always easy to get outside; sometimes it's just too cold! So on days like this, it is a good idea to think of some indoor family activities that you can play.

Educational Activities and Games
Especially on a snow day, family recreation can benefit the kids when it is educational. Some of the educational and brain building things that you can do together include:

• Visualization
• Matching
• Word games (for the older children)
• Drawing games (such as Pictionary)
• Reading aloud
• Creating stories

Playing educational games can help children enjoy learning, as well as keep them sharp. My husband and I like playing Cranium games with my son on cold days, because they have active portions, as well as different activities that require different creative skills.

Getting Exercise on a Cold Day
If it is too cold to go outside and exercise, it can be done in the house. There are workout videos for children, and it can be fun to put on workout clothes and do some exercising together. You can learn to enjoy cardio, yoga and stretching together as a family. This is also beneficial, since it provides a chance to talk about health habits. You can prepare healthy snacks together afterward.

Other indoor family recreation activities that can be enjoyable, depending on your family's talents and tastes, include holding an indoor picnic in the family room, creating and performing a play, making music together and playing board and card games. All of these activities promote family togetherness and can give you a good chance to build fond memories.

There are plenty of options for indoor family recreation. There is no reason to let inclement weather keep you from having good family fun.

Salmon is a great source of heart healthy fat. While you may enjoy salmon sautéed in olive oil with a side of steamed vegetables, your children may turn their noses up at this healthy meal. Thankfully, there are ways to make salmon more appealing to children. The key is use salmon to prepare foods and recipes they already love.

Salmon Sticks
Serves 4
1 pound of thick salmon filets
1 cup of flour
4 egg whites, beaten
2 cups of bread crumbs
2 tablespoons of ranch dressing mix
Cooking spray

1. Cut the salmon into sticks about 2 inches long and half an inch wide.
2. Place the flour and egg whites in separate shallow dishes.
3. In a third shallow dish, combine the bread crumbs with the ranch dressing mix.
4. Dip the salmon sticks in the flour, then the egg whites and the seasoned bread crumbs.
5. Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray and place the sticks in a single layer. Spray with additional cooking spray and bake at 400 degrees until cooked through, about 20 to 30 minutes.
6. Turn the sticks halfway through the cooking process.
7. Serve with a salad or baked French fries.

Salmon Tacos
Serves 4
1 pound of salmon, deboned and trimmed of skin
½ teaspoon of cumin
½ teaspoon of chili powder
1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon of sea salt
Olive oil
Whole wheat tortillas
Shredded lettuce
Salsa

1. In a small bowl, mix the spices together and sprinkle them onto the salmon.
2. Coat the bottom of a large skillet with olive oil and sauté salmon until cooked through and browned on both sides.
3. Use two forks to break apart the salmon and then top each tortilla with a ¼ of the salmon.
4. Top with lettuce, tomatoes and salsa.
5. Serve with baked tortilla chips.

These recipes are only a starting point for introducing your children to salmon. Play around with this wonderful ingredient and discover more recipes your children will love. As they get older, they'll be more apt to eat salmon on salads and even by itself.

"I want an official Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot range model air rifle (BB gun) with a compass in the stock and a thing which tells time."

Just about everybody recognizes that Christmas wish made by Ralphie Parker in A Christmas Story. The BB gun has been a traditional Christmas gift since at least Ralphie's time, and for those who are interested in a little bit of history to go along with owning a Daisy Air Rifle, why not take some time to visit the Daisy Airgun Museum in Rogers, Arkansas.

Red Ryder and Buzz Barton should bring back solid memories to some parents who grew up with their own rifles. While you can't actually find that really cool model that Ralphie would have sold his soul to own in A Christmas Story (because it never actually existed), you can see every other model that Daisy ever made. But the really impressive part of the Daisy Airgun Museum is that it goes well beyond just being a commercial showcase for the company's products.

This museum is also a history of the airgun itself. One of the most fascinating parts of the history of airguns is one that is incredibly important for kids to learn. An airgun is a gun; it's not a toy. It can do harm if handled improperly. When you take the kids to this museum, they will learn that even a powerful man like Napoleon Bonaparte recognized the dangers of putting an airgun into the wrong hands. He actually ordered anyone found with the precursor to Ralphie's 200-shot model air rifle to be put to death.

Another really cool bit of trivia that kids will love is that an astronaut used a customized air rifle to project himself through space. The Daisy Airgun Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

It is that time of year again, and everyone is gearing up for the big game. In anticipation of Super Bowl Sunday, it’s a great time to throw a party and include the kids! They may or may not understand football, but they certainly understand the fun and excitement of the big game. And, oh boy, if you are lucky enough to have a football-crazy boy with a late January or early February birthday, half your planning is done for you!

To decorate, throw football confetti on the party table and around the room. If you have any football “stuff” in your home, such as jerseys, knee pads, shoulder pads or other memorabilia, put it out as well.

Arrange your party area and furniture to accommodate all of your guests. This is an especially good time to set up a separate kids’ area if possible. You can decorate the kids’ table with a football tablecloth and a balloon tied to each chair, perhaps in the color scheme of the teams playing, or the team you are favoring!

When your guests arrive, hand out a safety pin for each person to wear and make “football” the quiet word. When someone says “football,” the person who catches him collects his safety pin. The person who has the most safety pins at the end of the game wins!

Assign a party referee—an older kid may love to play this role. Have him wear a referee shirt and throw a yellow flag for the following offenses:

• Party Foul: Double dipping anything!
• Holding: Holding on to food for too long!
• Illegal use of hands or language

Have the kids make their own paper footballs. Buy brown construction paper, black markers and finger paint kits for decorating their balls. Play a round of football Pictionary and definitely include the kids. Some of the words teams may want to draw include cheerleaders, penalty, helmet, pass, bleachers, fans, safety and touchdown.

Have the kids break open a football piñata. You can fill it with trading cards, whistles, bubble gum, stickers, etc. for goodies to take home.

If you have two TVs in your home, arrange one for non-football viewing. Even kids with good attention spans can find the pre- and post-game shows and all the hoopla of the big game a liitle long.

Serve a great party food menu and make sure to rename each item to fit the party’s theme:

• Nachos (Touchdown Tortillas),
• Hot Dogs (Holding Hot Dogs),
• Munchies (Defense Doodles)

Other foods to serve include a large pot of chili with breadsticks, veggie platters with dips, cheese platters with crackers and relish side dish, etc.

For dessert, make a batch of brownies and cut them out with football-shaped cookie cutters.

Here’s to the best team winning and the kids really whooping it up for the big game!

During the winter months it is difficult to keep the kids busy, especially when the weather makes it impossible for them to go outside to play. On these particularly wintery days you need to have a few standby activities that will keep your multiples entertained. These activities include things like games, science projects and even learning how to do things around the house.

Card Games for Wintery Days
Some of the easiest winter day activities to put together are card games. Card games are great because they are inexpensive, appropriate for all age levels and teach various skills. Young kids can play card games like go fish and memory, while older kids will enjoy learning more mature games like Hearts, Solitaire, Blackjack and even Poker. All of these games teach you special skills such as matching, strategizing, counting and calculating odds.

Playing Dress Up
Another quick activity that you can pull together for a winter game is dress up. Dress up is fun, and all you need is a basket, a pile of old clothes and accessories and a little imagination. For this game you can let your multiples rummage through the basket and put together an outfit.

Cooking and Baking
If your multiples are really bored, let them help you make a treat in the kitchen. Young kids can help you with the measuring and mixing of the goodies, while older kids can move on to helping with the chopping and cooking. This activity not only teaches your kids how to cook, but it also rewards their efforts with a tasty snack.

Science Experiments
Another indoor activity that can be a lot of fun is a science experiment. There are a lot of science experiments that you can conduct with every day household products. For example, you can create a chemical reaction by mixing vinegar and baking soda, or you can even grow your own salt or borax crystals. Instructions for these simple projects can be found online, or you can pick up science experiment kits at your local science or toy store.

Juvenile osteoporosis used to be a very rare condition. Unfortunately, many children aren't getting the amount of calcium they need each day. For this reason, juvenile osteoporosis has become a well-known condition. The causes may be poor nutrition found in school meals and the fact that children choose to reach for pop rather than milk. Thankfully, as a parent, there are things you can do to prevent this horrible condition. It all begins with providing your family with meals and snacks that are high in calcium. Here are a few recipes to get you started.

The Breakfast Parfait
Serves 4
This is both fun and packed with calcium. Best of all, you can prepare this breakfast in a reusable container so that kids can enjoy it on the go.

4 cups of non-fat yogurt (any flavor)
2 cups of calcium fortified cereal (any flavor)
2 cups of sliced strawberries
1 cup of slivered, toasted almonds

1. Layer the yogurt, cereal and strawberries in tall parfait glasses.
2. Serve with calcium fortified orange juice or low-fat milk.

Black Bean and Salmon Wraps
Serves 4
This makes the perfect calcium-rich substitute for school lunches.

4 whole wheat tortillas
4 tablespoons reduced-fat sour cream
12 ounces of grilled or baked salmon, skin removed
4 cups of canned black beans, rinsed and drained
8 tablespoons of grated parmesan cheese
2 cups romaine lettuce, shredded
1 large tomato chopped

1. Spread each tortilla with a tablespoon of sour cream.
2. Add 3 ounces of salmon, 1 cup of beans, 2 tablespoons of cheese, ½ cup of romaine and some chopped tomatoes to each tortilla.
3. Roll each tortilla and wrap in aluminum foil for easy transport.
4. Serve with baked sweet potato chips and non-fat milk.

Fat-Free Yogurt Shakes
Serves 4
Kids will forget all about sugar-laden sodas when they can have a milkshake instead.

1 cup of non-fat milk
4 tablespoons sugar-free, calcium-fortified chocolate syrup
1 cup of berries, chopped
4 cups of fat-free frozen yogurt (any flavor)

Add ingredients to blender in the order they're listed and blend until smooth.

What kid doesn't love comic books, cartoons and comic strips? For this reason alone, a visit to the amazing Barker Character Comic and Cartoon Art Museum in Cheshire, Connecticut, is one that comes with a solid guarantee to entertain everyone. If it has something to do with comic books, animated movies and TV shows or newspaper strips, it is almost assured to be found inside this museum. This fascinating trip through the history of animated art, founded by Herb and Gloria Barker, continues to grow at an almost alarming rate. At last count, the collection of collectibles at the Barker Museum was well over 80,000 pieces.

Sure, a 1930s vintage, Popeye, burlap bag that was once used to haul popcorn to a cinema of bygone days probably won't appeal to a lot of kids by itself, but it is the entirety of the collection that will make an impression. Sheer wonder is instilled by the recognition that all these classic cartoon and comic-strip characters have made their way into the cultural orbit of America from a tin pail featuring the likeness of Herman Munster to a 1930s blackboard featuring the likenesses of Mickey Mouse, Goofy and Pluto.

The Barker Museum is not just a chance for kids to browse through the history of pop culture; it also presents an opportunity for the shock of recognition of characters that adults have long forgotten. The underlying beauty of the museum is the revelation that things that are wildly important to kids eventually get tossed into the trash bin of memory. Only by being reminded through discovery do some of the characters that meant so much to you when you were a kid begin to resurrect themselves in your consciousness. The museum offers a perfect opportunity to remind kids today how they should take care to preserve their own memories while they have them, because so many of the items that are valued today will be relegated to the dustbin when they become adults.

Pregnancy can be a stressful time, whether it's due to hormonal changes, lifestyle changes, physical changes or worrying and wondering about the future. Here are a few tips to minimize stress during pregnancy so you can relax and go into childbirth feeling healthy and strong.

1. Get lots of rest. Even if you're still working up to the last minute (I left my job three days before I gave birth to my first daughter), make arrangements so you can take a nap when you get home from work, and now is the time to ask people — first on the list should be the baby daddy - for help with physically exhausting chores like laundry and vacuuming.

2. Take up a relaxing hobby. Studies have shown that knitting, crocheting and other forms of needlework lower blood pressure and induce a meditative-like state, and you'll love the end products you can give to your baby. The exception to this rule is if you're a perfectionist, then you're better off reading trashy novels or watching reality TV. If you exercise, continuing your exercise with a doctor's approval is highly recommended as well.

3. Learn to tactfully ignore unwanted advice. Your sister says Dr. Fine is the best pediatrician in town while your best friend recommends his former partner. Your mother-in-law is reading from a 90s version of What To Expect and tells you the baby has to sleep on her side while you know that idea went out the window a while ago. Your grandmother tries to tell you that you should start her on solid food when she's three-days-old (I'm not kidding about that last one—it happened to me).

The easiest way to handle this is to just smile and say noncommittally, "Thanks for the input." Try not to sound sarcastic. If that's impossible, just say, "Oh, I'm so glad you brought that up, it reminded me of something I've been meaning to ask you — you don't happen to know who was the quarterback on the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1984, do you?" and then change the subject entirely. This tactic works best if you talk very fast.

If it's baby's first winter and the family's heading outside for a winter adventure, a pair of insulated boots will protect those teeny tiny feet from inclement weather. Layering up those sensitive feet with thick cotton socks will ward off frost bite when you head outdoors and insulated boots will get them in tip-top shape to make snow angels, build a snowman or even go sledding!

If your infant isn't ready to take his or her first steps in the snow, get them into the winter spirit with some stylish boots and warm socks; from tundra boots to insulated booties, here are some of the must-haves for the season:

Babybotte boots are the perfect winter weather warm up with their leather cover and insulated lining. The boots are covered with a patented Sympatex material to keep ice and moisture at bay, and the double hook closer gives your little one the ultimate secure fit. Get them ready for snow season in these versatile, lightweight boots, and they'll be well-trained for a future snowstorm.

Tundra boots will get them winter-ready for any Arctic winter wonderland and are a stylish pair for the snow bunny to-be. These boots are covered with a cute flower design and imitation fur trim for a fashionable and comfortable fit; they're a great match for toddlers ready to kick things up a notch this year and play in the snow banks.

If your little boy is anxious to get outdoors and play with the crew, dress him up in the Kamik Kids Tickle boots made with a thick layer of insulation and removable Zylex liner. The boots are waterproof with their windbreaker covering and made with a flexible outsole for extra traction. They're available in a bold black and red design, an eye-catching and stylish addition to any winter ensemble.

Whether your tiny tot is hitting the slopes for their first sledding lesson or benching it this season in a cozy cot, prepare them for the winter tundra with a pair of comfy boots that will weather the storm!

One of the great things about the new year is the opportunity to make resolutions and set goals for the coming year. One way you can stick to these resolutions is if you make them with someone else. Making New Year's resolutions as a family can be an excellent way to start the year. This year, consider making healthy resolutions that the whole family can work on in order to lead more healthful lifestyles.

New Year's resolution ideas for the family
One of the best ideas is to exercise as a family. You can resolve to go on walks or bike rides together two or three times a week (this also makes for great family recreation opportunities). You can also workout as a family. Working out can be a great father and son activity, as well as a bond opportunity for mothers and daughters. You can set aside money in the budget to get appropriate walking or running shoes, workout pants and other clothing so that everyone has what is needed to exercise comfortably.

Another healthy New Year's resolution is better eating habits. Set goals to eat good fruits and vegetables, as well as get appropriate amounts of dairy, carbs and protein. Talk about limiting soda and other sugary drinks and increasing goals to drink more water. Talk about limiting snacks or make resolutions to have healthy snacks, like apple slices and cheese sticks. Work together as a family to plan healthy meals and even make a goal to prepare some meals together each day of the week.

Try to keep family New Year's resolutions simple and doable. Write them down and post them prominently. Plan a time every three or four months to evaluate the resolutions and try to get back on track. Planning New Year's resolutions and keeping up on them are family recreation activities themselves. And preparing meals and going on outings together as a family can improve family togetherness while increasing the health levels of all members of the family.

It’s winter outside and many people are actually snowed in and/or digging out from the snow. Your kids may be developing cabin fever, and are looking forward to not only spring blooming, but summer break. You can give them a little taste of the fun to come this summer by throwing their winter birthday at the local indoor swimming pool. It can either be at a hotel, YMCA or local gym that has an indoor pool and rent it out for kids’ parties. It should be pretty easy to find a place to hold your event, and easy to put together!

In your invitation, have the party guests bring their swimsuits, a change of clothes, flip flops and a towel. The entire party will be taken with the kids swimming and playing together in the pool. Hopefully, you will dive right in as well, or have a few parents who are interested in getting in as well, so they can lead some games too:

1. Marco Polo

2. Hold a Rubber Duck Race. Give each child a rubber duck and have them use their noses to move it to the other side of the pool. First one there wins!

3. Play Shark! The birthday kid starts off as the shark and must tag the fish, i.e. the rest of the kids. As they are tagged, they also become sharks. Game is over when the pool is full of sharks!

4. Who can make the biggest splash? Make sure to follow pool rules however!
5. Place floating toys all throughout the pool, and divide the kids into two teams. Blow a whistle and see which team can gather the most floaters in a two minute time frame.

6. Have the kids swim through rings, i.e. hula hoops

7. Play Water volleyball

Besides swimming, make sure to have fun pool party food and drinks on hand:

1. Juice boxes and small water bottles would be ideas

2. Fish Chow, combine popcorn, raisins, gummy fish, Goldfish crackers, and chocolate chips. Yummy snack.

3. Serve small sandwiches cut into little fish shapes and filled with all sorts of fillings.

4. Ordering pizza would be an easy option for this party too.

5. Have fruits cut up and placed on skewer sticks and yogurt dips available for dipping.

6. Serve Blue Jell-O with gummy fish inside the Jell-O.

And finally, send the kids home with a taste of summer: beach balls!
It will certainly be an easy party to pull together and the kids will have loads of fun swimming and playing in the pool during the entire party; only taking a break for party food and cake. Easy and fun!

The world that we live in is multicultural, and the school and work environment that your multiples will need to function in will be multicultural. Appreciation for diversity is one of the gifts that you can give to your kids to help them develop. This appreciation will need to include a curiosity about others' cultures, a tolerance of differences and a desire to learn about different cultures and traditions.

Tip No. 1 - Culturally Diverse Storybooks, Games and Videos
The first way you can introduce the concept of other cultures to your multiples is to include culturally diverse storybooks, games and videos into your media collection. You can get these items from your local public library, book stores and education stores. The Internet is also a treasure trove of downloadable educational materials about the cultures of the world. However, before you let your multiples use these materials, read through them or watch them to make sure the messages being transmitted are positive and accurate.

Tip No. 2 - Learn a New Language
Another fun and valuable activity that you can do with your multiples is to learn a new language together. You can pick up language courses for kids at bookstores and your public library. You can also download learning materials from the Internet. Talk with your multiples to see if there is a language that they would like to learn, or suggest that you all learn a language that was used by your ancestors. For example, if you are from Korean descendants, you could learn basic Korean.

Tip No. 3 - Live a New Culture
While reading about other cultures is interesting, it really doesn't allow your kids to experience that culture. There are several learning activities that you can do with your multiples that will help them better understand other cultures. For example, you can visit a neighborhood that is an ethnic center for a specific culture, or you can have a culture day in your house where you dress up in traditional clothing of the culture and prepare traditional dishes. You can also listen to music and attend cultural festivals to learn more about a specific culture.

Tip No. 4 - Travel
Immersion in a different culture is one of the best ways to learn about and understand another culture. If possible, plan a vacation to a country that has a culture that is different than your own. See how the people live, what they eat, what makes them happy, what challenges they face and what strengths they have. Allow your multiples to explore their museums, tourist attractions and natural wonders.

Winter family meals don't always have to be loaded with calories and carbs. Warm up everyone in your household with these tasty yet simple recipes.

Creamy Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes
Serves 8 to 10

5 pounds russet potatoes
1 to 2 cups fat-free buttermilk
Sea salt, to taste
Fresh ground pepper, to taste
Chives, to taste
½ cup low-fat parmesan cheese

1. Boil the potatoes until fork tender.
2. Mash the potatoes with enough buttermilk to make the potatoes slightly runny.
3. Stir in the seasonings and chives.
4. Pour the potatoes into a casserole dish, top with parmesan cheese, and bake at 350 degrees until the top becomes golden brown.
Note: You can mash these potatoes ahead of time and then bake them when you're ready to serve.

Broccoli Roasted with Garlic and Onions
Serves 8

4 large bunches of broccoli, trimmed and prepped
4 cloves of garlic, minced
2 large red onions, cut into thin rings
½ cup olive oil
Fresh ground pepper, to taste
Sea salt, to taste

1. Toss the broccoli, garlic and onions with olive oil and seasonings.
2. Spread the mixture out on a large cookie sheet.
3. Roast at 425 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes or until desired texture is achieved.
Note: You can use bags of fresh broccoli florets if you are short on time.

Also don't forget to make simple changes, such as serving whole wheat rolls.

If your little one is soon to turn one and it is cold and wintry outside, a perfect theme for your party may be a fabulous Winter One-derland! If it is December, January, or February and you are sure to be throwing an indoor party, here are some ideas to pull this theme together. It will work well if older children will be attending the party. Otherwise, if you want to host a Winter Wonderland party, just drop the play on the words and you have a great party for many ages!

For your invitation, cut out an array of mittens, snowballs, scarves and snowflakes in your party colors and place all of the pertinent information on the cut outs. Use cookie cutters as guides; they can pull double duty later for craft projects or treats.

Another invitation idea is to paint Styrofoam balls with your party colors, for snowballs, and attach a tag with the party details. These invitations will need to be hand-delivered.
For the decorations, use white for one color, for snow of course, and pair it with another color you would like to use as well. Since you are emphasizing the winter time frame, if you go with a 1st Birthday theme, you may want to keep it on the generic side.

• Hang snowflakes from your ceiling at different lengths.
• Decorate the party walls with big snow people that you cut out from large cardboard and other wintry items, i.e. mittens, hats, scarves, etc.
• Cover your furniture with white sheets
• Place Styrofoam packing peanuts around the party room for the snow
• Create the look of a frozen lake by placing clear plastic bags on the floor.
• Place a sign stating, Danger: Thin Ice!
• Hang twinkly lights all over the party room.
• Make snowmen out of balloons; taping three different sizes of balloons together and decorating their faces with markers.

Craft Ideas: Make Snowmen

You will need:
• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 cup salt
• 1 cup water
• 2 Tbs. Veg. Oil
• 1 Tbs. Cream of tartar
• 1/3 cup silver glitter
• 1/4 cup white powdered tempera paint.

Mix all ingredients together. Cook over medium heat, stirring until ball is formed. Knead dough until cool. Provide bowls with bits of cloth, paper, beads, pipe cleaners, felt, etc. Have the guests sculpt their own snow dough snowman and decorate it.

Make Snow Globes: Use baby food jars and fill the jars almost to the top with water and stir in a few drops of glycerin and 1/2 a teaspoon of glitter and star and moon confetti. The glycerin increases the density of the water and causes the glitter to fall slowly. This is a great party goody for the kids to take home!

For Activities:
Hopefully, you will have snow and your party guests can make snow angels, build real snow people, go sledding, go on a winter nature hike and/or simply play in the winter wonderland!

Have a Race to the Pole.

Set up different stations in the party room and have the kids complete a different task at several “places” as they make their way to the North Pole. As example, go to Klondike, where the kids wrap up yarn into a coil, which they take to Greenland, where they dress in heavy winter clothes, to go to the Arctic Circle, where they map their progress by drawing a circle with a compass, and finally reaching the North Pole.

Play Hot Snow Ball as you would “Hot Potato.”

Have a Blizzard. Blow up a large amount of white balloons, e.g. the snow, and provide small fans to the two teams. The purpose is to fan as many of the balloons to their designated goal areas in the room. First team to get the majority of balloons in the designated area wins!

Hide icicles of various lengths around the party area. Have the two teams hunt for as many as many as possible and then, as a team, piece them together. The team to form the longest icicle wins!

For the Menu:
Make Snowman Pizza, using cheese, olives, and other veggies for the toppings!
Make Snowman Pancakes using different sizes of pancakes and have the kids decorate them with chocolate chips.
Pigs in a Blanket, to keep the piggies warm!
Ice Chips: Use any type of chips with a dip
Snowman Crackers: use cream cheese and veggies to decorate.
Make a batch of sugar cookies and cut them out into different winter shapes and have the kids decorate with sprinkles, candy, and frosting.
Serve mud and snow, hot chocolate with whipped cream
Serve little donuts rolled in powdered sugar, mini snowballs.
Serve a Polar Ice Cap. You will need: Blue Kool-Aid, ginger ale, vanilla ice cream, clear glasses, and straws. Refrigerate the Kool-Aid and ginger ale. Fill a glass almost halfway with the blue Kool-Aid. Add ginger ale almost to the top of the glass. Drop in one big snowball (scoop of vanilla ice cream), and enjoy with a straw!
Send home the Snow Globes as the favor!

There has been a great deal of snow falling all over the country, and this is the perfect opportunity to enjoy some family recreation time outside in the snow. Building a snowman can be a great family activity that involves all members.

Tips for Building a Snowman
The first thing you need to do is make sure that what is on the ground around your house (or in the park) is "packing snow." This is snow that holds together but is not that wet. You should test to see if the snow clumps when you gather it together. Form basic balls from the snow and add to them until they are too big to hold. You can use three balls or two.

Start with the base -- the bottom -- of the snowman. Roll your first ball around and around until it is rather large. You can take turns rolling the ball, so that everyone helps. Next, roll each successive ball so that it is smaller. (If you have older children -- teenagers -- you can have a race to see who can build a snowman the fastest or who can build the tallest snowman.) You can pack and smooth the snow so that it has the proper appearance. As you are setting one ball on top of the other make sure that you pack in some snow to hold the balls steady where the sections connect.

You can use any number of objects to decorate the snowman, including sticks, hats, carrots and rocks. The idea is to make the snowman your own with personality. Make sure you have your own warm clothing to wear outdoors, including coats, gloves, hats, boots and snow pants. Do not stay out too long, especially if it is very cold.

And of course, when you get back in the house, nothing is as delicious as a warm cup of cocoa.