Who doesn't love fresh baked goods in the fall? Plus, many people have fond memories of baking cookies with their parents when they were growing up. Wouldn't you like to create those memories with your kids? Then why not spend a family night baking some of your family's favorite goodies? This week, let's look at a few tips for baking with the family.

Keep it simple. This should be a fun family night activity. For that reason, it's best to stick with simple recipes. That way, you have a better chance of the recipe turning out right and everyone feeling successful. If you choose to have a baking night every week, you could gradually add harder recipes as the family feels more and more comfortable with basic baking techniques.

Give everyone a job. Instead of one person doing all the work, split up the jobs and let everyone help out. One person could measure the ingredients. Another person could stir the ingredients together. Someone could roll out cookie dough and someone could get the baking sheets ready. If you're working with small children, just make sure that adults are in charge of any dangerous steps, such as working with the oven.

Choose a theme. If you have several kids each one could pick a recipe that revolves around a certain theme. For example, all the recipes could be apple recipes. Another way to implement themes for smaller families is to create cookies that are all decorated with a certain theme. The theme could be a certain football team, holiday, or even fall in general.

Share the wealth. After all the baked goods are finished, why not go around the neighborhood and share? You could also give some of the baked goods to friends and family. This way, your family gets to enjoy baking without overindulging in sweets.

Family night doesn't have to be the same thing every night. As you can see, there are so many different ways to enjoy a night at home without spending a fortune. Best of all, nights like these give you something to work on and later enjoy.

Spring Cleaning might not top the list of fun activities that you can share with your children, but in fact, involving the entire family in a spring cleaning weekend is a great way to share memories, collaborate and get the house in order, all at the same time. Rather than waste a weekend watching television or going your separate ways, spend a weekend together as a family. Spring cleaning offers the opportunity for toddlers and teenagers to get involved in your home and provides chances for family bonding, too.

Divide up the workload
Put everyone in charge of a task—be it a room they are responsible for cleaning, a closet they need to sort through, or the regular chores like vacuuming or ironing. Young children can get involved with Swiffer dusters and mops, while older children can pitch in with sorting toys and clothes for Goodwill or Children's Aid. Be specific with kids about what you hope to accomplish. For instance, if your son's room is fairly organized, but filled with clutter, talk about the importance of purging and make him responsible for selecting a few items to donate to charity. Giving everyone a task can help make the workload more manageable.

Get outside and welcome spring, too
Don't confine all of your spring cleaning to the inside, either. Head out and weed the garden, cut the lawn, or plant some spring buds. One teenager handling the garden and another cleaning the living room strikes a great balance. Plus, if the sun comes out on the weekend, it isn't necessary to spend it all cooped up. You can still get the house in order without wasting it inside when the sun comes out.

Stop for snacks and take out
If you are going to spend the weekend cleaning, be sure to break it up with family treats and the opportunity to sit around the table with the ones you love. My family loves monkey bread, made from Pillsbury biscuits mixed with butter, sugar and cinnamon. Start the morning off with a family favorite and break for snacks throughout the day. Finish off with pizza or Chinese food, whatever quick, easy meal your family loves the best. Or stop and make chocolate fondue for dessert. Find photographs of mom and dad when they got married? Or a toy that you'd completely forgotten about from your childhood? Be sure to share with your family now!