At our house, Christmas morning looks like this:
- Bible stories and Christmas songs
- twinkling lights and a decorated tree
- homemade cinnamon rolls and eggs with sausage
- time with cousins and leisurely conversations by the fireplace
- mandarin oranges at the bottom of stockings
Since we live in the desert, daytime temperatures in December range from 55 to 75, with glorious sunshine gracing our shoulders. In other words…perfect. As a result, we tend to spend at least part of the day in the backyard or on the back porch.
Our family has approached gift-giving a little differently every year. There have been years where we did no gifts at all, years where we gave each child one or two gifts, and years where we have had more extravagant Christmases. I am thankful to say that our kids tend to be rosy-cheeked and delighted by the day, regardless of what is or isn’t under the tree. As the Grinch gently reminds us, Christmas can’t be bought in a store. It means so, so much more.
This year’s gift guide has a focus on families that appreciate literature, the outdoors, art, and imaginative play. I’ve also curated gift picks related to science, astronomy, sports, travel, and cooking since these are all interests of at least one member of our family. I hope that you’ll find wonderful, off-the-beaten-path ideas for everyone on your list. As always, I’m more than happy to answer specific questions about the toys, games, books, and clothes that I feature. Leave a comment or send over a tweet if you like!
Please bookmark this page for updates. We’ll make the links LIVE as soon as each post is published. Merry Christmas and much love from our family to yours!
