# Ember & Oak ## Posts - [How to Make Christmas Magical for Kids: Our Favourite Family Traditions](https://emberandoakfamily.com/how-to-make-christmas-magical-for-kids-our-favourite-family-traditions/): I love Christmas, and I’m definitely not someone who tries to make the season magical by doing less. I love traditions, the Christmas books, the baking, the movie nights, the little surprises, the outings, and all the tiny things that make December feel completely different from the rest of the year. Yes, it takes some planning. Yes, I probably do more than I technically need to. But creating those little moments for my family is genuinely one of my favourite parts of the season. For me, Christmas magic isn’t about creating one perfect morning. It’s about building anticipation all month long […] - [What to Put in a December 1st Box](https://emberandoakfamily.com/what-to-put-in-a-december-1st-box/): There ‘s something about December 1st that feels like the official start of Christmas in our house. The decorations might already be up (and if I’m being honest, they started going up at 11:59 PM on October 31st) but December is when all of the little traditions really begin. One of my favourites is a December 1st box. Think of it as a little Christmas kickoff box filled with everything you need for a cozy night at home and a few things your kids can enjoy throughout the season. It doesn’t need to be huge or expensive, and it definitely doesn’t […] - [Our 24 Books of Christmas Tradition (And How to Start Your Own)](https://emberandoakfamily.com/our-24-books-of-christmas-tradition-and-how-to-start-your-own/): There’s something extra special about becoming the person responsible for the Christmas magic once you become a parents. The traditions you start and the little things you do year after year, the same decorations, the same movies, the same silly routines, slowly becoming what Christmas is to them. One of my favourite Christmas traditions I started with my kids is wrapping 24 Christmas books for December. Each night leading up to Christmas, we unwrap one book and read it together. Some are old favourites we’ve read a dozen times, some are newer additions to our collection, and every December they come […] - [How to Create Meaningful Family Traditions Without Spending a Lot of Money](https://emberandoakfamily.com/how-to-create-meaningful-family-traditions-without-spending-a-lot-of-money/): Somewhere along the way, creating a magical childhood started to feel really expensive. There are themed baskets for every holiday, elaborate outings, matching pajamas, picture-perfect activities, and an endless stream of things we are told will make a season feel special. And don’t get me wrong, I love making a little magic for mu kids. But I don’t think meaningful family traditions have to come with a price tag. Some of the traditions kids remember most aren’t particularly impressive at all. They’re pancakes you make every Christmas morning. The same Christmas books that come out every December. Driving around to look […] - [What I Put in My Kids' December 1st Boxes](https://emberandoakfamily.com/what-i-put-in-my-kids-december-1st-boxes/): There’s something about December 1st that feels like the real beginning of Christmas. The decorations are up, the Christmas music is playing, and suddenly all of those traditions we’ve been waiting all year for can officially begin. One of the ways we kick off the Christmas season in our house is with December 1st boxes for the kids. I fill them with a mix of cozy Christmas essentials, festive activities, and a few little surprises they can enjoy throughout the month. It’s not meant to be an early Christmas gift or another excuse to pile on a bunch of toys, in […] - [Pumpkin Patch With Kids: A Complete Family Guide](https://emberandoakfamily.com/pumpkin-patch-with-kids-a-complete-family-guide/): There’s something about a trip to the pumpkin patch that makes it officially feel like fall. Wandering through rows of pumpkins, sipping something warm, letting the kids choose their own pumpkin. It’s one of those simple seasonal outings that can easily become a yearly tradition. Of course, taking kids to the pumpkin patch can also involve muddy shoes, unpredictable weather, snack emergencies, and carrying a pumpkin that your child absolutely insisted they could carry themselves. A little planning can make the whole day much easier. Whether you’re visiting with a baby, chasing a toddler through the pumpkin field, or bring the […] - [How We're Homeschooling Kindergarten: Our Simple, Secular Approach](https://emberandoakfamily.com/how-were-homeschooling-kindergarten-our-simple-secular-approach/): Starting Kindergarten at home can feel a little overwhelming. There are so many options for curriculums, schedules, philosophies, and opinions about what a 5-year-old should be learning. For our family I wanted to keep things much simpler. Our kindergarten year is focused on building strong foundations in reading, math, and handwriting while still leaving plenty of room for play, exploring outside, following interests, and just being little. We’re not trying to recreate a traditional classroom at our kitchen table, and definitely don’t have every detail figured out. In this post, I’m sharing what we’re actually using for kindergarten, how I’m planning […] - [25 Fun Fall Activities for Kids (For the Coziest Fall Ever)](https://emberandoakfamily.com/25-fun-fall-activities-for-kids-for-the-coziest-fall-ever/): Fall is one of my favourite seasons for getting out and making memories with the kids. Between colourful leaves, crisp days outside, and cozy afternoons at home, there are so many simple ways to make the season feel special without planning anything elaborate or expensive. Whether you are looking for an excuse to head outside, something to do on a rainy afternoon, or an easy fall craft, these 25 fall activities for kids are full of simple ideas for enjoying the season together. Outdoor Fall Activities Just because summer has come to an end doesn’t mean the outdoor fun has to […] - [Boo Basket Ideas for Kids: 30+ Fun & Cozy Halloween Ideas](https://emberandoakfamily.com/boo-basket-ideas-for-kids-30-fun-cozy-halloween-ideas/): Being a parent in this day and age probably means you’ve felt at some point that every occasion is becoming another Christmas with big extravagant Easter baskets, Boo Baskets, and even December 1st boxes trending on social media. It’s easy to feel like your child might feel left out if you don’t go all out, but I’m here to tell you it doesn’t have to be expensive or extravagant to be special! The reason I love and lean into these traditions is because it’s a great way to make the whole season feel a little more festive and memorable and really […] - [15 Simple Fall Traditions to Start With Your Kids](https://emberandoakfamily.com/15-simple-fall-traditions-to-start-with-your-kids/): Fall has a fun way of making even the most simple activities feel a little more special. Between the cooler weather, colourful leaves and all the cozy seasonal treats, it’s the perfect time to slow down and make memories together as a family. Fall traditions don’t have to be elaborate or expensive to be meaningful. From visiting an apple orchard to having a cozy movie night at home, these 15 fall traditions are easy ways to make the season feel memorable year after year. 1. Apple Picking Spend a crisp fall morning at a local apple orchard and let everyone choose […] - [Kid-Friendly Places We Loved Eating in Nova Scotia](https://emberandoakfamily.com/kid-friendly-places-we-loved-eating-in-nova-scotia/): One of my favourite parts of travelling is trying local restaurants. During our week in Nova Scotia we made it our mission to mix local favourites with quick family meals. These are the places we actually visited with our 4-year-old and 3-month-old, along with our honest review of each. đź“ŤTatamagouche The Railway Dining Car (Tatamagouche Train Station) If you’re looking for a memorable place to eat in Tatamagouche I highly recommend checking out the Tatamagouche Railway Dining Car! Located at the historic Train Station Inn, it isn’t just another restaurant, it’s an authentic restored dining car that makes dinner feel like […] - [Nova Scotia With Kids: Everything We Did On Our 8 Day Family Trip](https://emberandoakfamily.com/nova-scotia-with-kids/): We recently returned from our first ever family vacation since having kids where we spent 8 days and 7 nights in Nova Scotia with our 4-year-old and 3-month-old. Since this was our first trip to the province, we wanted a good mix of sight seeing and outdoor adventure, but traveling with a 3-month-old meant we needed to account for extra stops throughout each day for feeding and breaks. It was important to us that each day felt full but not busy or chaotic. This is definitely not a packed “see everything” itinerary, but one with a healthy mix of coastal towns, […] - [Camping With Dogs: Everything You Need To Know for a Stress-free Trip](https://emberandoakfamily.com/camping-with-dogs-everything-you-need-to-know-for-a-stress-free-trip/): Camping is one of my favourite ways to make memories as a family, and that includes bringing our dogs along for the adventure. There’s nothing quite like watching them explore new trails, nap by the campfire, or happily sniff absolutely everything in sight. That said, camping with dogs does take a little extra planning. Forgetting something as simple as a long leash or enough water can quickly turn a relaxing weekend into a stressful one. After years of camping with our two huskies, we’ve learned what makes a trip enjoyable for both humans and dogs. In this guide, I’ll walk you […] - [How I Plan DIY Kids Birthday Parties (Step-by-Step Guide)](https://emberandoakfamily.com/how-i-plan-diy-kids-birthday-parties-step-by-step-guide/): Before I had kids I never really cared too much about birthdays. I was a last minute shopper and half the time gifts didn’t get wrapped and I rarely bought a card. After my first was born something shifted. I suddenly wanted to make ordinary days feel a little more magical. Birthdays became more than cake and presents. They became another opportunity to create memories together.  Planning a magical birthday party doesn’t have to be expensive or stressful. With the right planning, budgeting, and supplies (that can be used year after year!) you can pull off an amazing party that will […] - [How I Meal Plan For Family Camping Trips](https://emberandoakfamily.com/how-i-meal-plan-for-family-camping-trips/): One of my favourite parts of camping is the food. There’s just something about eating outside after a day spent exploring that can make even the simplest meals taste better. That said, trying to figure out what to cook at the campsite every day can quickly become overwhelming. Between limited cooler space, trying to keep kids occupied while cooking, and forgetting ingredients, it’s easy to end up wishing you could just grab fast food instead. After years of camping (and plenty of trial and error!), I’ve found that spending a little time meal planning before the trip can make the whole […] - [How We’re Preparing to Travel with a 3-month-old and 4-Year-Old](https://emberandoakfamily.com/how-were-preparing-to-travel-with-a-3-month-old-and-4-year-old/): My Family is currently two weeks out from our first family vacation (not counting camping trips) since having kids. It’s actually our first trip since 2015! We didn’t even have a real honey moon as we were married in the fall of 2019 and had planned a honey moon in Mexico in early 2020 which of course didn’t happen.  I don’t want to wait any longer for the kids to be older to make these memories when you truly don’t know what tomorrow may look like. So here’s everything we’re doing, and what we’re packing to try to make it as […] - [40 Fun things for your Kids Summer Bucket List! (+ a free printable!)](https://emberandoakfamily.com/40-fun-things-for-your-kids-summer-bucket-list-a-free-printable/): Summer is such a fun season once you have kids to make it special for! But if your household is anything like mine you start the summer with grand plans of all the things you want to do with the kids but things get busy, you say “we’ll do it next weekend” and before you know it the next weekend is September and you haven’t got around to half of them. A summer bucket list helps you keep track of all the opportunities to create lifelong memories with your kids. After all you only get so many summers while they’re small!  […] ## Pages - [Affiliate Disclosure](https://emberandoakfamily.com/affiliate-disclosure/): Ember & Oak participates in affiliate marketing programs, which means some of the links on this website are affiliate links. If you click an affiliate link and make a qualifying purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. These commissions help support Ember & Oak and allow me to continue creating family activities, ideas, resources, and free content. Amazon Associates Disclosure Ember & Oak is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for websites to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites. As an […] - [Blog](https://emberandoakfamily.com/blog/) - [Home](https://emberandoakfamily.com/): Making Family Life More Memorable Practical Ideas, thoughtful printables, and inspiration for birthdays, holidays, camping, and everyday family memories. Browse by Topic Find Inspiration for every season, celebration, and family adventure. Birthdays & Celebrations Party planning, memory books, DIY ideas, and everything you need to create unforgettable birthdays. Camping & Family Travel Family camping tips, travel guides, packing lists, and adventures with kids. Seasonal Family Fun Holiday Traditions, bucket lists, seasonal activities, and family inspiration all year long. Printables & Planning Beautiful planners, journals, checklists, and printable resources for busy families. Featured Prinatble Birthday Planner & Memory Book Bundle Plan every […] - [Contact](https://emberandoakfamily.com/contact/): I’d love to hear from you! You can reach me at: Emberandoakblog@gmail.com - [About Ember & Oak](https://emberandoakfamily.com/about-ember-and-oak/): Welcome to Ember & Oak! I’m Stephanie—a Canadian wife, mom of two, lifelong camper, and the creator behind Ember & Oak. I started this blog because I believe the moments our families remember most aren’t always the big, expensive vacations or picture-perfect holidays. They’re the campfires where the marshmallows caught fire, the rainy afternoons that turned into living room forts, the spontaneous road trips, and the traditions that become part of your family’s story. As a mom, I know that creating those memories can also come with a lot of planning, packing, and problem-solving. That’s where Ember & Oak comes in. […] - [Privacy Policy](https://emberandoakfamily.com/privacy-policy/): Who we Are Our website address is: https://emberandoakfamily.com. Analytics We use Google Analytics through Google Site Kit to better understand how visitors use our website. This information helps us improve our content and user experience. Google may collect information such as your IP address, browser type, device information, and pages visited in accordance with Google’s Privacy Policy. Comments When visitors leave comments on the site we collect the data shown in the comments form, and also the visitor’s IP address and browser user agent string to help spam detection. An anonymized string created from your email address (also called a hash) […] ## Optional - [Agent (MCP protocol)](websites-agents.hostinger.com/emberandoakfamily.com/mcp) [comment]: # (Generated by Hostinger Tools Plugin)