Well Buttercup here it is Sunday and I’ve decided to share one of Charlie and Suzzane’s favorite children’s books with you. Even though I stress it more and more and more, I really do believe in celebrating one holiday at a time.

But right now, we’re preparing for Christmas, and what better way to prepare for the busy holiday season than by picking up books you can read with your children?

For my family I wanted to share a children’s book series we always fell back on which was Amelia Bedelia. No, matter what you wanted to learn about or celebrate most likely there was a book you could read sharing that information with you.

I first read Amelia Bedelia books when Suzzane was little because she loved all the antics Amelia got herself into. She thought the things Amelia did were absolutely hilarious, and I can still remember the fun we had reading the stories together.

Then, as the years went by, I read Amelia Bedelia books to Charlie. And yes, Amelia Bedelia is a woman. But Charlie actually enjoyed the books! The funny part is David did too.

They didn’t fuss that she had cooties or anything like that. Instead, they laughed right along with us and enjoyed seeing what Amelia Bedelia was going to get herself into next.

That’s one of the things I love about children’s books. Sometimes the books we read when our children are little stay with us long after those children aren’t little anymore.

For today’s Interactive Christmas Gift Guide I thought we would slow things down. Come and join me and let’s read a book. My family is reading, Merry Christmas, Amelia Bedelia: Great for Holiday and Christmas Reading or Gifting (I Can Read Level 2).

This is a level two book which children can read on there own as they become better at reading. I had David try and read the book and he was able to do it on his own which was amazing considering he struggles with reading. Charlie could also read it on his on.

The book is a Level 2 I Can Read, making it a fun choice for children who are beginning to read independently while still enjoying some help along the way.

In the book it’s Christmas Eve, and Amelia is busy getting the Rogers house ready for a visit from Aunt Myra. Of course, when Amelia Bedelia is involved, things don’t always turn out exactly as everyone expects! Does it?

But what caught my attention for our Christmas activity is that the story gives us opportunities to talk about things that some children today may not immediately recognize.

Charlie, and David said the book is out of date and something was hard to understand for Charlie because the Author mentions things like popcorn balls and date cake. And that can become something much bigger than simply reading a book.

If your child asks, “What’s a popcorn ball?” or “What’s a date cake?” don’t just tell them. Make them! Which can also be a #Homeschool Cooking Class as they children make these recipes which I love because it turns reading into a #teachingmoment.

That is one of my favorite things about reading with children. A book can open the door to a conversation, a history lesson, a trip into the kitchen, and a new family memory.

You can talk about what dates are, where they come from, and what they taste like. You can make popcorn balls together and talk about how people have enjoyed popcorn in different ways for generations.

And while you’re in the kitchen, you can talk about measurements, following directions, kitchen safety, and working together. Suddenly, a children’s Christmas book has turned into a reading lesson, a cooking lesson, and family time.

Christmas Popcorn Balls

Ingredients

• 10 cups popped popcorn
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup light corn syrup
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Place the popped popcorn in a very large bowl and set aside.
2. In a saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup, butter, and salt.
3. Cook over medium heat, stirring until the butter melts and the mixture comes together.
4. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil and cook for a few minutes, stirring carefully.
5. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
6. Carefully pour the warm mixture over the popcorn.
7. Stir gently until the popcorn is coated.
8. Allow it to cool enough to handle.
9. With buttered or lightly greased hands, shape the popcorn into balls.
10. Place the popcorn balls on wax paper or parchment paper to finish cooling.

Parent note: The syrup mixture gets extremely hot. An adult should handle the cooking and pouring, and children should only help once the mixture is cool enough to safely handle.

One thing I wanted to remind you is even though we are treating this like a Christmas Activity these Popcorn Balls can be made year round which is half the fun.

You should let each child decorate their popcorn ball with Christmas sprinkles or other edible decorations.

Then ask: “Would Amelia Bedelia have made these the right way?” You never know what answer you’ll get!

If your children have never had dates before, Old-Fashioned Date Cake is a perfect opportunity to introduce them to something they may not see on the table every day. Which for my family Charlie hasn’t had and I also don’t think David or I’ve ever had Dates. Have you?

Ingredients

• 1 cup chopped pitted dates
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions:

1. Place the chopped dates in a bowl.
2. Pour the boiling water over the dates and stir in the baking soda. Let stand for about 10 minutes.
3. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
4. Grease an 8-inch square baking pan.
5. Cream together the butter and sugar.
6. Beat in the eggs and vanilla.
7. In another bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt.
8. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture.
9. Stir in the softened dates and their liquid.
10. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
11. Bake for approximately 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
12. Allow the cake to cool before slicing.

Kitchen conversation: Let the kids look at a date before it goes into the cake. Talk about its texture, taste, and where dates come from. Sometimes trying something new is half the fun!

After you’ve finished reading, it’s time for a little coloring fun! Give the kids a Christmas-themed Amelia Bedelia coloring sheet and let them imagine what Amelia might be doing to get ready for Christmas.

They can color the picture, add their own Christmas decorations, and even draw something they think Amelia might accidentally misunderstand!

Here’s a fun question to ask:: “If Amelia Bedelia told you to decorate a Christmas tree, what do you think she might do?”

Write down their answer before you tell them what you think she would do. You may get some pretty creative answers!

Now it’s time for today’s reading challenge! Find Merry Christmas, Amelia Bedelia and sit down with your child for 10 minutes of reading. If you don’t have this particular book? That’s perfectly okay!

If you have another Amelia Bedelia book at home, pull it off the shelf and read that one instead. And if Amelia Bedelia isn’t the book you have available today, choose another children’s book and spend 10 minutes reading together.

Your Reading Reward

Read for 10 minutes = 1 tickets!

Then keep the fun going with today’s three activities:

Make popcorn balls 1 ticket

Make date cake 1 ticket

Complete the Christmas coloring activity 1 ticket

If you do all the activities you can earn 4 tickets but we will give you one extra ticket giving you 5 tickets to start the week with.

Remember the goal isn’t simply to collect tickets. The goal is to read, learn, create, laugh, and make memories together. While spending time with your friends and family without a phone or internet.

And don’t forget that you’ll find Merry Christmas, Amelia Bedelia inside our Christmas Gift Guide ie Wish List as we help Santa pack the sleigh this year We still need help if you want to come and help us.

Before we go I wanted to remind you a children’s book can make a wonderful Christmas gift because it isn’t something a child simply opens and puts away.

It’s something you can read together. And sometimes that little book sitting underneath the Christmas tree becomes part of your family’s story for years to come.

That’s certainly what happened with Amelia Bedelia in our family. I read these books with Suzanne. Then I read them with Charlie. And now, when I see Amelia Bedelia, I don’t just see a children’s book. I see memories and a part of my children’s childhood.

Grab a children’s book and come join us. It doesn’t have to be Amelia Bedelia. Read a book of your choice and no, it doesn’t have to be a r Christmas book.

If you or your children have an old favorite that’s been sitting on your shelf read it. Then come back and tell me what you read and what you thought about it.

And if you make the popcorn balls or date cake, I’d love to hear about that, too! Because while we’re preparing for Christmas, let’s remember that we don’t have to do everything at once.

One holiday at a time. One book at a time. One family memory at a time.

Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed.

GreatfulMoments.com

Thank you,

Glenda, Charlie and David cates