Dialogue

Jackson watchig Home Alone and the Christmas tree he helped decorate.

TRADITIONS Holiday

ANYONE WHO KNOWS me personally knows that I am a lover of everything Christmas. I love creating holiday memories as a family and eagerly await to put up our Christmas tree each November just so I can enjoy it a little longer. As I began decorating for Christmas, I’m sure I was smiling ear to ear as I pulled each item out of the carefully packed box. I admired the tiny handprint ornaments from my older boys; tracing the little fingers and remembering how quickly kids grow.

I let the kids decorate our tree, which is adorned with more ornaments than one family should own. (They all seem to be in one bottom spot but I’m trying to let that go). I wasn’t sure how our tree would fare with a curious toddler, cat, and crawling baby, but so far so good! Our toddler loves redecorating the tree every day and I find ornaments all over the house. And this year is special because we added one more stocking to our mantle.

IN THIS DECEMBER ISSUE of Raising Arizona Kids, we’ve rounded up the best holiday events and shows, offer helpful tips for co-parenting during this season, and suggest ways to manage the holiday burnout. I’ve also shared some of my favorite holiday traditions and ones you can incorporate with your own family, such as hosting a hot cocoa bar or writing letters to Santa. I’ve also included instructions on how you can make your own handprint ornaments with your kids-something that perhaps, you too, will find yourself admiring year after year.

ON THE COVER we feature the Heredia family at the beautiful Desert Botanical Garden who talk about how they are striving to teach their children about making an impact in the community. They also share some of their family’s favorite holiday and cultural traditions. Our cover shoot was spoiled by unexpected rain and gloomy clouds but they didn’t let that damper their spirits!

As the holidays approach, I hope you take time to create some new traditions with your family and soak up the magic of the season.

Kate Reed, Publisher Do you have a topic you would love us to write about? Email publisher@rakmagazine.com

December 2021 | Vol 32 | No 10

PUBLISHER Kate Reed

EDITOR Monique Seleen

CONTRIBUTORS Karen Aurit, Michael Aurit, Bethany Braun-Silva, Rachel Galvez, Dr. Shelly Klein, Ilana Lowery, Dr. Erika Rowe, Emily Singleton, Maricopa County Library District

ART DIRECTOR Michèlle-Renée Adams

COVER PHOTOGRAPHY Kate Reed

MARKETING CONSULTANTS Shannon Cornall

Raising aRizona Kids magazine (ISSN 1051-4295) was created to connect Valley families to local resources and share real-life stories about the challenges and joys of raising children. Copyright © 2021 by Raising aRizona Kids, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. Subscription price is $20 for one year or $35 for two years. Back issues are $6 per copy. Make address changes on our website or mail changes to our office. Content guidelines are available at raisingarizonakids.com.

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