Winter Camp 2015

     It's much easier to believe that the holidays are right around the corner with the first seasonal snowfall behind us. Did you take advantage by building snowmen, going sledding, or lighting your first fire under the mantle? Even if you didn't get a chance to enjoy the early snowfall, it reminds us that Christmas break is approaching, and that means it's almost time for Winter Camp!

     Winter Camp 2015 will have two sessions over Christmas break. We'll have plenty of your kids' favorite activities from summer camp, including crafts, Bible lessons, singing theme songs, and classic gym games. We'll also include some fun winter specific activities for your kids to enjoy while on break! Session 1 will run December 21-23, and Session 2 will be December 28-30. You can register for a single day, or get a discount when you register for a whole session. You can choose from one of our three available sites: East Peoria, Pekin, or Peoria Christian Center. Click the button below to start your online registration, or download the paper form if pen & paper is more your style.

Paper Registration Form

     Help spread the word about Winter Camp 2015 to your neighbors, coworkers, and friends by sharing this post on Facebook or sending a quick email. Brand new campers get their first day free! We can't wait to celebrate the Christmas season with you at Winter Camp 2015. 

Web Catch of the Week: Make Creative Christmas Gifts with Your Kids

     The holidays are supposed to be all about family, but my calendar says otherwise. Every year at Thanksgiving and Christmas, I fight a battle to make extra time for family when everything else is fighting for more of my attention. I'm sure you've felt this pressure, too. I may not have the secret formula to help you conquer everything on your Christmas to-do list, but here's a few tips to make creative Christmas gifts while making memories with your family.

     Michael Corley gives us a creative way to make 3D pop-up Christmas cards in his blog post on My Kids Adventures. His simple step-by-step instructions make it easy to create these unique cards. Your kids can be as creative or as simple as they want, since a pop-up card offers the flexibility to let your kids' personalities shine through. No matter who you send it to, a card like this is sure to earn a prominent place on the fridge. This would make a great gift with an added personal touch for friends and family you don't get the chance to see during the holiday season.

     When my wife and I were first married, we were in college and didn't have a big budget for Christmas gifts. Instead of buying something unique for every person on our Christmas list, we made gift bags filled with different homemade candies and baked goods. Making these treats at home was not only much more cost effective than buying them from the store, they were much, much tastier! We made a lot of gift bags out of just a few items, and I still have the memory of spending time with my wife while assembling the gift bags at the kitchen table. You can make tasty, budget-friendly, and memory-making gifts like this with your kids by using some of your favorite holiday recipes. If you need some inspiration, check out these 3 blog posts for ideas:

• Peppermint Crunch Puppy Chow
• Christmas Caramel Popcorn
• Chocolate Cherry Clusters - No Bake Cookies

     Hopefully these ideas aren't just another thing to add to your growing to-do list. I hope that you can use these to accomplish your tasks while including your family in the process! Leave a comment to let us know how you get your kids involved in the Christmas season tasks. Other families would love to learn from you!