The holidays are meant to be a time of reflection; however, the majority of my time is spent reflecting on everything I must prepare for that magical morning! So, I thought it would be a nice break to do something different and check out this creche with the boys. The children and I spent a couple of hours over in Bethlehem to see the creche on display at the Regina Laudis Abbey. We arrived at the Abbey and parked by the shop at the top of the drive. We found home-made cheeses and local honey while admiring the pottery, art, and especially the carved stone basins. My boys have never seen a gift shop that they don't like and this one was no exception. We then took a nice walk back down the drive and along a path that led through the grounds until we reached a restored 19th century barn. (On Dec. 1 and 2 make sure to visit the town of Bethlehem also for their annual Christmas Town Festival).

With the dark evenings falling upon us earlier and earlier each night, all the houses lit up with holiday decorations are even more enjoyable. One of our favorite things to do this time of year is to drive around in the evenings looking at all of the beautifully lit houses. Not only are the houses breathtaking to gaze at, but many places in the Hartford area offer special holiday light shows. We've listed some Holiday Light Show events that are sure to make an impression!

Thanksgiving is fast approaching, and if you're anything like me you've already started dreaming of all the delicious holiday food you're going to enjoy with family. After all, this is the one time each year that it's actually acceptable to spend the entire day eating...and then eating some more. But consider starting a new family tradition - participating in a family Turkey Trot, which gets everyone up and moving and allows you to raise funds for a good cause. Here are 12 family-friendly runs happening around Houston!

Every time I look at my calendar lately, it seems like my kids are spending more time with me than they are in the classroom, and November in NYC seems to be particularly peppered with days off. Between Election Day, Veterans Day, and the pair of school holidays that make up Thanksgiving break, we've got plenty of time to kill. If you're not heading out of town to celebrate with family and friends, you might be searching for some staycation ideas for you and the kids.

Fear not, though we've already given you a slew of must-do activities to enjoy all month long, here are 25 more ideas for entertaining your brood in New York City on November's school holidays. Find more school holiday fun in our daily Event Calendar.

Jackson Heights is often thought of as a hot, up-and-coming NYC neighborhood, but really it's just been flying under the radar for the last hundred years or so. This community, one of the most diverse in the United States, has been called an “international Mayberry” due to the small-town feel and the peaceful co-existence of so many different types of people. The fact that it was the nation’s first planned garden district—meaning that most of the buildings in the historic section are built around lush, green courtyards—doesn’t hurt, either. 

Eleven years ago, I moved to this Queens neighborhood from the East Village—which has its own, very different charms—hoping that a down payment and a dream would keep me from missing those Manhattan lights. I soon discovered that mere acquaintances here greet each other on the street, and I find myself in conversations with interesting people from all over the world. Once I had a baby, I met even more neighbors. 

To make it a little easier to find those great Jackson Heights gems with your children, we've compiled a list of neighborhood highlights. Enjoy!

The eating local trend has taken Boston by storm, with farmers markets cropping up in many neighborhoods and the Boston Public Market opening last year. And we can’t think of a better way to celebrate local food than by purchasing a regionally raised turkey for Thanksgiving. So we’ve rounded up 10 Boston-area farms and shops where you can purchase a local turkey to have as the centerpiece of your family’s holiday meal. With Thanksgiving only weeks away, it’s time to reserve your bird!

Fall festival season may be almost over, and that means it's time to start celebrating the holidays. (We know - we can't believe it's November either). There are plenty of family friendly holiday, and non-holiday related, festivals to check out this "winter" around Houston.