Between an early game of football and the big feast, I’ve always enjoyed spending a few Thanksgiving moments watching the annual Macy’s Thanksiving Day Parade. From the giant character balloons to the elaborate floats, the event must be the most-watched parade in America. The final attraction is always the transition from one holiday to the next, when the Christmas season is ushered in by Santa Claus himself!

Use that magical moment as a launching point for reading Miracle on 34th Street. The book picks up where the parade leaves off, and it’s sure to get you and your kids into the Christmas spirit.

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What is it about this time of year that makes me crave sweets so much? I’ve just come off the Halloween sugar high, and now the Pumpkin Pie has found its place on the kitchen counter. Thank goodness for my daughter’s new love of cupcakes! These sweet morsels of goodness pack a punch of sweet and savory flavors. It’s not like eating a piece of fruit for a snack, but it keeps me from sticking my fork into another piece of pie.

The word on the street is that the best cupcakes in town are found at Sprinkles Cupcakes in Scottsdale. They’re a bit expensive, but they work as a great reward for finishing reading time. While you’re at it, make one of those books Pinkalicious, in which the main character eats so many cupcakes that her skin starts to turn colors!

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Ender’s Game was to me, my brothers, and my friends what the Harry Potter series was to a new generation of readers. The sci-fi book captured our imagination and ignited a love of reading. One of the highlights is a battle game the characters play that is similar to laser tag . . . only it is played in a zero-gravity environment, and when a player is shot his suit is immobilized for the remainder of the game. Even with gravity and low-tech clothing at play, I still imagine I’m a character in the book any time I play a round of laser tag with the kids.

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I still remember with vivid detail the first time my mom took me to cast my vote in a presidential race. It set a precedent for the rest of my life and taught me the importance of being informed on issues and exercising my right to vote. Taking your children to a Kids Voting precinct will spur political conversation in your home and let you impress upon your kids the need to be involved in the political process. To initiate a conversation on the election that doesn’t bore the little ones to death, grab a copy of President Pennybaker.

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