Savoring Motherhood with a Cocoa Bar

I was recently in life group and we were chatting about hosting holidays at our house and all the cooking/decorating that comes along with it. My one friend said “you just make it look so easy”, which was very flattering to hear. My response is that we all have our “thing”. Cooking, entertaining and themes galore are mine. I love to go over the top for parties, company and random times to surprise my kids. It’s what I enjoy. I do it because it makes me happy, while making others around me happy. Now laundry? That’s not my thing. I honestly have several clean basketfuls in my room right now. It’s just low on the priority list and falls way behind pulling out a cocoa bar on our first really cold day of the winter.

Let me tell you, no kid’s face lights up at clean laundry in their drawers. But they do at a piping cup of cocoa and all the toppings their little hearts desire! I want to be a mom that does fun, unexpected things that are going to stick in my kid’s minds forever. This doesn’t have to be big, elaborate or expensive things, either. This cocoa bar was comprised of things I had already, some things I would be buying and just a couple little unnecessary things, like “baby it’s cold outside” napkins. But seriously, those were for me. 

I guess I’m just realizing more and more how quickly childhood passes. My oldest is halfway through his. HALFWAY. 9 more winters before he’s probably off to college. (cue some major crocodile tears) You better believe that every winter, there will be cocoa and snuggling on those chilly days and massive amounts of both.

Now, I am hosting Thanksgiving and Christmas at my house, so many parts of this cocoa bar will stay put in the butler’s pantry for our guests. Here are some essentials that I love to keep on hand:

• Hot Cocoa Mix
• Peppermint Sticks
• Marshmallows (plain and festive ones!)
• Chocolate and/or white chips
• Chocolate Hazelnut sticks that can double as stirrers
• Candy Canes
• Festive stirrers and napkins
• Whipped Cream

What is your favorite winter activity with your kids?