https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 06 May 2026 20:17:03 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/holiday-plans-2021#post-2925382 Wed, 03 Nov 2021 19:30:26 +0000 ModernDayJibarita 2925382@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For Thanksgiving we’ll be having 4 adults over. My parents (who will be flying) and my sis &amp; BIL who are local. They are all vaccinated and wear masks when they are indoor around others. </p> <p>For Christmas, we are traveling home to Puerto Rico for the first time in 4yrs. Whole family is getting together so it’ll be about 40 people of those 23/25 adults are vaccinated and 5/10 kids will be vaccinated (the other 5 are under 5) Tropical island so most of the activities are outdoors + the 2 unvaccinated adults will be requiered to wear a mask indoors at all times. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/holiday-plans-2021#post-2925373 Wed, 03 Nov 2021 13:43:00 +0000 hellobeeboston 2925373@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're pretty much getting back to normal this holiday season. Everyone will be vaccinated (including all of the kids) by then so I feel good about it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/holiday-plans-2021#post-2925305 Fri, 29 Oct 2021 12:54:56 +0000 Mommy Finger 2925305@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My parents are hosting Thanksgiving and Christmas and we live close to them. My 3 brothers and their families will all probably join us. All families and nieces/nephews have been vaxxed except for my younger brother and his family. That's a sore subject that I won't go into. I would worry about it but my two boys got covid at the beginning of the school year so they're sporting some antibodies and will still have some come holiday time and the vaccine should be available by then. I'm hoping that we won't have to go visit DH's side of the family for other reasons. We are careful but follow the science and feel like there can still be a balance. We don't have any really small kids in our family, nor do we have any immuno-compromised so our risk isn't as high as others. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/holiday-plans-2021#post-2925302 Fri, 29 Oct 2021 12:46:40 +0000 Chuckles 2925302@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm pretty sure we're traveling to see my in-laws for Thanksgiving. We'll stay in an airbnb instead of hotel because they are in an area with low vaccination rates. We'll see my MIL and SIL and her family (husband and two small kids). The adults are all vaccinated and their risk taking is similar to ours (no indoor dining, limited indoor socializing with other families). It's not ideal because there are two little kids who won't have their first vaccine yet, but I think the risk is worth it. I don't know if we'll see my other BIL and his wife. They are both vaccinated but my BIL works in a restaurant. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/holiday-plans-2021#post-2925298 Fri, 29 Oct 2021 09:51:15 +0000 periwinklebee 2925298@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is newly released data from comprehensive tracking on covid deaths by age and vaccination status. Obviously death isn't the only bad outcome, but it's pretty correlated with other bad outcomes. It's overwhelming the extent the risk is or the grandparents (even vaccinated ones, to an extent) and not the unvaccinated kids. Still, I'd guess the breakthrough death rates aren't worse than those for the flu in the older age groups (unvaccinated is a different story). </p> <p>I'm pregnant and due around Thanksgiving. My vaccinated parents will be visiting us around Thanksgiving, Vaccinated MIL around Christmas. They will be flying. It's not zero risk but they would be furious not to meet the baby and are comfortable with the risks. The bigger risk to the baby is that our older two are in daycare, and there's not an alternative to that... If we weren't expecting, I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with the risk of my unvaccinated littles getting sick on a crowded airplane (planes are so gross....) and then passing it on to grandparents, but really think it depends on the situation and what all families involved are comfortable with in terms of the risk. </p> [attach=7370/21/r1qulf.600x375.Screen-Shot-2021-10-29-at-10.44.01-AM.png] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/holiday-plans-2021#post-2925297 Fri, 29 Oct 2021 09:43:29 +0000 MrsSCB 2925297@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We’re hosting thanksgiving at our house—it will be 10 people including my family of four. And my kids are the only children; all adults have been vaccinated, older adults (like my parents) have also received boosters. My own personal line would be not having unvaccinated adults, both for my kids and my parents, who have health issues that make them vulnerable. Christmas will probably be the same people, plus my sister’s family of two adults and a baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/holiday-plans-2021#post-2925295 Fri, 29 Oct 2021 08:35:47 +0000 Anagram 2925295@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We already sent our regrets for the whole extended family gathering (about 40 people, indoors) because several people there aren't vaccinated and won't be vaccinated and I want no part in that right now.</p> <p>We *are* going to cross the border into Canada for the first time since before Covid this year and I feel fine about that. We're driving, by husband's family is super careful, our kids will be vaccinated by Christmas (fingers crossed anyway--they should at least have 1 dose) and his wole extended family except for 2 kids under 12 are vaccinated. And rates of Covid in their area of Canada are super low. Rates in our area of NJ are low and getting lower. We even have to have a negative covid test to enter Canada Overall, it's much safer.</p> <p>So I wouldn't judge all gatherings the same way. In my case, one is clearly much safer than the other, objectively speaking. </p> <p>Thanksgiving, we've invited a local family we're friends with who are from another country and also don't have nearby family. I'm also hoping our kids will have at least 1 dose by christmas, so we are taking slightly more of a risk by seeing them indoors for a meal. But they are pretty careful, and we're careful, and rates in their area of NJ are even lower than our area that has low rates. So......we're just crossing our fingers it's okay. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/holiday-plans-2021#post-2925294 Fri, 29 Oct 2021 04:57:35 +0000 caitcat 2925294@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are (probably) getting together with my parents and my brother and sister-in-law for Thanksgiving, about an hour drive away. Not sure yet on Christmas. I've asked all of the adults where masks indoors for any outings or time with people outside their households in the week ahead of time, and we'll test the kids before we come too to be sure they're in the clear. My brother and sister in law are totally understanding...I'm pretty sure my parents think I'm crazy though. It kind of stings that my mom doesn't get that it's still tricky to navigate this stage of the pandemic with kids.</p> <p>As I think about our Thanksgiving plans, it's not even so much that I worry that my kids will get covid as it is that any sickness/germs/viruses have been so disruptive to their school years - in different ways than they would in a more normal year. They've been out of school so often for non-covid runny noses, coughs, waiting on tests. It's tough on their routines and tough on us for work. So I want to be careful around Thanksgiving plans that we don't pick up anything else then too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/holiday-plans-2021#post-2925290 Fri, 29 Oct 2021 02:22:58 +0000 Mama Bird 2925290@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think we'll just get together with my parents. Everyone is either vaccinated or recovered, and cases are low (whew!) so at this point I'm mostly worried about how we'll find time to clean up and cook for everyone when work is totally on fire. I'm definitely not getting any time off to prepare :bummed: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/holiday-plans-2021#post-2925289 Thu, 28 Oct 2021 22:41:25 +0000 ChitownRo 2925289@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We created rules for those that we share indoor air with (until the kids are vaccinated):<br /> - mask inside anywhere not your house for 5-7 days prior to our arrival.<br /> - anyone who comes into their home needs to mask for 5-7 days before our arrival<br /> - no indoor dining </p> <p>This doesn’t work for some of my family so we can’t see them as regularly as we would like, but they all agree to follow these guidelines before Christmas.<br /> Though, we are rescheduling our normal Xmas trip to MI to see family… before Xmas rather than after. This way we are the first group getting together - didn’t want exposure from everyone’s in-laws etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/holiday-plans-2021#post-2925288 Thu, 28 Oct 2021 22:17:46 +0000 Lahela017 2925288@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are lucky in that my parents and sister are very cautious and equally concerned about covid as we are. Our plan is to get together with them, I'm not sure if my grandparents will come or not yet, but they are also in the same boat, so they would be welcome.</p> <p>We are not getting together with my husband's family because that is usually a really big group. They aren't having it again this year anyway because most people are concerned as well.</p> <p>We'll see if our plans change as it gets closer. My vaccinated father just tested positive yesterday, so my mom is freaking out going to be very worried about everything. (He has mild symptoms) Who knows where he got it. He's very cautious about where he goes and always wears a good mask. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/holiday-plans-2021#post-2925286 Thu, 28 Oct 2021 20:56:52 +0000 karenbme 2925286@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’m curious how everyone is managing holidays and Covid risk this year. We’re still mostly social distancing and extended family (my parents and some of the siblings on both sides) are not. In the past we’ve done Thanksgiving with both sides of the extended family. I’m getting pressed from my parents to do Thanksgiving there in particular but they won’t even go so far to say there won’t be random people coming to the house. My dad literally said “we’re vaccinated what more do you want from us”. It hurts, but it think we’re going to bow out. We haven’t made a call on the other side yet because the family that isn’t social distancing tests regularly. We’re low risk in terms of death or serious disease, but our two year old is in a mixed age daycare and we really don’t want to be the ones to get someone else’s tiny baby sick. Never mind the logistics of quarantining with a two year old and two demanding jobs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-and-holiday-covid-friendly-ideas#post-2918805 Fri, 04 Sep 2020 21:52:23 +0000 Corduroy 2918805@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did a parade for my son's 5th birthday in June. We tied some signs and helium balloons to our wagon and pulled it around the neighborhood. I played the music from Disney's electrical light parade (totally forgetting DS has not seen the parade or been to Disneyland). He LOVED it and talked about how everyone was waving at him. Funny because we didn't see anyone during the parade. I wish I had coordinated better with our neighbors because they totally would have come outside and waved. Since he loved it so much we repeated the parade after dark with lights. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-and-holiday-covid-friendly-ideas#post-2918804 Fri, 04 Sep 2020 21:27:23 +0000 Shantuck 2918804@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For my son’s birthday, we did a piñata in our basement and a surprise cake stand (<a href="https://surprisecake.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwy8f6BRC7ARIsAPIXOjgOm0rlPui-ip7rJdoVBHGvY9Snzui_pmUO7_2EeVj-rikIRQk0mIcaAk2_EALw_wcB" rel="nofollow">https://surprisecake.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwy8f6BRC7ARIsAPIXOjgOm0rlPui-ip7rJdoVBHGvY9Snzui_pmUO7_2EeVj-rikIRQk0mIcaAk2_EALw_wcB</a>). We also had a balloon garland installed on our front porch. My 8 year son claimed it was the best birthday he ever had, which was interesting because we’ve gone all out to throw some fun parties! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-and-holiday-covid-friendly-ideas#post-2918724 Tue, 01 Sep 2020 13:55:09 +0000 milano14 2918724@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have done Kudoboards for both of my boy's birthdays. I think I got the idea from a HB board.<br /> Anyway, it's a great way for all of the messages, pictures and videos to be gathered in one place from friends and family. They can be watched over and over again (which they both did!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-and-holiday-covid-friendly-ideas#post-2918720 Tue, 01 Sep 2020 10:40:45 +0000 Mommy Finger 2918720@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When DS2 turned 5, we gave him a "yes day" instead of a party. We had someone put a balloon installation thing in the front yard and chalked our driveway. We put balloons in his room and decorated the first floor of our house. We also hid his gifts around the house so he would have to find them. Since he only turned 5, he couldn't get into too much trouble on his Yes Day but that basically meant that he picked what we ate for our meals and what movie we watched when we needed to spend some time inside b/c it was HOT outside. We went to a park and he wanted to build an "epic fort" in our basement. He helped decorate his own cake. We also had a short parade of his friends drive by. He loved it. </p> <p>DS1 is already planning his Yes Day for November. Since he's turning 8, there will be more rules! No, we won't just be playing video games all day. Ha! </p> <p>I was talking with my friend who's son is turning 8 soon and had heard of taking your kid to Target and letting them pick out their own presents. Whatever they can carry, they can get. Ok, limits there too as my kid could hold a lot of Switch games. :)</p> <p>Holidays are a bit trickier based on what you normally do. We will decorate like crazy for Halloween, which we haven't done in the past. We'll play trick or treating by ear. And while we have normally gone to a pumpkin patch, not sure how that will go yet.</p> <p>Christmas is still in the works. Depending on whether school is still in person or if it's virtual by then, we'll see if we are able to meet up with family or if it will just be the 4 of us. I can see people going nuts with lights this year so we'll do some drives.</p> <p>The one thing I've been thinking about it that while it's never a bad thing to create new traditions, I don't want to go crazy and set the bar super high and feel like I have to meet or exceed it every year. That will exhaust me. There will still be magic. I think what I will need to remind myself this year is that this is a great opportunity to simplify and focus on what truly matters. My kids will be fine. I put too much pressure on myself!!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-and-holiday-covid-friendly-ideas#post-2918656 Fri, 28 Aug 2020 15:14:57 +0000 BUNBUN 2918656@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS's birthday (4) is in October, and in addition to a household "party", I'm planning to hide his presents and do a (photo based) scavenger hunt for him. Basically take a photo of the next hiding spot he should look for and tape it to the gift.<br /> We will also facetime family, but I'm thinking of asking for mini-videos from friends and family because he loves watching them over and over.</p> <p>For Halloween, I'm planning to decorate our yard a bit more so DS can enjoy it (we usually just do pumpkins and luminarias up the driveway on Halloween night). If trick-or-treating is off the table, I'll hide candy in our yard like an Easter egg hunt. </p> <p>Thanksgiving I'm planning on taking the week off (I usually work that week but DS and DH have off) and do something with family photos at the table so that they feel more "present"</p> <p>Christmas is usually in our hometown (a flight away), and will be tough this year. I'd love to hear some ideas for the whole month.<br /> As in years past, we will "adopt" a family from our YMCA's gift tree.<br /> I'd like to look into options for supporting those who are food insecure as I'm sure there will be more school closures in our future and this is already a hard year for so many families.<br /> I probably won't feel comfortable going to our community tree lighting festival, so maybe we will do something more "official" when we decorate our house? or organize a physically distanced decoration walk around our block?<br /> We will drive around to look at lights, but that's hard from a car seat.<br /> If we can't visit family, we will probably facetime for presents, cookie decorating, tree decorating.<br /> I don't know what we will do for church, hoping our church will continue to post sermons online, but I will miss singing at Christmas..<br /> Maybe i can get a friend to dress up as Santa and facetime DS? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-and-holiday-covid-friendly-ideas#post-2918655 Fri, 28 Aug 2020 15:12:57 +0000 BUNBUN 2918655@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As a spin-off of the Holidays and Coronavirus post, I thought I'd start one to share some ideas to make birthdays and holidays special in spite of Covid-19 precautions. MIL is immunocompromised and we have a new baby, so our "bubble" is just our household right now.</p> <p>Looking forward to reading your ideas! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/valentines-day-traditions#post-2871950 Thu, 14 Feb 2019 02:24:41 +0000 pounce-a-lot 2871950@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do take out pizza and beer. Root beer for the kid. We've been doing this since our first Valentines when we were just dating. 4 years ago, I was in the hospital on Valentine’s Day after having a baby and he brought me a slice of pizza and sparkling cider to keep the tradition alive. </p> <p>It was awesome as I was pretty out of it and was not expecting it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/valentines-day-traditions#post-2871219 Sun, 10 Feb 2019 10:56:50 +0000 QBbride 2871219@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We usually do heart shaped pizzas too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/valentines-day-traditions#post-2870940 Fri, 08 Feb 2019 10:21:59 +0000 808love 2870940@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for this thread! Great ideas! I'm going to tell DH to get LO flowers and I just put up the first heart in a week leading up to Valentine's. #day1of7 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/valentines-day-traditions#post-2870910 Fri, 08 Feb 2019 01:35:05 +0000 poppygirl15 2870910@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MountainBaby: That is the CUTEST idea! I am totally going to do that starting this weekend. </p> <p>Like others, I try have all of their food be in the shape of a heart or otherwise themed. </p> <p>Kids both get handmade cards from me and a gift (usually small, but bigger this year because those are the gifts I thought of....ah well). Dad buys DD (6) flowers and I might suggest a balloon for DS (2.5) so he doesn't feel left out. My husband and I do practically nothing for each other since we both have birthdays coming up. I'll get him some candy and he'll get me some flowers. Simple. I like celebrating it as a day of love (but not necessarily romantic love), which is how I was raised. </p> <p>Oh, and kids wear Valentine's Day clothes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/valentines-day-traditions#post-2870898 Thu, 07 Feb 2019 22:40:33 +0000 Corduroy 2870898@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MountainBaby: I totally forgot that I did this last year. I think it will have more impact this year now that DD is learning to read and DS is interested in copying his sister. I did it for DH on the sliding door to our closet. His have been up all year! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/valentines-day-traditions#post-2870887 Thu, 07 Feb 2019 19:25:17 +0000 wrkbrk 2870887@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@QueensBee: Uncreative over here. Heart pancakes for breakfast (with chocolate chips!) and a small gift for DS. Plus he makes cards for his school friends and both sets of grandparents. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/valentines-day-traditions#post-2870884 Thu, 07 Feb 2019 19:06:15 +0000 MsMini 2870884@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do heart shaped pizza (the kids LOVE it) I buy them each a little gift (stuffy, cute shirt something like that) we decorate a bit as well (like I am making a felt heart banner to hang off our mantel). We usually make a special dessert or decorate cookies a day or 2 before as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/valentines-day-traditions#post-2870879 Thu, 07 Feb 2019 17:45:50 +0000 jhd 2870879@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We try to do a fun dinner as a family. We used to always do heart shaped pizzas, but we may change it up to pancakes or something similar. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/valentines-day-traditions#post-2870878 Thu, 07 Feb 2019 17:31:05 +0000 MountainBaby 2870878@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Full disclosure, I haven't done it, but I love this idea I found online. Every day for the (week, two weeks) before valentine's day put a construction paper heart with something you love about your chid on their door. so sweet :) but may be better once they can read.</p> <p>Growing up my dad brought my sister and I each a small bouquet of tulips. We loved it and made us feel very special. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/valentines-day-traditions#post-2870874 Thu, 07 Feb 2019 16:40:50 +0000 hitchhiker 2870874@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Years ago I bought a set of valentines dishes, so we have all of our meals that day on heart plates or in heart bowls. I also always get them an article of clothing as a gift. My mom did that for me and for some reason I have very found memories of it, even though I am not really a gift person. </p> <p>@erinbaderin: I love the idea of heart pancakes for dinner! I might steal that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/valentines-day-traditions#post-2870869 Thu, 07 Feb 2019 15:38:56 +0000 purplelilac 2870869@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do heart pancakes and the kids make their own valentines (old school style) using construction paper, stickers, etc. Having a 6 yes and 4 yr old make their own cards takes a while, so it lets us enjoy the holiday for the first 2 weeks of February. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/valentines-day-traditions#post-2870832 Thu, 07 Feb 2019 11:57:36 +0000 Autumnmama79 2870832@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@QueensBee: One year I bought three small square canvases and some pink/red/purple paint. We used those colours to create our own paintings and then hung them up as a series :heart: </p>