Editor's Note, Winter 2025

The nice thing about living in a growing community is that opportunity is everywhere. Local families often share how much they enjoy the family-friendly activities as well as the strong sense of connection here. As a bonus—there’s snow in the mountains!

For many parents, though, the winter sports scene can be daunting. Life for my kids certainly looked different from my experiences growing up in a big southern city. No ski lessons there! In this issue, we’ve been on a mission to find all the local snow sports programs for kids. While some children thrive on competition, others simply enjoy the fun of getting outdoors in the snow.
If you feel your kids are falling into a screen-time rut, maybe this winter is the perfect time to try a digital detox. When everyone agrees to unplug, the focus shifts and you might discover some new favorite family activities.

Speaking of discoveries—before you dive into the holiday shopping, why not stop by one of the many local thrift stores? Whether you’re looking for an ugly Christmas sweater or that perfect thing you didn’t know you needed, you’re sure to have some fun on the hunt.
This winter, take a good look at your garage. If it’s overflowing with unused stuff and you can park elsewhere, why not turn that space into a playroom for the kids? Nicole Blume shares some practical ideas for making the transformation.

The holidays are a wonderful time for homemade gifts—so check out our Kids Corner for some DIY ideas. When it comes to holiday meals, we’ve got the intel. Some dishes freeze beautifully and are real lifesavers when you’re feeding a crowd. See our holiday make-ahead plan in Family Time.
Consult the Nest calendar for endless, festive events and, finally, don’t miss our interview with Kat Mastrangelo, Executive Director of Volunteers in Medicine, as she shares her thoughts on parenting and leading this incredible nonprofit.

May the season be filled with laughter and joy—Happy Holidays!

This article appears in BendNest Winter 2025.