The holidays will pass by before we know it as we run around attending parties and potlucks, shop for gifts, and decorate our homes in pine cones and reindeer. This Christmas, I say we all vow to slow down and indulge in the sweetness of family and those small moments we create each day. Last night, on the eve of the feast day of St. Nicholas my family shared in one of those moments by enjoying the Christmas atmosphere we created in our home.

After dinner, my husband started a fire in the hearth while I presented Evie with a new pair of Christmas pajamas to wear. After all, it was the night before St. Nick’s Day. It’s German tradition to put stockings out the night before the feast day of St. Nicholas and in the morning your stocking will be filled with little toys and treats, or a lump of coal if you’ve been naughty! I grew up with this tradition and have thus carried it on in my own household, since even before Evelyn was born and it was just my husband and I. 

We threw blankets and over-sized pillows near the Christmas tree, put Christmas pajamas and music on, and indulged in family time with dessert. I poured Jeremy and I glasses of Kemps Golden Eggnog and scooped bowls of Kemps Moosetracks Peppermint Bark ice cream for each of us to enjoy. Evelyn had her own bowl, licked it clean, and then helped me finish mine as well. She even managed to steal a scoop of my husband’s after I had cleaned her all up! 

The thing to remember with any family moment is they can’t all be perfect, and those unplanned moments are what makes the memories stand out even more. As we were cleaning up our bowls, my husband got up to tend to the fire. He turned around and tripped over our tray of eggnog, knocking it all over our cozy blankets! He looked up at me, and I looked at him, there was a moment of panic, and then we busted out laughing! We were all laughing and cleaning up eggnog together. It was quite the spectacle! 

We finished our evening by trimming the tree and making sure our stockings were hung with the hopes that they would be filled with goodies the next day. I loved watching Evie gather a handful of ornaments she just couldn’t part with and had to take them up to bed with her. Two car ornaments from Jeremy’s childhood, a sleeping puppy from mine, and a wooden reindeer with a broken leg. Her very own collection of Christmas keepsakes.Last night, we created a family memory I’ll always cherish.

I want to help your family indulge in sweet moments this Christmas season, so I’ve teamed up with Kemps to have a sweet treats giveaway so that you too can enjoy holiday novelties that only come around this time of year.

Which Kemps novelty is your favorite?! Check out the Kemps website by clicking here and then comment on this post with the treat you most want to indulge in for a chance to win one of five $5 coupons for any Kemps novelties. Can’t wait to see all the favs below! Enter the giveaway by Tuesday, December 20, 2016.* Here’s the link to all the yummy goodness one more time. Try it for yourself!

*Winners will be notified via email after the contest has ended and must reply within 48 hours to claim their prize. SUGAR MAPLE notes is not responsible for prize fulfillment. Coupons are redeemable at any store carrying Kemps Ice Cream products.

Check out Kemps Twitter and Facebook pages for even more sweet promotions!