I love to sing along to anything and everything, especially Christmas Carols. Can I carry a tune? No. But what I lack in talent, I make up for in volume. My philosophy is that the louder I sing, the less likely people will notice if I’m completely off-key. Each year, KCFM publishes its own book of Christmas songs, which I use to my full advantage for neighborhood sing-alongs or caroling. Last year, a group of us went caroling around the halls of Kern Medical, and it has to be one of my top five holiday memories. Not only did the hospital staff and patients feel the spirit of love, but we did as well. I plan on making this an annual tradition, complete with the KCFM songbook in hand.

If you ask me which holiday song is my favorite, I really don’t have one that stands out, but if you ask me which singer I listen to the most during the holiday season, it will always be Elvis Presley. Once November hits, I keep my playlist on a tight rotation of Elvis’ Christmas renditions in his rich, velvety tone.

Another one of my cold-weather favorites is a mug of hot chocolate topped with marshmallows. Julie Willis agrees, except hers is a vegan hot chocolate option that she orders through Amazon. In her Humor at Home article, “Treats, Transitions & Total Guesswork,” on page 38, she writes about how different types of splurges are suitable for various life stages – from coffees in college to ordering McDonald’s fries from the drive-thru just for her.

Congratulations to the team here at KCFM for winning big at the national Parenting Media Association conference in Chicago. Our magazine took home five silver awards: two in design and three in editorial. Judged from submissions from parenting publications nationwide, these awards celebrate excellence, and we couldn’t be prouder!

Special thanks to this year’s Happy Mamas for supporting KCFM and making our community a better place. In the article, “Parenting in a Nutshell: 2025 Parenting PSAs Roundup,” Callie Collins reaches out to each of our moms featured monthly in her recurring column to provide a collective snapshot of parenting wisdom. To read all of their parenting nuggets, turn to page 30.

Among December’s many celebrations, Pretend to Be a Time Traveler Day on the 8th stands out for sparking young readers’ imagination. In Andrea Rose’s article, “Back to the Future… and Beyond!” on page 29, she recommends fun, time-twisting stories like The Magic School Bus in the Time of Dinosaurs and The Timekeepers: First Flight.

This Holiday Season, as you’re in the middle of all the hustle and bustle, don’t forget to belt out, at the top of your lungs, any and all Christmas Carols. And remember my plan: the louder you sing, the less likely people will realize if you hit all of the wrong notes. As Buddy the Elf says, “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.”

Happy Holidays!!!