Gather · Christmas planning
Christmas Planning in November: Why I'm Shopping Secondhand First
Shopping thoughtfully, finding a good deal, and making a little more room for December.
Read the storyRight There, Right Here
The places we go,
the ways we gather,
and the life happening at home.
A little planning for the season we're in.
November / 2026
Gather · Christmas planning
Planning Christmas in October
Missed it? The lists and conversations that come before the shopping.
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Home · Kids & teens
Raising a Kid Who Learns by Doing: When Curiosity Takes Over
From fishing to building things: following what actually interests them.
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Travel · Winter places
Yellowstone in winter
Snowcoaches, road closures and keeping kids warm enough to enjoy it.
Read the storyThe Heart of Right There, Right Here
Preparing for where we're going, without missing where we are.
The purpose of planning
Plan Enough to Let Go.
I believe in preparing enough to feel comfortable, but not so much that the plan becomes the experience. Traveling with four children has taught me that the better I prepare for the things I can control, the easier it becomes to let go of the things I can't. Yellowstone has been our family's practice ground for this—teaching us to embrace the unpredictable, find comfort in a little discomfort, and appreciate the moments we never could have planned.
The reason behind it all
For the Moments in Between.
In a world where so much of our attention is spoken for, I want to create more opportunities for my children to simply be kids. To get outside, be curious, use their imaginations, and experience something beyond a screen. But it doesn't have to happen in Yellowstone. It can happen around the dinner table, beside a river, or on an ordinary afternoon at home. Because the point was never just getting our children out into the world. It was making sure we were right there with them when they experienced it.
At the table · November
Good food. One less thing to figure out.
This month's food read: how we plan meals for our family when we're away from our own kitchen.
Right there · Yellowstone
Yellowstone, heading into winter.
Seasons · Start here
Thinking about Yellowstone this winter?
Start with our seasonal guide to Yellowstone: what changes, what to plan around and where to go next.
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Winter · Plan ahead
Winter packing starts before the snow.
Now is a good time to check layers, boots and the things the kids have outgrown — before you're trying to pack for the cold.
Read the storyHere comes the twinkly stuff
Gather
When Growing Up Makes You Hold a Little Tighter to Childhood
My daughter is sixteen this Christmas. She's reaching for independence—and, in ways I didn't expect, reaching back for the tangible pieces of childhood too.
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Gather
Christmas Gifts for a 16-Year-Old Girl Who Wants Life to Feel a Little More Real
Fewer, more personal gifts for a teenager in her analog era — and a few that aren't things at all.
Read the storyFrom the journal
More stories to settle into.
Gather
More Than Pumpkins: Making the Most of Fall
Sometimes all you need is a pumpkin patch, something warm to eat, and a reason to stay outside a little longer.
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Gather
Our Family's Go-To Chili
One batch. Five delicious meals. An easy Instant Pot chili with beef, beans and lentils.
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Gather
Three Cozy Fall Soups That Get Our Family Through Busy Nights
Two freezer favorites, one 30-minute family recipe, and a little breathing room.
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Travel
3 Days in Yellowstone: A Simple Family Itinerary
A few anchors each day, simple meals and room to stop.
Read the storyTravel
Yellowstone in Winter: What to Pack So Nobody Is Cold & Cranky
Layers, boots, the day bag and the kid stuff that actually helps.
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Travel
What to Reserve in Yellowstone (and When)
The handful of bookings worth putting on the calendar early.
Read the storyStay in touch
Letters from the road.
Trip notes, packing lists and the things we learned the hard way — sent when there's something genuinely useful to share.
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