This post is sponsored by Frito-Lay Variety Packs. All opinions are my own.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! I’m so excited that the holidays are here, I love the crisp cool weather, the looming chance of snow and the smell of pine in my house as we countdown the days we have left in the year.
I know I’m not alone when I say I always aim to make the winter holidays special for my kids. I have always loved creating traditions and fun memories all year long, but especially during the winter holidays.
In fact, according to a recent Frito-Lay Variety Packs poll, “Over half (55%) of parents feel pressured to make their kid(s) winter holidays special.” My goal is to work on decreasing the number of gifts I purchase for them and replace them with actual experiences they will remember forever. Give me a staycation in a snowy cabin over mountains of toys any day! (I’ll pack the snacks!)
My dream is that one day we can forego gifts altogether and instead pack our bags for a holiday vacation every year, but until then here are some of the ideas I have for making this holiday season a memorable one:
Leavenworth Day Trip
Leavenworth is a really wonderful Bavarian village about two hours east of Seattle. It is decked out in holiday lights every year and there is a small sledding hill for the kids to slide down. I’ve always wanted to take my kids during the holidays and this year will be our year.
Cookies and Gingerbread Houses!
What are the holidays without a few baking sessions to prepare for the big guy. I need my house to smell like sugar cookies, gingerbread (and pine) all season long.
Ice Skating
I love taking the kids ice skating because we do not get a ton of snow every year and a trip to the ice skating rink always provides that winter ambiance I’m looking for.
Inner Tubing at Snoqualmie
I think I say this every year, but I really want to fly down the side of a mountain on inner tubes with my kids. We need to make this happen this year!
Puzzles and Movies
Pat always has a puzzle going on the dining room table during the holidays. It’s fun to pop on our favorite holiday movies and give him a hand.
Holiday Light Adventure
We are always on the hunt for some amazing holiday light displays. At this point, we have our favorites we love to visit. Zoo Lights, Wild Waves, an outdoor park drive-thru, a botanical garden, and a few local neighborhoods never disappoint.
What holiday traditions will be keeping you busy this year?
This post is sponsored by Frito-Lay Variety Packs. All opinions are my own.
S Club Mama says
Gah! How didn’t your kids get so big while you have not aged in 10 years?!?!
John Holton says
I wish I had more experiences and fewer gifts over the years.
We have a similar town in the mountains, Helen, Georgia. It had been the site of a textile mill which closed (leaving nearly everyone out of work), and they decided, since they had all this beautiful scenery, to turn the town into a Tyrolean village.