Surviving Holiday Break :: A Holiday Bucket List

By day 2 of the week long Thanksgiving break, my children were bouncing off the walls and my nerves were beyond shot. My kids were bored and kept on asking what we were doing every day. I guess the piles of toys, the outdoor play equipment and their good ole’ imagination weren’t enough to keep them entertained for more than 20 minutes. I felt like the week was forever long and not only my patience, but also my wallet was running thin. I decided I needed a loose game plan filled of ideas to keep them entertained for their 2 and a half week break during the upcoming holidays.magical

Here is my Holiday Bucket List

Cookie Decorating: A few days leading up to Christmas day, we always do a day of baking. I have to try my hardest and not let my OCD side come out when my youngest attempts to dump an entire bottle of sprinkles on one teeny tiny cookie. We invite some family members over, bake a ton of sugar cookies, and do some decorating while jamming to some of the greatest holiday tunes.

Light Tour: We have some fantastic light displays around the city. We start off by making some hot cocoa (or let’s be honest, driving through Starbucks) and then heading over to Lafrienere Park for their driving tour. We then drive in and out of neighborhoods and look at the beautiful decorations.

Shopping for siblings: Each year I take each boys shopping solo to purchase for the other. I set a reasonable limit, and we head off to buy something special. We head to the $1 spot in Target, purchase our items and then I let them wrap the present. While the wrapping can be quite comical, they truly enjoy shopping for their brother and it’s a very sweet gesture.

Holiday Movie Day: There is no lack of holiday movies on TV right now. Look ahead and set up your DVR to catch some of the jolliest shows your crew likes and get ready for a fun day. My boys favorites are Elf and Home Alone. Stay in your PJ’s, pop some popcorn and put on the TV. Have a relaxing time and order in some pizza to make it a stress free day.

Ice Skating: Yes, you read that right! Ice skating will be taking place this year at the Audubon Zoo. How neat is that? You can check out all the information here.

Playdate at Palm Tree Playground: Over the break my kids can get a bit bored with each other, so why not ask some school or neighborhood friends for a play date? Decide on a time and head over to Palm Tree Playground, and the kids can get their sillies out with their friends while you can have some chit chat time with your mom friends!

Give Back: It can be as simple as going through your kids old toys and donating or clothes and donating them. You can also volunteer at a soup kitchen, make a meal for a neighbor in need or donate items to a local charity like Children’s Hospital New Orleans or Ronald McDonald House.

Celebrate Noon Years Eve: Counting down to the new year is always an exciting time and Noon Years Eve at the Audubon Zoo is a super fun event. We have attended the past few years and it is always a fun time. This is a family fun event that everyone can enjoy.

How will you be surviving the holiday break? Please share your ideas in the comments below!

Mary Olivio
Mary is a caffeine addicted boy mom to Noah, Liam and Luke. This “stay at home” mom can typically been found cruising in her minivan, jamming to Beyonce with a Starbucks in hand on her way to carpool or after school activities. Mary has been married to her high school sweetheart since 2007. She is a founder of Delivering Hope NOLA and the Vanessa Wolff Scholarship Fund at her Alma Mater. Mary is passionate in the local preemie community and has been heavily involved with the March of Dimes since her sons Liam and Luke were born premature.

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