Be Merry Bucket List

My goal for this holiday season is to “be merry” and enjoy every moment I get to spend with family and friends. Here are some of my top “must dos” for this holiday season! Also check out Jana’s Christmas Bucket List from last year.

North Pole Express: This is an absolute must for our family. We rode on the North Pole Express at the Essex Steam Train last year for the first time and it quickly became our family favorite holiday activity. With lots of singing and dancing, hot chocolate and cookies, meeting Mr. & Mrs. Claus, and magic in the air, it forces you to be merry and get in the holiday spirit.

Decorate the Tree: We have decorated our Christmas tree on the day after Thanksgiving for so many years now that it has officially become a tradition that I look forward to. It’s a great way to spend “Black Friday” away from the stores. Add a roaring fire in the fireplace, a mug of hot cocoa, some holiday music, and you won’t be able to help but be merry. My daughter helped decorate the tree last year and I can’t wait for a repeat this year.

Bake and Decorate Cookies: Whether the cookies are from scratch or we just use cookie cutters on premade dough and decorate them, a fun time will be had by all. Original Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies are my favorite to make from scratch.

Crafting: I LOVE being crafty and there is nothing better than homemade ornaments and holiday decor! My daughter also loves arts and crafts, so this will be a win for everyone. I’m hoping to make Reindeer Thumbprint Ornaments and Baby’s First Ornament using Emmy’s hat and bracelet (and when Baby #2 is born, I hope to do the same!). I think after 2.5 years, it’s about time that her hat and bracelet are made into a keepsake rather than stored in a box! The reindeer thumbprint ornaments would make great gifts too.

Pictures with Santa: This is a must do on any holiday bucket list! We will be visiting Santa at The Westfield Trumbull.

Watch Christmas Movies: I’ll be the first to admit that our family loves watching movies and TV. Mainly, because we love snuggling up on the couch while we do it! Every year, I try to add another classic movie to our collection. Our family favorites are Elf, Fred Claus, Home Alone…. actually, let me be honest – I haven’t found a Christmas movie that I didn’t like and I could go on forever because I love all of them! Does anyone else feel this way!? Surprisingly, I’ve never watched A Christmas Story, so it’s on my  list to watch this year. Since we will have a newborn around Christmas, I’m sure we will get in plenty of snuggle time on the couch watching Christmas movies!

Read Christmas Books: I can’t wait to break out all the holiday books that we’ve collected and start reading them to my daughter.

ELF ON THE SHELF: I couldn’t wait to have kids and be able to participate in Elf on the Shelf. Last year was the first time that we put our elf out (named Ella). My daughter had lots of fun looking for Ella every morning year last  and I can’t wait to see how much enjoyment she gets out of it this year, since she’s a year older and loves to be able to be the first to find something (as she proudly proclaims – “Emmy found it”!)

Build a Snowman: We have a Snowman Kit on hand so that we are ready at anytime to build a snowman! No snow? Try one of these snowman crafts! Too cold out? Try one of these snowed-in activities!

Be Present and Capture the Memories: Self-explanatory. Enjoy great times with friends and family.

In case the activities above don’t keep us busy, there are so many other local events, such as:

• Breakfast with Frosty at the Beardsley Zoo
• The Nutcracker at Ridgefield Playhouse
• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical at The Stamford Palace Theater
• Fairfield Museum Holiday Express Train Show
• Fairfield Christmas Tree Festival
• Greenwich Reindeer Festival

What are your family’s favorite holiday activities to be merry throughout the season?