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Home » Play Ideas » My Nature Journal

5 of My Personal Holiday Favorites

One of the pitfalls of a park website is much less readers when the weather is cold or at times when lots of family activities take us away from our normal routine.  That's a good thing!!  I revert to my childhood habit of goofing off when I think no one's looking.  (That photo of my and my oldest is from when he was 1 year old and we visited Whistler, B.C.) So how about I just spread some good cheer?

  1. My favorite holiday songs: Song for a Winter's Night (Sarah McLachlan), The Gift (Jim Brickman), Christmas Time (Lo-Watt), White Christmas (The Drifters), and Baby, It's Cold Outside (Dean Martin).
  2. My favorite holiday chores: baking for my neighbors and friends and delivering holiday cards.
  3. My favorite gifts: receiving cards and photos in the mail from friends near and far, the monthly themed shopping list notepads from Mom, personalized photo calendar from Sis, homemade goodies, special presents and cards from the kids.
  4. My favorite traditions: our annual evening out with my Dad and sis (Mom used to wrap presents, now she takes out the husbands and grandkids for their own special night), German food with homemade Spaetzle on Christmas Eve, the husbands rearranging the reindeer place card holders at the holiday table, Christmas Eve family nature outing, and sitting around the table after dinner with those crazy crowns from the holiday crackers.
  5. My favorite holiday blog post: 12 Days of Christmas from the Grass Stain Guru.

More My Nature Journal

  • Sharing My Mother's Mom-isms in Celebration of Mother's Day
  • Noguchi Gardens (California Scenario) in Costa Mesa
  • Practice 2 Simple Parenting Strategies and Never "Entertain" Your Young Kids Again
  • 10 Ways to Find New Places to Play

About Michele Whiteaker

Writer mom and nature guide promoting play and empowering families to prioritize outside time since 2008. Park information gathered through my personal experiences and provided as a FREE community resource to millions of Orange County families over the past 17 years via blog and social media. Subscribe to my FREE weekly email inspiring you with park tips and play ideas.

"The Park Lady"

My name is Michele Whiteaker and I'd love for you to think of me as your personal Play Concierge. When I used to search online for family-friendly activities, nothing quite fit my playful outdoor interests or tight budget.

More about me

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