Week 10: Christmastime
We like getting in the mood for Christmas by attending events around town. We do a little research and schedule the more cost-effective options. Some of the events can get a bit pricey so we pick and choose what we feel is worth attending. Leading up to Christmas we attend Uptown Ankeny’s Champagne and Mistletoe with treats, drinks and checking out the shops of uptown. Similarly, we like to explore the East Village in Des Moines at the Holiday Promenade, which includes an ice sculptor and tree lighting at the skating plaza. We missed this one this year while we were in Europe, but will be sure to attend next year. We also really enjoyed the Ankeny Mayor’s Tree Lighting this year. All of these events are free along with the library’s Santa and Mrs. Claus visit where the real Santa (according to the boys, and who is a better expert than kids?) takes requests and kids can listen to stories, explore, and do crafts. The other must-do events on our list are a Breakfast with Santa and the Santa Express. Our Breakfast with Santa has changed locations a few times over the years, but we’ve landed on a pretty great one at Center Grove Orchard. The food is hearty and delicious. There are horse drawn carriage and train rides. They have end of the season apples and products on sale and of course there’s the visit with Santa and Rudolph. The Santa Express is something we have been doing for many years. We all wear pajamas, sing carols, eat cookies and drink hot cocoa on the way to the North Pole where Santa gets on the train and hands out bells to all of the kids. It’s pretty magical. We have a lot of traditions around Christmas, making treats for our neighbors, classroom parties, celebrating with our families. Christmas eve we have pasta soup, attend the candlelight service, drive around town to look at Christmas lights, candy cane icecream. Christmas morning we open gifts, have egg casserole, butter braid, and mimosas. It’s important to us to spend the day as a family putting together gifts, playing games, and watching Christmas movies. These traditions will be memories for our family for years to come and we hope some can continue with our boys’ families as well. Happy Holidays to you and the memories you make all year.
