Winter break can be fun but daunting. Daunting, as in, you still have to get some things done, and fun, as in, that was fun, but I’m glad it’s over. I feel ya! I thought I would put together a list of 15 of my favorite things to do on Winter Break to divide up some of the redundancy we find ourselves in. There is also a list of New Year’s places, events, and shows around the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.
I wish I could say we will check off all of this on our list, but here are at least 15 ideas when you need some! Many of these ideas involve destinations in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.
Although I know not everyone is here, you should have a local visitor’s website that breaks down events and local spots showing festivities. The Dallas/Ft. Worth area has so many things to do and see that it would be worth visiting. Check out some of the things happening!
1. Cook with the kids
It goes unsaid how much I like to cook, but I want to remind you that we will all have to cook at some point. Make it fun this Winter Break and have the kids help. Once they start helping, they get the hang of things, aren’t as much of a mess, and understand how it works. Plus, PBS reminds me to include the kids for the importance of generational cooking 😅.
Here is a list of kid-friendly recipes I like to do with the kids (especially during Winter Breaks).
Spicy Garlic and Cheese Alpabete Pasta
Have them help assemble Charred Carne Asada and Pineapple Kabobs…kids love eating off a stick 😁
Cherry Sopapilla Cheesecake (this one is one of my most popular recipes!)
Finally, Sheet Cake NOT cake Brownies…they are a lot like the Little Debbie’s cosmic brownies.
2. Bake-off
Get together with the group and see what they are interested in making. If no respose or if you get the blank stare from your teenager…this means you get to pick it. I still don’t know what the stares mean, but they always start to gather when they smell the smells of fresh baked cookies.
A good Bake-off this Winter Break is a great competitive way to end and start the year between siblings. Plus, they can do the work, and you just have to guide!
3. Turn the Wifi off
We discovered on our Wifi Modem that if you download the app…you can choose to name the network. You can also divide the network into Parents and Little Nuggets. Keep the Parents wifi active and turn off the Little Nuggets Network if you need. You will never see your kids running out of their rooms so fast in your life. Keep calm, panick may happen. Have smells prepared. (Meaning, have cookies started and almost ready to decorate 😉- all about the tactics!)
4. Christmas light Drives
This never gets old! I love to go see Christmas lights! Even more, I love seeing beautiful houses and dream about my next house. Although I love my house and every part of it…I also love being able to stop and look at others. Is this creepy?
One of my favorite places to go is Highland Park in Dallas. So many great sites to see while you are there and there’s not an ugly shrub in the neighborhood. Everyone dreams about living in Highland Park…it’s dreamy.
Here is a link to fantastic light shows around the Dallas/Ft. Worth area that are noteworthy and simply unforgettable. I know first hand, the drives are worth it! They should stay up until the New Year.
5. Childish Games.
Keep with the traditional or make a new one. I usually am more likely to be playing games ON my kids rather than with them. Although I love to play a good Candy Land rivalry here-and-there, I can only do so much.
So I am usually hiding behind corners to scare my next victim. I also like to jump under their sheets when they get out of them in the morning, pull covers over my head, and rise up like a mummy once they start walking in the room. I have overheard one too many “bro, no way” conversations on the phone doing this. It was scary for me 🙈👀.
By all means, you have my permission to act a fool this Season. It’s for a good cause.
5. Movies
This is an obvious one…who isn’t going to watch movies during Winter Break? Your a crazy person if not… and did you know that Chip and Joanna Gaines have never owned a Television in their home? I don’t know if they are monsters or geniuses….or psychopaths now that I think about it.
My favorite movies are White Christmas, Home Alone, and Christmas with the Krank’s. Classic ‘90s but I can’t help myself. My husband says his is Die Hard, but I’m still trying to figure out how it became a Christmas movie.
Personally, I can’t watch the same movies over and over. So, I asked the best resources I could (artsy and smartsy friends of mine) who told me a must-watch-list:
- A Bad Mom’s Christmas (rated #1 MUST see)
- Rise of The Guardians
- Arthur Christmas
- Nestor the Christmas Donkey
- Star of Bethleham
- Red One
- Noelle
- Love Actually
- The Nutcracker and The Four Realms
- Spirited (Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds)
So many options…picking is the worst!
6. Parks in unusual places.
This is fun. I usually pick a part of town that is bustling with Winter and New Year spirit and go join the fun for a couple hours. For example, Klyde-Warren Park which is in the center of Downtown Dallas (literally on top of a highway) with food vendors and a parks for kids of all ages.
This is great when everyone is starting to get a little antsy at home. I do preplan so I don’t end up in traffic and having to apologize for mine (and their) dead eyes/exhaustion look.
7. Arts and Crafts
This is usually where I jump on Pinterest, but sometimes I end up doing something that may actually be impossible or just frustrating. Joann’s has a TON of trending project ideas that are thourough and simple…plus they are usually great to keep for each season.
This can be a something they can even stay occupied while you work. Bring the vaccuum once they are done.
Check with your local LIBRARY for small craft projects. They are great about small crafts that match the book your reading, which helps reading comprehension and keeps them occupied. Great for 2-6 year olds.
8. Read a Scary Book together
I like doing this (not before bed) but later in the evening. At some point the littles will make a tent somewhere and it is the perfect place to read a book together. My go-to book is The Nightmare Before Christmas (a short version), Goosebumps-12 screams of Christmas, and The Grumpus.
Some of these you can get on Audible to make things easier. I LOOOVe Audible. It is on in the car, and home —for them and me!
9. Build together
Thinking of letting my kids help with a home project sounds like an anxiety-ridden situation. Simple projects like painting, or decorating can really be a memorable moment especially for girls.
It’s funny how they just want to be with you —no matter what you are doing.
10. reading Challenges
Your local library or school will have a winter reading challenge ready to go. Check your kiddos grade level and everyone can participate in reading everyday. I love a good down- time, ah.
11.Winter Games
Outside may be cold, but as you start to get active, things warm up quick. Get a football game or bean bag toss game going and your kids wil never forget it. A bow and arrow (if even suction cups) would be a blast as well. There is 45,000 minute-to-win it games on Pinterest that luckily includes staples around the house.
12. Arboretums / winter Wonderlands
In Dallas we are so fortunate to have the Dallas Arboretum. They have an extensive show of the 12 days of Christmas. Wether Christmas has passed or not, it is so beautiful and worth the trip. Being a flower lover, the Arboretum is one of my favorite destinations. Peaceful in so many ways.
Check with your local newspaper or guide with any fun Christmas adventures. They are all over Dallas. Grapevine states they are the “Christmas captial of Texas” including shows, events, The Polar Express, and more. Frisco has great productions as well.
13. New Year’s Eve Events
Just about anywhere in the town will be an event, from Speakeasy’s (like High & Tight in Deep Ellum and the Midnight Rambler at the Joule Hotel Downtown Dallas) with passwords to enter and Monte Carlo/Gatsby (at the Pegesus Brewery) type parties these will not fail you!
Here are a list of Dallas’ Speakeasys and how to enter!!
14. New Years Fireworks
These will be everywhere but here’s what I would recommend: Addison, Reunion Tower, Frisco, Fair Park or Grapevine. Make sure to grab a good parking space by getting their early…the key is packing a yummy dinner and enjoy tailgating or having a picnic while watching the night sky sparkle in excitement.
If you want to get up close and personal, I recommend the Dallas or Ft. Worth Zoo. They lights feel magical when you are surrounded by them.
15. New Year’s stay at home ideas:
- #1 MOST FAVORITE thing to do if we are at home with the kids is have a glow party! This is genius because you can have a coctail and not lose your kids either. Like having a lit-up air-tag! Outfit each one in glow gear and not only will you always be able to find them, but hey are having a ball! (my good friend gave me this idea from her party…they are the smartest people I know.)
- Classic scavenger hunt. Themes like events over the year or some of their favorite things like mickey themed or unicorn themed is to keep their attention and exhaust them at the same time.
- S’more’s and bonfires: this is a standard for us every year. We grab sparklers and pop rockets, then s’mores over a fire —no matter how big or little we can make it.
There is so much To do…Life is too Short
I can’t wait to discover all these things and see what y’all do too! If you think of it, tag me in your Insta posts. Love y’all!
Lisa