Nothing says the holidays like traveling through the busy airports. Families fumbling through the security lines and hoping that no major meltdowns happen on the plane.
After a recent trip to visit family, I took the opportunity to make a list of all the situations I encountered and share my tips with the OC Moms.
Delayed flights, crying babies on the plane, and long security lines.
This year, make sure you are one step ahead with some useful mom tips for traveling with the kids.
I use to have a beautiful Christmas tree decorated in snowflakes, glass balls in shades of blue and green, silver icicles, and seashells. That all changed when I became a mom 8 years ago. I still have the beautiful ornaments – packed away in a plastic bin – and someday I will hang them on the tree again.
Until that day, my tree will be decorated with childhood favorites from Disney to Star Wars and whatever else my son wants to hang on the tree. Don’t worry, I still manage to sneak a few of my favorites on the tree too.
My families five favorite ornaments. (well, six, there was a tie)
Can you guess which ones are my favorite?
Anyone can visit Santa at the mall – Why not visit the jolly man at the North Pole this year?
Irvine Park Railroad has been transformed into a winter wonderland. Start in Santa’s Village with some cookie decorating and stories with Mrs. Claus – then board the train for a magical ride directly to the North Pole.
Dylan and I went last week and had so much fun. He loved decorating sugar cookies.
The train ride is my favorite part. The park is so beautiful at night with all the lights. You forget you are in a park and feel like you really are traveling to the North Pole.
And before you know it, Santa is welcoming you with open arms.
Make sure you bring your wish list with you … but in all the excitement you forget … don’t worry because Santa knows everything. He even knew that Dylan wanted Legos for Christmas!
All the details, including pricing and hours can be found here.
While at the park, don’t forget to visit the Orange County Zoo and wish the animals a Merry Christmas too! The zoo is decorated in holiday cheer and has this great picture spot by the waterfall at the entrance.
Christmas shopping can seem like a difficult task for many people, but for a single parent – sometimes impossible. Finding the time to go shopping without the child takes some serious planning. Strategy is key.
Those of you know me, know that I’m 100% girl. Not a tomboy – never have been. I grew up playing with Barbie and was one of those girls who put my makeup on after leaving the house. I quickly became an expert at applying eyeliner on the bumpy bus ride to middle school. I grew into a woman who loved makeup so much that I became a licensed esthetician and branded my own line of cosmetics for heaven sake.
Then I gave birth to a little boy and my world forever changed. I was introduced to Matchbox cars, snakes and bugs, little shoes covered in mud, and the almighty building block. From the time Dylan was 16 months old he was playing with these large plastic things, Mega Blocks, that seemed to entertain him.
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| December 2004 |
It didn’t take long until he was playing with LEGO Duplo and then it happened. I bought him a LEGO set when he was 4 years old and shortly after took him to LEGOLAND. I made my first exceedingly large purchase to the LEGO store when he was 6 years old. Not realizing what I had started – until I saw the excitement on my child’s face – and our world has never been the same.
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| December 2009 |
Wooden blocks? Yeah, he played with them at preschool but never really asked for them at home. Rather than build something with the blocks, he would sort them by shape. He had Lincoln Logs and those seemed good – for a little while anyway. He made fences for his animals and would build the log cabin.
Nothing held his attention longer than 30 minutes – that is until LEGO came into his life. I don’t even want to know how much I have spent on all the LEGO creations in his room, but how can I put a price on his happiness? (or the hours of silence I get when he is building)
I recently wrote an article for OC Moms about why building blocks are great gifts for kids and after doing some research I learned a lot about the different types of blocks that are available for children.
And over the years I have learned that the world of LEGO isn’t so bad – I actually like building with them – but don’t tell my son that. It might tarnish my reputation of being a girly-girl. I really hope that Santa brings him what he wants this year because I want to help build the Millennium Falcon!
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| 2011 Christmas Wish List LEGO |
What kind of building blocks do your kids play with?
Do they have a special LEGO set on their Christmas list?
As much as I love being a Mom at Christmas, there is that little part of me that still wishes I was a child for the month of December.
Writing a letter to Santa. The excitement and anticipation of sitting on Santa’s lap. Baking holiday cookies with my Mom and sneaking a cookie from the tray. Opening the little doors on an advent calendar to see what the elves had left for me.
Hanging the stockings and trying so hard to fall asleep on Christmas Eve – but the excitement of Christmas morning would take over my body and keep me tossing and turning in my bed. Hearing “if you don’t close your eyes and go to sleep Santa won’t come” only made me want to stay awake and see him for myself.
The sheer joy on a child’s face Christmas morning is something I wish I could bottle and save forever.
Sure, being a Mom I still get to participate in the excitement and anticipation – but it’s not the same. Especially this year. Dylan is now 8 years old and I fear it will be his last year believing.
Will Christmas still be as much fun and allow me to relive my childhood next year if he knows my personal relationship with Santa?
Will he be mad at me for not being 100% truthful?
For now I will enjoy the magic and the time I have. Because I still believe. Do you?
Dylan and I recently had the pleasure of attending a special holiday media preview at Heritage Hill Historical Park and we had such a great time. The entire park is lit up and decorated with holiday decor. Not just any decorations, but holiday decorations authentic to the 1800’s. It gave us both the opportunity to see how our parents and grandparents lived and celebrated the holidays.
Heritage Hill Historical Park is tucked away behind a shopping center in Lake Forest, so if you don’t know about you just might miss it … and that would a terrible thing because a visit here is like a history lesson, only much more fun!
Ever wonder what it was like to go to school in the 1800’s? You can visit the El Toro Grammar School (1890) and find out.
Dylan got a first hand look and even got to ring the school bell. Each blackboard has a different grade level written on it and and Dylan thought it was strange that all the desks were different sizes. I told him that all the kids were in the same classroom. He said, “what?”
One of my favorite buildings was St. George’s Episcopal Mission (1891). Just walking up the steps gave me a feeling of peace and when I walked through the doors it was surreal.
Something about this building struck me and I felt so connected. I could have sat in here for hours looking at the details of the handcrafted pews and wooden floors. The tree is decorated with candles and handmade crocheted snowflakes.
The beauty resonates from every corner of the mission.
Next stop was the Serrano Adobe (circa 1863) – this is the original building as it was built here. (The other buildings were brought here to save them from destruction) The Saddleback Valley and El Toro was once a thriving Mexican Ranch area.
The Harvey Bennett Ranch House (1903) takes you through the early citrus farming days. This is where I really felt at home because so many of the decorations and furnishings reminded me of my grandparents.
Now, what would a media event be without some special treats? Taco Maria and The Tailgate Truck were there with delicious food to fill our tummies and then it was time for dessert … Yum!
This was our first time tasting the delicious cupcakes and pushcakes from Meringue Bake Shop and Kristin did not disappoint. I will not lie, I had two cupcakes and a bite of Dylan’s puchcake.
Come celebrate the holidays at Heritage Hill Historical Park with your family at one of their annual events.
30th Annual Victorian Christmas – Dec. 3 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Enjoy holiday traditions with musical performers, local craft vendors, and food for purchase. Families will be able to churn butter, make hand-dipped candles, and decorate cookies with Mrs. Claus.
Candlelight Tour – Dec. 10 & 11 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Over 1,000 luminaries will light the buildings and pathways of the park. Holiday carolers, local musicians, storytellers, and other seasonal entertainment will make this an evening to remember. Santa will be here for the kids along with warm apple cider, hot cocoa, and homemade sweets.
The cost for each event is $4 for adults and $3 for kids (ages 3-12) Parking is free.
Heritage Hill Historical Park is located at 25151 Serrano Road, Lake Forest 92630
For more information visit www.ocparks.com/heritagehill/ or call 949-923-2230
It’s December and in my house that means it’s time to start making out that Christmas Wish List. The one time of year that you can ask for anything you want, no limitations, with the hopes that Jolly Old St. Nicholas will bring you what you asked for. The hopes that you have been good all year and stayed off the naught list fill your mind as you write out that letter to Santa.
As a single parent, I not only get to write my own Christmas Wish List, but I get to buy my own presents and wrap them too! How lucky am I?
You may be wondering why I do this. Well, Santa is big in my house and one year I didn’t have any presents under the tree from Santa. Dylan was about 3 years old and asked me if I was on the naughty list. I couldn’t have my child thinking I was bad, so every year after that I got presents under the tree and a stocking from Santa. This may be his last year “believing” … so I’m writing my best Christmas Wish List ever. Of course, I won’t be getting these things, but that’s why it’s called a wish list.
Dear Santa,
I have been a good girl all year long. I have made my bed and brushed my teeth every night. I took Dylan to LEGOLAND and the zoo. We even took three vacations this year – San Diego, Monterey, and we just got back from visiting my Dad in Lakeport. I work hard and don’t ask for much throughout the year. Please look over my list and bring me something special.
Yes, it’s that time of year again. The holidays are upon us and that means buying gifts for the people that are special in our lives.
Teachers are probably the most important people in our children’s lives – besides parents that is.
But what do you buy a teacher? How much do you spend?
Do you make the gifts?
Do you buy for the aides and the office staff too?
I recently compiled a list of gift ideas for teachers as part of the OC Moms Gift Guide. Some you can make at home and others are under $15. Take a look and leave a comment on the article.
Do you have a favorite gift that you give teachers at Christmas?
We wait all year long for this day to come and the night before is filled with so much excitement that it is hard to sleep. The anticipation of Santa’s arrival and whether or not he had been good enough all year long was all Dylan could think about. The only thing Dylan asked for this year was for Santa to bring him a Wii. He told me and Grandma that he didn’t want anything from us, just the Wii.
As much excitement that Dylan had for this moment, my excitement and happiness was 10 times more. Being a parent and seeing your child’s face on Christmas morning as they open “the present” from Santa makes all the temper tantrums, fighting over homework, sleepless nights, and doubting your capabilities as a parent simply disappear. 
Now I must share a little secret. About a week before Christmas Dylan came walking out of his room crying late at night. He was so upset that he couldn’t even talk. He was convinced that he had not been good enough all year long and that he “did not deserve” to get a Wii from Santa. Once he calmed down a little, he told me Remember when I didn’t listen to you, and when I had to go to the principal’s office, and when I didn’t clean my room … he went on and on. I tried to assure him that those were small things compared to all the good things he had done and that it was up to Santa to decide if he deserved a Wii. He decided to leave Santa a present with his cookies in hopes that he would earn some bonus points. I have never wanted to tell him the story of Santa so badly as I did that night.
Now you understand why the tears came Christmas morning. ❤
Life with Dylan 