Santa’s Village


Santa’s Village

 There’s nothing as magical as the spirit of Christmas and at Santa’s Village your family can experience this feeling even in the middle of summer.  So many amusement parks seem the same, but Santa’s Village offer a unique concept.  As soon as you walk through the front gate you will be transported into a winter wonderland and you’ll soon forget it’s August! My family has been going to this park for years and it’s become a tradition for us to go on my youngest daughter’s birthday.  We loved bringing our friends there this year!  Here are 10 things my family loves doing at Santa’s Village:

ELFABET GAME

Ever since my girls were little, this was a nice way to do a scavenger hunt while going about our day.  After entering the park, head over to Elf University to pick up your elfabet card.  As you walk around the park, you’ll see elves with various letters on them.  Simply punch out the letters on your card and bring it back to the university at the end of the day to claim your prize. (Hint…bring it back even if you don’t find them all.)

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10 Things Kids Gain from Sleepaway Camp


10 Things Kids Gain from Sleepaway Camp

A few years ago, my friend Julie and I were miserable because our girls went to sleepaway camp for two weeks.  We were missing our kiddos, obsessing about whether they were OK, and we started asking ourselves why we even send them.  Is it really worth being away from them for such a long time? After feeling sorry for myself (and making a really big mojito) things started to come into perspective.  The girls LOVE camp and they are lucky to be able to have this experience.  So Julie, as we head into another summer of our girls being gone, let’s think about all the things they gain from sleepaway camp.

INDEPENDENCE

I can be a bit controlling at times (OK…my girls sometimes call me their ‘smother’) so camp gives them a chance to make some decisions on their own.  They get to choose what activities they do during free time, when to write home (only once last year for my youngest…big sigh), and when to brush their teeth (I’m embarrassed to tell you how many times that actually happened!). Camp gives them the chance to make unexpected choices like when my older daughter chose to go on a long bike ride with a group of girls she didn’t know and ended up having a great time.   

 SOCIAL SKILLS

When you are placed in a cabin with 11 other girls, it is a crash course in social skills.  You learn to be cooperative, respectful, and empathetic.  This is a great chance to learn problem solving since there are bound to be disagreements. 

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Summer 2021 Bucket List

Summer 2021 Bucket List

 

Happy first day of summer!!!

Summers are short and sweet in New England so we always make the most of them. We try to spend our days outside and make every moment count.  A Summer Bucket List helps keep us on track and creating one lets us daydream of days to come.  Last summer was a crazy one, but it did let us fill our days with family time.  Here is our list for 2021!!

Go to a drive-in movie

Sunset dinners at the sandbar

Watch all of the X-Men movies 

Go to Lake Fest, a summer concert on the water

Make our own gelato with fresh fruit

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What to Pack for Sleepaway Camp

Summer camp is right around the corner and that means it’s time to start planning.  One of the most stressful things about camp is your kids needing something but you not being able to give it to them right away.  That’s where the planning comes in. With the right list you can sit back and relax that they’ll have everything they need. So, what should you pack for sleepaway camp?

TRUNK

My girls got their trunks from Everything Summer Camp.  It has so many fun colors to choose from! Word of warning…they will be using this trunk for many years and bubblegum pink may be great for a fourth grader, but will they still like it in high school?

Fun stickers to decorate their trunk

Their camp requires you to bring a plastic chest of drawers

CLOTHING (Label everything!)

T-shirts/shorts

Long sleeve shirts

A pair of jeans

Athletic pants or leggings

Sneakers

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20 Tips for Hiking with Kids During COVID-19

 

20 Tips for Hiking with Kids mytravelingkids.com

It has been a long, exhausting few months all across the country and many of us are struggling with how to adapt to this “new normal.”  There are many activities that are off the list for now, but there are still plenty of activities to do as a family.  Here is an article I wrote last summer… but have added some tips that are appropriate for COVID-19 times.  So grab your hiking boots and head out for a hike! 

Spring is in the air and it’s the perfect time to go on a hike.  To avoid a hike filled with whining, it helps to plan a bit. Check out these 20 Tips for Hiking with Kids:

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Cranmore Adventure Park


Cranmore Adventure Park

The White Mountains is the perfect destination since there are countless options to spend time together outdoors as a family. Cranmore Adventure Park allows all members of the family to participate in the activities.  There really is something for everyone! We were lucky enough to spend the day making memories on the mountain.

Here are 10 of our favorite things to do at Cranmore Adventure Park:

1.     MOUNTAIN COASTER: Our absolute favorite ride at the park is the mountain coaster and we keep going back for more! Since each rider controls how fast they go, it is perfect for the entire family.

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End-of-Summer Bucket List

And just like that…summer is almost over.  School starts next week and then homework, sports, and after-school activities take the lead.  No more lazy afternoons where the hardest decision is which float to lounge on before the sun sets.  My girls went away to sleep away camp for the first time so I feel like I was robbed of two weeks of play.  Now we are in the final stretch of summer and it’s time to fit in as much fun as we possibly can.  Here is our end-of-summer bucket list…

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