Christmas Old-Fashioned Style

By Angèle There are always a million things to do during the holiday season, but how much is really what matters to you? I know that for me, concentrating on the basics and creating traditions that my child (and her mother) look forward to every year is what matters. So if you’re looking for a simpler Christmas, even an old-fashioned Christmas, here’s a good place to start.

Heritage Villages Cumberland Museum (East of Orleans)

On a late Sunday afternoon last December, my daughter and I, along with friends, went to the Cumberland Museum to experience the Vintage Christmas Village of Lights.  We admired twinkle lights as we walked in the dark and sang carols on our horse-drawn wagon ride.  We then decorated gingerbread men in the old town hall (yes, we ate most of the icing straight from the bag), and admired the handmade decorations in the schoolhouse. Of course, after warming up with hot chocolate around the camp fire, we saw Santa in a very old, charming house. We left filled with Christmas spirit; it was an event to remember.

Needless to say, I plan on going back this year: http://www.ottawa.ca/en/rec_culture/museum_heritage/museums/cumberland/events/ http://www.facebook.com/cumberlandmuseum

Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in December, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Families (two adults and unlimited children) $18.

Upper Canada Village (South of Ottawa, in Morrisburg) We haven’t been to Upper Canada Village’s Alight at Night Festival yet, but if it’s anything like what we can do and see there during the summer, it will be impressive. Starting November 30th, we can go on a horse drawn wagon ride or on the lit up toy train, spot the Dickens characters and enjoy carollers in the old church or have a traditional Christmas dinner.  Or we can simply stand and stare at the twinkle lights for hours.

It’s definitely worth the drive from Ottawa. http://www.uppercanadavillage.com/index.cfm/en/activities/alight-at-night/

Angèle is a goofy mum to a daughter and a wife to an evil genius (retired, apparently). She’s also a social media strategist, a podcast host and a teacher in training.  In her other life, she’s a fan of fresh air, yoga, good friends, new places and keeping things simple.  She is the author of two blogs: More of Less (http://moreoflessblog.blogspot.ca/ ) and My C Word (http://mycword.blogspot.ca/ ).  PS. She often overshare. You’ve been warned.

Bouncing all over the place

by Amy I first ran into Brinkeetos at an event where they were doing dance demonstrations for the kids and my daughter joined right in. I made a mental note then and there to go in for a visit. I was reminded a few times when I saw friends on Twitter taking their kids there but it wasn't until recently that I finally got there.

Brinkeetos hosts daily drop-in play-times, you can drop your kids off for Brink Care or for Date Night and they offer classes for young kids as well.

I wasn't sure what to expect but when we walked in we found a beautiful, clean play room full of fun.

Everything is safe and padded and my daughter could hardly decide what to do first. There was the climbing wall, the ropes to hang from, the ball pit, she ran through all of it.

Her favourite part was the two large pieces of elasticized fabric hanging from the ceiling on one end of the room. She climbed in and threw herself around and loved every minute. Now when she wants to go to Brinkeetos she asks to go to the "Jolly Jumper play place."

The best part was that while she ran around experimenting I sat on the sidelines without any worry at all that she might hurt herself.

The staff are friendly, the cost is reasonable given the amount of energy my daughter can release in a short time there. Brinkeetos will be a mainstay for us as the weather gets colder.

Amy is mom to two year old Maggie and a 6 year old schnauzer named Henry. You can read her blog at amyboughner.ca where she writes about motherhood and anything else that’s on her mind. She also shares a blog with her husband at boughner.ca where they talk together about parenting a daughter.

At first I was disappointed.

by Jayda I was delighted to receive a message asking if I wanted to attend the opening show of Beauty and the Beast. Um ya! Eight pm start, yikes a bit late for my kiddos, but worth the late night right? DH was not up for a night at the theatre due to a case of shingles. Great so DS4 can stay home with DH and I will take DS6 and a friend to the show. Perfect. A Mommy and older kid date night. I love it. A quick text and our night was planned.

One small hitch, DS6 doesn’t want to go.

What?

Nope, not at all.

At this point I am pretty disappointed.

Me: Jack, we are going to go watch Beauty and the Beast with E and S!!

DS6: I don’t want to go?

Me: Why?

DS6: I just don’t. Besides I need to get some rest for Halloween.

(Who’s the parent here?)

Me: That’s ok. This is a special opportunity so we can make an exception.

DS6: I don’t want to go. I know what happens. A girl falls in the love with a beast. The end!

Plan foiled. No big deal, my friend can bring her 5 year old daughter, who was devastated that she couldn’t come, according to the initial plan.

Hours before we are scheduled to depart for the National Arts Centre I get a phone call. Another change of plans! My friend’s daughters are no longer able to attend the show. Initially, I have to admit I was a little upset. But my friend had a back up proposal; GIRLS NIGHT OUT! Three (adult) friends and one friend’s 12 year old daughter threw themselves together in record time and hit Beauty and the Beast.

When we arrived at the NAC I was relived to see that there were very few children attending the show. Of course, I was still disappointed that DS6 didn’t want to come.  I was really looking forward to sharing this experience with him.

We weren’t 10 minutes into the show and I was relived DS6 was peacefully snuggled up in bed sound asleep. He is a very sensory sensitive child. The sights and sounds coupled with tiredness would’ve been a one-way ticket home. At this point, I was able to relax and thoroughly enjoy the rest of show.  In the end, despite my disappointment, it turned out to be a fantastic Girl’s Night Out.

Beauty and the Beast was fantastic! Everything, the set design, the music, the costumes, the special effects, everything exceeded my expectations. My inner child has been satisfied.

I look forward to being able to share the theater with my children...when they are ready.

Jayda Siggers is a Mom of 2 ( JWS, 6 and LLS, 4), a nutritionist, a coach at Clean Plate Cleanse, a master mediator living under a co-dictatorship, whole food advocate, trying to live a little greener everyday.

My Little Pony at St Laurent Shopping Centre (giveaway CLOSED)

Last year we were lucky enough to get to partner with St Laurent and Kidomo when they brought My Little Pony to town and we're excited to be doing it again this year! Since my kids were all young, these mall appearances by their favourite tv celebrities (we've seen Toopie and Binou, Miss Spider and Cars) have been fun (and free!) activities for the kids.  You get excited along with all the kids as you're sitting on the floor watching these cartoons characters come to life to entertain you kids.

My Little Pony will be at St Laurent this coming weekend, at 11 am and 2pm on Saturday October 27 and Sunday October 28.  Stop by (get there early to get good seats) and enjoy the fun show and kids' activities.

GIVEAWAY

3 lucky Kids in the Capital readers will get a special VIP family pass to visit with the ponies!

Simply leave us a comment telling us if you've ever attended a show like this at one of our local malls or not and you're entered.

And watch our Facebook page because we'll be giving away another 3 passes there this week!

Contest closes October 24 at 11pm.

Good luck!

A trip to the pumpkin patch

by Kamerine A trip to the pumpkin patch is a great fall activity.  My family visits Miller's Farm and Market in Manotick every year.  Miller's is a family-run farm with a personal touch.

Miller's is smaller than some of the other pumpkin patches in the city but it has everything you need for a fantastic visit with great photo ops, hay rides, things for the kids, and, of course, perfect pumpkins.  It was really busy on a beautiful fall day recently when we took the fam.

There are signs for pictures and the challenge is getting one where everyone is looking at the camera.  A difficult task for sure.  My kids aren't the sitting type, but if they were, we'd take them on the popular hay ride.  The highlight, for my kids at least, is an area set up with bundles of hay in a semi circle.  The kids can jump from bale to bale or jump off a bale into the pile of lose hay in the middle.   This would be hours of entertainment if only we'd let them stay.

Miller's sells pumpkins and other squash and fall favourites like corn stalks, mums and cider.  We settled on a medium pumpkin and a little one for each kid.  We let the kids do the choosing and then they rode with the pumpkins to the cash in one of the many wagons available.

If you get a chance, head out to a local pumpkin patch for some fun this fall.  I recommend Miller's.

Kamerine is mom to 3 year old Little J and 1 year old Baby K.  She documents her life with two toddlers, a husband and a cat at followk.blogspot.ca.