Dec 12, 2014

Five Favorite Winter Activities | Friday Five

How quickly it became December. Even December is flying by. We're running head on into winter. In this week's Friday Five linkup we look at what to do in winter. This week's topic is

Five Favorite Winter Actvities

Five Favorite Winter Activities

1. Christmas Lights

I love Christmas lights: the colors, the glow, the site to see. I think they're beautiful. Ever since I was little, we always had a lot of lights on your house. My dad used the large old school C9 bulbs. He used to scour yard sales to find more. We also had the large plastic blow molds. A lot of them: a full manger scene, a parade worth of Disney characters, toy solders, candies, our own winter wonderland. As I grew older, I got to help more and more. As time went on, I even helped get the lights on the house to music. Not the overly complex ones you see on YouTube (you'd be surprised the amount of money that would take to do), but not a slouch either. I love seeing any and all lights I can. We just saw Winter Walk of Lights at Meadowlark and will go to the ZooLights at the National Zoo this weekend. If we're talking lights, we also can't forget to mention The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney's Hollywood Studios. I even enjoy see lights down the street.

2. Grand Illuminations

Second is a celebration that has become a family tradition for my wife and I. Grand Illuminations at Colonial Williamsburg is held the first weekend in December every year. It includes the traditional decorations on the colonial houses, the candle lighting in all the windows and a fireworks display Sunday night. While you'd think their fireworks there may not be that spectacular, you'd be wrong. They are a really great display, done at three locations simultaneously. This also includes purchasing a cup to get us the unlimited cider I've mentioned several times before.

3. Stick to Your Ribs Foods

In a previous Friday Five I talked about "stick to your ribs, warm your innards to the bone" foods. I love those. Stews, soups, chili, anything in a crock pot. It may not be the best for you, but it tastes fantastic and is perfect for a winter's night.

4. Playing in the Snow

I've always enjoyed playing in the snow as long as I can remember. My daughter would always get excited to see snow, but last year was the first year my daughter seemed to really enjoy being out in that cold white stuff. After rolling around in the leaves with her playing this fall, I can't wait to do the same when it snows this winter. Bring on the cold white stuff!

5. Giving a Yeti a Shower

This isn't a literal item. I pulled this from the Phineas and Ferb Christmas Vacation episode. This is because I'm a sucker for Christmas movie and Christmas TV specials. Some of my favorites are the Home Improvement Christmas episodes, which also relates back to #1. We haven't broken out the DVDs to watch them yet, but intend to before the season is done. My favorite movies have to be White Christmas and the original Miracle on 34th Street (in black and white). My daughters favorite, along the same path as her Halloween choice, is Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas.

Honorable Mention: Exciting News

I also got some exciting news yesterday, which could therefore be a "winter activity". Read more about it on my last post.

Linking Up

Check here for some links out to others sharing, staring with our three lovely hosts: CourtneyCynthia and Mar. Check their posts (Eat Pray Run DC, You Signed Up for What?! and Mar on the Run to see the full set of links). I will add some others, usually randomly, as I read them to share the love. Go visit and keep reading!


Our hosts:

Mar on the Run

Eat, Pray, Run DC

You Signed Up for What?!



24 comments:

  1. I liked watching Home Improvement back in the day but don't remember that episode. Maybe it'll be on sometime this month. I have never seen White Christmas nor Miracle on 34th street. I know, so sheltered...haha. -L

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    1. I just always loved the over the top lights and displays he would put on.

      Man, you are sheltered in your Christmas movie viewing, haha.

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  2. I completely forgot about Zoolights! I should run through it sometime next week.

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    1. I actually haven't managed to see them before. This will be the first year we're actually going, so super excited.

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  3. Wow I can't even imagine the work it takes to coordinate the lights to music....it's so beautiful though! I'm hoping to start making soups and stews this winter.

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    1. We've made a couple already. Can't wait for more stews and soups. Haven't made much this week but hopefully will make something good this coming week.

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  4. I'm also a huge fan of Christmas lights and we have gotten kind of addicted to the new show, Christmas light fight! It's pretty fun to watch!

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  5. Thanks for mentioning the blog today, John! Breezy Osborne, daughter of the creator of the Osborne Family Christmas light spectacle, is a friend; she owns a local yoga studio where I take classes. She and her family (her dad passed away a few years ago) are invited to Disney each year to kick off the event. I live off of the street where her parents lived when her father was alive and let me tell you...that was ONE big spectacle - ha! Traffic was always horrible when their house/yard was lit up, but it was fantastic to see; we all miss it. Thanks so much for a great post; hope you have a wonderful weekend!

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    1. I have seen the lights in Disney but can only imagine what it was like there. I can also believe how bad the traffic would have been. Small world how things connect like that. You have a great weekend too.

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  6. i miss zoolights every year - hoping this year i can make it there! i LOVE christmas lights :)

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    1. We've thought about going pretty much every year but always seem to not make it. There are also some good drive through ones out in Centreville at Bull Run Park.

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  7. I like that you added watching Christmas movies to your list. That's a good one; and the Christmas TV specials that we grew up with... I love watching those every year.

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    1. Love the specials. Now, if only ALL of them were on Hulu or Netflix so I didn't need to use the DVDs. Haha

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  8. I love Christmas tv episodes... I tend to go back to Netflix or my DVDs and watch each Christmas episode from every season. After fall, I think winter is my second favorite season – love snow and all of the holiday lights and activities :)

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    1. Me too. Netflix makes it easier to be able to get to the episodes quick (for ones that are there). Easier than DVD switching.

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  9. omg, I LOVED Home Improvement! and I really like your Friday Five photo :_

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    1. Thanks. The photo is with her two best friends, from meadowlark last year. Its one of my favorites.

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  10. I love over the top Christmas lights! Congrats on the new gig!

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  11. I love your list! It seems like the holidays just fly by but I love this season the most!

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    1. This season has definitely flown by. Still so much to do but already so close. I do love it though.

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  12. LOL you quoted Phineas and Ferb!! My kids used to love that show. We are going to see the Ice display at National Harbor today so hoping that is fun too

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    1. Glad you got the quote. It a pretty funny show. One of those ones that has jokes for the adults too.

      I've heard about that and it sounds pretty good, but I've never been.

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