Holiday Bucket List

This post is sponsored by Carter’s. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I know there is a whole group of people out there who don’t think you should jump into holiday season until after Thanksgiving. Well spoiler: I’m not one of them. I’m in full blown holiday mode. Like spent the day putting up holiday decorations, listening to holiday music, and even watched a holiday movie with the kids. I love the season and don’t see any reason not to go ahead and get in the holiday spirit! Why not break out cute holiday outfits for the kids that we can find at Carter’s and do ALL the holiday activities? There’s no reason not to!

So what’s on our family holiday bucket list this year? (Make sure you scroll to the bottom for cute kid pictures and an awesome coupon code from Carter’s!)

–Give back. And I mean give back with the kids. I want them to grow up knowing the importance of helping other people and this is the best time of year to model that. Whether it’s buying gifts for less fortunate kids, or Christmas caroling at a nursing home, there are plenty of ways to get even the youngest kids in the giving spirit.

–Santa train. These sell out fast (and across the country) so it’s best to go ahead and look up whether there are scenic trains near you that do holiday themed train rides because they are a blast.

–Breakfast with Santa. Okay I might 3 of these planned because it’s one of my favorite holiday occasions. Where you get to go meet Santa and take pictures with Santa with the kids in Christmas jammies! Glad we’ve already found the perfect Christmas pajamas from Carter’s so I have one less thing on my never ending to do list for this time of year!

–Pick out a Christmas tree. I am team live tree all the way. And one of the most fun holiday activities in my opinion is when we go as a family to pick out a Christmas tree. I’d love to even venture to a farm and cut down our own this year but that might be too ambitious. Last year MG loved being involved in helping us pick out which one to get and I’m sure she will be this year as well! And then everyone decorating the tree is a fun tradition as well!

–Make gingerbread houses. This is actually something we haven’t done yet but I can’t wait to try it this year with the kids. Well, maybe just Maddie Grace while Tripp naps.

–Look at Christmas lights. It’s our first year living in the part of suburban Atlanta we live in and I bet there are some amazing light decorations on houses around here and I can’t wait to check them out! Maybe we will even take some hot cocoa to go for this one.

–Make ornaments. I’m planning on doing a fun ornament making craft with the kids (maybe we will even invite some friends over and make it a play date). The kids will love it and then we get heirloom ornaments for the year to keep hanging on our tree forever like my parents did with all the ornaments I made!

–Bake cookies. This is another one I’ll be saving for Tripp’s nap time but I know Maddie Grace will love making Christmas cookies with me! I even found a super cute little holiday spatula and whisk set for her to use to “help” with the baking.

–Mail Letters to Santa. Maddie Grace is finally old enough to really understand that in order for Santa to know what to bring her on Christmas she has to let him know! And ever since I bought a cute Letters to Santa box for our house she has been writing at least 20 letters a day. She knows how to write “HOHOHO” so that’s all her notes actually say. Hopefully she has a good translator because she tells me they are asking for all kinds of things!

–Watch Christmas movies. We’ve already started this one by watching the Grinch several times. But I want to spend lots of time under blankets and watching all our favorite holiday movies this season!

–DIY gifts for family. What better gift for grandparents and aunts/uncles/friends than homemade gifts by the kids?

–Ice skating. Well this is something both Tripp and I will have to sit out on this year but a shopping center near us is already setting up their ice skating rink and Tom has promised Maddie Grace a daddy daughter ice-skating trip this year and I’m so happy for them because I know it will be a blast and a great memory for her to have! As a kid ice skating was one of my favorite parts of the holiday season (they had it up for a month in Savannah each year) so I’m excited my kids will have similar fun memories as well!

Tripp: Sweater // Shoes

Maddie Grace: Top // Skirt

And for all of these holiday events (and especially the photo opps) my kids need cute holiday-themed outfits to wear. That’s why we hit up Carter’s! They have SO many awesome holiday outfits for kids and babies and great deals on them all, as well as cozy pajamas. I love that Carter’s has partnered with Pajama Program, an organization that provides children new pajamas from November 1st – December 31st. Customers can help by donating a pair of new pajamas in store or make a monetary donation at check out (in store or online). Carter’s will match up to 100,000 pairs of pajamas. So I felt good buying both kids a pair of comfy pajamas and then donating some money towards the project when I was checking out!

Carter’s has some awesome Black Friday deals starting on 11/17! On Black Friday itself Carter’s and Osh Kosh B’Gosh are giving away over $700,000 in Dash Cash to the first 100 customers to visit their local stores for the Dash In to Win Sweepstakes! Check your local store Find the closest Carter’s to you here to see what date the sweepstakes will be held at your closest location! Plus all customers that day who spend $40+ will receive a gift from Shutterfly! Visit carters.com/dashintowin for official rules.

And because Carter’s likes to help you save even more, they have an awesome coupon you can use right now! Take 20% off your purchase of $40 or more using the code 070716 in store or CART4198 if shopping online!

Okay so what on my bucket list is on yours this year? What is on yours that isn’t on mine? Tell me below!