A List of Winter Break Activities For Kids

What To Do With Kids Over Winter?

With Sidney off of school for the next two weeks I've been busy trying to come up with fun activities to do. Unfortunately, I can't spend a ton of money so we are limited. However, our region has a strong focus on family and offers many enjoyable things to do with your kids. 

I know first hand that a lot of young moms aren't exactly rich. We are dealing with school,  starting a career, saving for a house and our children's college funds plus so much more. Money is tight, but we still want to enjoy our time with our little ones while they are young. So hopefully you can get some ideas out of my list and even though a lot of my listed activities are specific to the region we live, in your city might have similar programs. All you have to do is look it up online.

Things we might do that cost us basically nothing:

• Free skating at the mall (my mom bought Sid skates for $2 at the thrift store)
• Free skating at Central Park downtown
• Drop-in craft program at the library
• Rent a movie from the library (popcorn and juice is the only money we'll be spending on this!)
• Play at McDonald's indoor playground (costs me the price of a coffee and hot chocolate)
• A trip down to the farmer's market (spending money is optional, however I can't turn down delicious food - especially local produce!)
• Tobogganing (if we even get snow! Haven't seen much yet.)
• Play at the park, all wrapped up nice and warm
• Baking at home
• Walk the trails through Riverside park and feed the birds
• Playing with all our new Christmas toys of course!

Things we might do that cost us a little more:

• Drop in pottery class ($10)
• Indoor playground ($5 on Tuesdays)
• Indoor mini-golf ($5 each = $10)
• Region Museum all day pass ($5 for Sid, $10 for me = $15)

Things we might do that cost more:

• Tubing ($20 each = $40)
• Movies (about $10 each plus popcorn = $30)

There is a lot more around here we can do, but we only have two weeks and our funds are limited. I try to find and think up as many amusing things that are free, or cost very little. 

What are some things you like to do with the kids over the holidays/winter?

Thanks, 

PS - Because Sidney is on winter break now, I might not get around to blogging as much for the next two weeks.

The Best Banana Bread

Our Christmas Breakfast

 

Banana Bread Recipe

Every holiday I make banana bread the night before, for breakfast. 

Three reasons why:

1) It's easy and mess free, leaving plenty of time to enjoy the day.

2) It's filling, healthy and yet it's light enough that you can still enjoy all the holiday goodies throughout the rest of the day.

3) It's delicious of course!

My favourite banana bread recipe of all time is from the cookbook Vegan Planet by Robin Robertson. 

And even thought it's a vegan recipe, the banana bread is still delicious! In fact, my friends and family agree - vegan or not. 

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 medium very ripe bananas
• 1/2 cup soy milk
• 1/4 cup corn oil
• 3/4 cup sugar or natural sweetener
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly oil a 9x5 pan.
2. In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder and salt.
3. In a food processor, combine bananas, soy milk, corn oil, sugar and vanilla and process until smooth. Add to the flour mixture and mix well, then transfer it to the prepared pan.
4. Bake on the center oven rack until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 50 to 60 minutes. Allow to cool in the pan on a wire rack before removing from the pan and slicing. 

Makes 1 loaf.

Robin Robertson also adds 3/4 cup chopped peanuts or other nuts, 1/4 cup semisweet vegan chocolate chips, 1/4 cup drained crushed pineapple and 3/4 cup dried cherries. Fold into the mixture before transferring it to the pan. I prefer just adding walnuts to mine. 

Thanks,