Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in atlanta, GA

Monthly Recap, Did you miss these

by Mimi Jenkins

December 31, 2008

Yesterday I highlighted my favorite posts from 2008 . It was a lot of fun going back and revisiting some of the older posts. There's so much going on around the city! Today's post is some of my favorites from December. There's been a lot going on in our city this month! Most of the activities and things to do are seasonal -- some Atlanta traditions, others were new for the year! Looking  Read more...

Merry Christmas

by Mimi Jenkins

December 25, 2008

Merry Christmas from our house to yours. May all your wishes and dreams come true this holiday season! Thank you so much for reading!  Read more...

The City in Lights

by Mimi Jenkins

December 23, 2008

One thing we always do on Christmas Eve is drive around the neighborhoods and look at the Christmas lights.  Holiday lights are not limited to houses and neighborhoods! Here are some of the best light displays in the city....

1. Fantasy in Lights - Callaway Gardens.

2. Magical Night of Lights - Lake Lanier Islands.
 
3. Stone Mountain Christmas - Stone Mountain Park.
4. Holiday Lights Display - Pettit Creek Farms.
5. Lights of Life - Life University.

6. Holiday In Lights -- Centennial Olympic Park.

No matter which you choose, you're sure to be delighted!

The start and end times vary slightly, but tend to start when it's dark.  They generally run from about 6 PM - 10 PM or 11 PM.

Have fun and enjoy the lights.  Read more...

Stress Free Travel With Kids During the Holidays

by Mimi Jenkins

December 22, 2008

Did you happen to see yours truly on CW69's Focus Atlanta yesterday?  I was sharing Savvy tips on stress free travel with kids during the holidays. I can't tell you how many times I've traveled with my kids.  My oldest took his first international flight when he was just 2 months old.  Luckily, since they're used to flying, they do great on the airplane.  Although they have had their  Read more...

Savvy Christmas Activities

by Mimi Jenkins

December 19, 2008

So school is out, and you're trying to find things to do with the little ones. I know you've already gone to an indoor play place , or just can't face the hoards of people out shopping! Why not stay in and make some Holiday Crafts to pass the time and decorate the house! They also make fantastic gifts for Grandparents! Here at Savvy, we have lots and lots of activities for all ages  Read more...

Holiday Theatre

by Mimi Jenkins

December 18, 2008

When we lived in England, there were Panto 's going on all over the country this time of year. I vaguely remember seeing similar type performances when I was younger, but haven't seen much of them around these days. But there are still lots of holiday performances going on! Christmas at Sweet Apple : Theatre on the Square, Marietta. Collection of holiday stores from Celestone Sibley  Read more...

Gifts that Keep on Giving All Year Long

by Mimi Jenkins

December 16, 2008

I don't know about you, but my kids seem to have quite a few toys.  And as they get older, they play with fewer and fewer toys.  We do a fairly big "purge" about three times a year -- before each of the boys birthdays and before Christmas.  We toss the broken or unsuitable toys and pass the ones still in good condition on to a local charity. There are some toys that I think the kids only  Read more...

Spread The Holiday Spirit

by Mimi Jenkins

December 15, 2008

I know most of us are scaling back for the holidays. Maybe Christmas will be a bit lighter at your house? It will be at ours. But that's no reason to not spread the holiday spirit. We still should remember those who are less fortunate and try and make their holidays special too. It's never too early to Teach our kids about charity and helping others. Each year we buy a gift for our kids  Read more...

Favorite Songs of the Season

by Mimi Jenkins

December 12, 2008

So, are your kids singing Christmas songs nonstop? I sure know mine are. In fact, we had to tell the kids that The Christmas Carol Police don't allow Christmas songs to be sung after New Year and before Thanksgiving or we'd hear them all year round. We don't do it to be curmudgeonly, we want to keep the songs and Christmas movies special. If you sing them year round, they just aren't  Read more...

Favorite Christmas Books

by Mimi Jenkins

December 11, 2008

There are so many great Christmas books out. And there are funny books, books dealing with Santa, Christmas Message books, the Birth of Christ... there are just so many. Here is a short list of some of our favorite Christmas books. Snowmen at Christmas by Caralyn Buehner and Mark Buehner This is a cute rhyming story where a boy wonders what Snowmen do at night time on Christmas Eve  Read more...

Letters To Santa

by Mimi Jenkins

December 10, 2008

Do you remember writing your letters to Santa? I do. I remember trying to decide what gift was special enough for me to ask the Big Guy for. My brother, sister and I would sit down a few weeks before Christmas and write out letters to Santa. My parents would then take them and mail them off to Santa Claus at the North Pole. I'm not so sure the letters ever made it as far as the  Read more...

Holiday Events Around Town

by Mimi Jenkins

December 09, 2008

T'is the season for fun around Atlanta! Looking for some fun family entertainment? Look no further... Here are some holiday events going on around town this month! Stone Mountain -- Stone Mountain Christmas . Nightly "snowfalls" and fireworks by the Snow Angel. Hear the Christmas story aboard the scenic railroad. Festive lights and holiday shows. Through December 30th. Also at Stone  Read more...

Keeping the Holiday Simple, But Still Making it Special

by Mimi Jenkins

December 06, 2008

Holidays are all about spending time with your family, right?  Making long trips to see grandparents or cleaning until your fingers bleed because you'll have a house full of guests.  Right? Not in this house.  I love spending time with my family and with my husband's family.  I do.  I really do.  And it's not that I don't want guests for Christmas, or I don't want to go anywhere... It's  Read more...

Reindog Parade at the Atlanta Botanical Garden's

by Mimi Jenkins

December 04, 2008

I know I mention the Botanical Gardens a lot, but they have lots of great activities for kids and adults. This weekend is no exception! New for this year is the Reindog Parade! On Saturday, December 6th from 11 am - 1 pm. The Garden's gone to the dogs this holiday season, with a parade for pups adorned in their finest holiday attire. Master of Ceremonies Lucky Yates is well  Read more...

Santa Claus is Coming to Town....

by Mimi Jenkins

December 03, 2008

As promised, here are a few places around town to visit Santa (or his helpers)... Of course the Malls all have a Santa -- but which one is the "real Santa?": Mall of Georgia - from 10 am Town Center at Cobb - from 11 am Lenox Square - from 10 am Discover Mills - from 10 am Gwinnett Place Mall - from 10:30 am Mall at Stonecrest - from 10 am Northlake Mall - from  Read more...

Atlanta Holiday Traditions

by Mimi Jenkins

December 02, 2008

Have you got your Christmas lights up yet? House all decorated? We've got some Christmas decorations up, but not all. We've sort of started a tradition in our house to put the house lights up over Thanksgiving weekend and we hang lights in the kids' rooms too. We start getting into the Christmas spirit, but we probably won't put the family tree up for another week or two. Like most  Read more...

Around Town Thanksgiving Weekend

by Mimi Jenkins

November 26, 2008

There's more going on this long weekend... here's a round-up for you: High Museum of Art : Go All Night to China -- 15 non-stop hours of Asian inspired fun and art at the museum. November 28 9 am - midnight Chattahoochee Nature Center : Exploration Stations -- Visit the Classification, Conservation, Observation, Sensation, and Pollination Stations, and find out through hands-on  Read more...

Five Books That Make Great Gifts

by Mimi Jenkins

November 24, 2008

With Christmas just around the corner, the gift giving game begins.  Books are always a great option for not just your own kids, but all those on your list: nieces, nephews, friend's kids... they even make great teacher gifts.  Most teachers buy their own books for their classrooms and they always enjoy getting more. The Savvy Source for Parents has a huge list of educational books, toys and  Read more...

Weekend Round-Up 11/21-23

by Mimi Jenkins

November 21, 2008

Now that Thanksgiving and Christmas are approaching it seems there is quite a bit going on around town. CFA International Cat Show : Georgia International Convention Center. This cat show is the largest pedigreed cat show in the Western Hemisphere -- the Cat's version of Westminster. The website has details on entry, times, and directions. The Lighting of Atlantic Station . Nov.  Read more...