Winter Bucket List

By: June Owens

It’s officially winter and as I sit here drinking my honey chai tea latte watching a few flurries fall, I’m thinking of all the fun things I want to do this season. It’s funny, I’ve never been the biggest fan of the snow but as I grow older, I am growing to love this season that is simply like no other.  So, whether you’re cozy and warm by the fire inside or ready to bundle the family up and adventure out, here’s a Winter Bucket List that’s sure to add a little cheer to your new year!

Outdoors                                                                                                            

• Go ice skating                                                                                                                                           

• Build a snowman … or like Anna says in Frozen, “It doesn’t have to be snowman.”     

• Enjoy a winter walk                                                                                                                                

• Go sledding or tubing … check out Mad River Mountain at https://www.skimadriver.com/avalanche-tubing-park/                                                                       

• Have a snowball fight                                                                                            

• Catch snowflakes on your tongue … reminds me of the song lyrics “If all the snowflakes were candy bars and milkshakes, oh what a snow that would be!”                                                               

• Go skiing or snowboarding                                                                 

• Capture new family photos                                                                                                 

• Bundle up for sunset viewing … one of my faves with the grandkids last year ?                                   

• Paint the snow w/colored water in spray bottles                       

• Shovel a neighbor’s driveway as a family and leave a smiley face in the snow

• Do a winter scavenger hunt … collect 2pinecones, find an icicle, look for animal tracks, you get the idea

• Try a new restaurant

• Go swimming

• Visit a museum

Indoors

• Have a beach party

• Enjoy a game day … no screen time allowed

• Build forts with blankets and pillows

• Make paper snowflakes

• Camp out in the living room … small pop-up tents make this even more fun

• Host a dance party

• Create candy cane dust … simply crush those leftover candy canes and use them in cake batter and frosting or on top of ice cream for a special treat

• Have a movie marathon and pajama day

• Make homemade hot chocolate … hmmmmmm, that peppermint dust from above may come in handy here

• Have an indoor snowball fight

• Create igloos (or other structures) with dried spaghetti and mini marshmallows

• Make bird feeders with peanut butter, pinecones, and seed

• Enjoy an indoor picnic

• Read books by the fire

• Donation clean out … provide a basket for each member to fill with items in their rooms they would like to pass on

• Bring winter in … fill a large thin bucket (under the bed boxes are perfect) with snow and bring it in to a towel-lined area, add some spoons, cups, sand molds and more, place gloves on the little ones and watch the creations begin

Winter is also a great time to volunteer together as a family so be sure to get this on your Bucket List. Getting involved at the YMCA is just a click away … https://www.daytonymca.org/volunteer-opportunities. Pet shelters love assistance with making homemade dog treats, playing with the pets to help get them socialized, collecting toys and blankets, and so much more. Local police and fire stations always appreciate personalized thank you cards, pizza deliveries, or homemade goodies. Those in nursing homes welcome visitors who are willing to play simple games, put together puzzles, or just listen to stories of times gone by. Explore other ideas and remember to check with the organization for their guidelines before starting. Teach the principal of giving back this winter because it’s a lifelong habit that blesses both the giver and the receiver.

And last but not least, you’ve heard it said that when life give you lemons, you should make lemonade. And I say that when life gives you snow, you should most definitely make snow ice cream. Here’s a simple recipe that will get your family started on this new tradition that’s sure to be a wintry favorite for years to come!

• Gather 8 cups of fresh snow as it falls into a large bowl. Add one 14-ounce can of sweetened condensed milk and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Mix to combine and enjoy!