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8 Winter Activities I Look Forward To Coming Home To

Finals are over, now it's time to celebrate (the season).

Olivia Zingraf

Dec 31, 2018

Butler University

8 Winter Activities I Look Forward To Coming Home To

https://www.pexels.com/photo/adult-beverage-breakfast-celebration-302810/

Coming home (even though it's only a solid 20 minutes) to Fishers gives me absolute joy. Most of my excitement stems from the fact that I can finally relax and enjoy the holiday season. My family has many Christmas traditions that we love to do together. Some of them have lasted since before I can remember, others are relatively new.

1. Yuletide

http://youarecurrent.com/2015/11/24/santa-singing-and-more-at-the-indianapolis-symphony-orchestras-yuletide-celebration/

The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra's annual Yuletide event is something that my family goes to every year downtown at the circle. It is a huge show full of singing, dancing, and holiday music. I can't imagine a holiday season passing without attending this special event. The dancing Santas (pictured) are my favorite. They are all tap dancers.

2. Baking Cookies/Treats

https://www.pexels.com/photo/baking-christmas-cookies-cookie-delicious-264826/

With my mom being an excellent baker, you can always expect our house to be full of sugar and flour. My mom, sister, and I love to bake cookies. It is a tradition that we have always done together, and I look forward to the holiday cookies that I usually have only once a year.

3. Carmel Christmas Market

https://indywithkids.com/carmel-ice-skating-rink-christkindlmarkt-center-green/

Referred to as the "Christmas Christkindlmarkt", Carmel has a small area with German foods, hot chocolate, various vendors, and an ice-skating rink. A relatively new tradition in our family, I can't wait to walk around and hopefully get to ice skate this year (the line is always so long!).

4. Christmas Shopping

https://www.pexels.com/photo/paper-bags-near-wall-749353/

I love going out with my mom to shop for the holidays. There is no better feeling than giving, and the best part of the holidays is that everyone is in the "giving" mood.

5. Holiday Feasts

https://www.pexels.com/photo/candle-celebration-champagne-christmas-260493/

I love when the family comes to our house for a home cooked meal made by my mom. She always decorates and makes sure that the tables are decorated according to the season. I aspire to do the same when I have my own home.

6. Christmas Lights

https://www.pexels.com/photo/assorted-color-string-lights-752484/

Sometimes you just need to get in the car and search for Christmas lights. I love driving through the Reynold's lights every year in Fishers.

7. White Elephant/Games

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Wgdt_ykRzc

The Saran Ball Game is a tradition my family started a couple years ago. I laugh so hard watching others do this game, and I truly think it is so fun (and it can be done cheap!). Each family member gets a certain number of seconds to unwrap the ball as fast as they can. The closer to the center, the better the prizes get.

Not only do I love this game, but also White Elephant. Some families call it different names but bringing a present anonymously and getting to "steal" presents makes it loads of fun!

8. Christmas Movies

https://www.pexels.com/photo/brown-beside-fireplace-near-brown-wicker-basket-688019/

My sister and I always settle for a night in with our pajamas and fireplace on. We'll watch several Christmas movies like "Eloise" and "Elf". It is something I look forward to, every year.

What traditions does your family do each year?

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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Recommended for you

8 Winter Activities I Look Forward To Coming Home To

Finals are over, now it's time to celebrate (the season).

1. Yuletide

2. Baking Cookies/Treats

3. Carmel Christmas Market

4. Christmas Shopping

5. Holiday Feasts

6. Christmas Lights

7. White Elephant/Games

8. Christmas Movies

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May the odds be ever in your favor.

Phase One: The “I got this” phase

Phase Two: The “I have time” phase

Phase Three: The uncontrollable sobbing phase

Phase Four: The “help me, I've fallen and I can't get up” phase

Phase Five: The rejoicing phase

10 ways to prepare for finals week—beginning with getting to the library.

Who knows where we would be without them.

1. Thank you for laughing at my jokes, even when they really aren’t funny.

2. Thank you for singing unbearably loud with me all the time.

3. Thank you for letting me vent to you for hours about anything and basically being my personal therapist.

4. Thank you for ordering pizza with me at 2 in the morning.

5. Thank you for all the movie days when we don’t feel like moving.

6. Thank you for being my workout buddy everyday.

7. Thank you for sharing your closets with me.

8. Thank you for taking naps with me at random hours during the day.

9. Thank you for cleaning our home with me when we absolutely need to.

10. Thank you for all the rides when it’s late and you don’t want me to walk home alone in the dark.

11. Thank you for studying with me in our kitchen when we didn't want to go the library.

12. Thank you for making dinner with me.

13. Thank you for helping with my hair, makeup and outfit every time we go out.

14. Thank you for taking countless ugly pictures with me.

15. Thank you for not judging me when I go too long without showering.

16. Thank you for making our apartment feel like a second home.

17. Thank you for being there through all of our boy troubles.

18. Thank you for giving me a hug when I feel homesick.

19. Thank you for getting excited with me when one of us gets a good grade on an exam.

20. Thank you for still being my friend and not judging me when I say or do dumb things.

21. Thank you for telling me what I should do when I am sick.

22. Thank you for dancing horribly with me everywhere we go.

23. Thank you for staying up super late with me when we aren’t tired or can’t sleep.

24. Thank you for being super weird with me.

25. Thank you for all the unforgettable college memories.

26. And most of all, thank you for being the best friends a girl could have.

I may or may not be stressing right now.

1. "What do I have to study for?"

2. "What class do I need to study for the most?"

3. "I’m going to ace this."

4. "Focus!"

5."I have no idea what I'm reading."

6. "I should call my smart friend about this."

7. "I’m going to fail. I’m going to fail."

8. "I’m dropping out of school."

9. "What grade do I have to get on the final to pass the class?"

10. "Oh, no, I have to do good."

11. "I shouldn’t have procrastinated all semester."

12. "I wanna go to bed."

13. "We did not learn this!"

14. "I should go get food."

15. "Why do we even have finals?"

16. "I don’t want to be at the library."

17. "Get off your phone."

18. "I can watch Netflix for like 20 minutes and then go back to studying."

19. "I shouldn’t have watched Netflix."

20. "You have to study now!"

The "Happiest Place on Earth" has a lot of characters with some pretty great advice.

Remember you’re the one who can fill the world with sunshine. — Snow White

The past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it. — Rafiki

You don't have time to be timid. You must be bold and daring. — Lumière

If watching is all you're gonna do, then you're gonna watch your life go by without ya. — Laverne

Sometimes the right path is not the easiest one. — Grandmother Willow

Always let your conscience be your guide. — Jiminy Cricket

To infinity and beyond. — Buzz Lightyear

Life is a journey to be experienced, not a problem to be solved. — Pooh

Let it go. — Elsa

If you can't say something nice, don't say nothin' at all. — Thumper

Today's special moments are tomorrow's memories. — Genie

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