In theory, Christmas break in my house will begin with my three children sleeping late, thoughtfully allowing me time to enjoy my coffee.  A peaceful 90 minutes of reading would follow, after which my husband would return from the office (I know, it’s only 11am, but this is my fantasy, after all…) and I would take a leisurely run.  Heaven.

In reality, my children will awaken at 6:30am on the first day of vacation (that’s right – an hour earlier than I drag them out of their beds on school days - ) and the arguing will commence at 6:31.  By 6:35 I will be throwing back my third cup of fully caffeinated coffee wondering how on earth we’ll make it to New Year's and the blessed return of school days.   The only hope for peace in my house?  Getting out of my house.  We need some school break activities!  A few events we will be checking out:

There are so many fun events happening in preparation to celebrate the holidays but probably the one most children are excited about (well other than getting presents of course) is the chance to meet Santa. They have their letters ready and can’t wait to meet the man in red to share their wish lists. We all know about the usual mall sightings but here is a list of other places you and your child can also visit with Santa Claus.

Do you know someone who can barely wait for Santa to come? Do you have little hopeful Santa-watchers who have secret wishes to share with good old Santa? The good news is that He is all around. Whether you would like to meet Him while shopping, having fun in a museum, browsing Christmas arts and goodies or celebrating the season in your community, you are sure to find the jolly old man somewhere near you.

Who cares if it's a cliche to say that we love this time of year? New York City looks even more magical when it's decked out in holiday lights and extravagant displays.

With only a few weeks to go until Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanza, we've been all about the holidays this week, from offbeat festivities to more vintage ways to celebrate. Our Holiday Guide is jam-packed with all of that and more, including caroling, Christmas trees and spots to see Santa. We've also been expanding our Local Holiday Shopping Guide with new posts about seasonal markets and craft fairs.

And that's just a bit of what's going on. Here's what we covered this week on Mommy Poppins in NYC, New Jersey, Long Island and Connecticut, as well as selected stories from our sites in Boston and Los Angeles.

The toys are back in town, skating in Disney on Ice: Toy Story 3 (check out our review), and families can get a $4 discount on tickets with the code below!  Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Jessie, and even Ken and Barbie skate to infinity and beyond in what promises to be Disney's biggest skating extravaganza yet.

Southland families can catch the show this month Downtown at Staples Center, at Honda Center in Anaheim, or down in Long Beach just after New Year. The SoCal run even includes performances on Christmas Eve and Day, for folks looking to do more than sit around the Christmas tree.

It is a well-established fact that two weeks before Christmas is the start of boat season. At least, it would seem that way, given the number of Boat Parades floating through the Southland this weekend.  We’ve got five Christmas Boat Parades this week alone, and another four coming along next week.

Other running themes this weekend are Breakfasts with Santa (he eats his way across Los Angeles), snow (blanketing the city), Nutcrackers (trust us, there are a lot), and reading to dogs.  Actually, there’s only one reading to dogs, but how cool is that?

Keep reading for some of our favorite picks this weekend and to learn how Mommy Poppins can score you a discount to infinity… and beyond!

Pause the hustle and bustle and take in a holiday show (or three). This weekend is overflowing with local theatrical productions that embrace the holidays, such as A Christmas Carol, 'Twas the Night Before Christmas and even Seussical Jr.  You can also check out the Celtic Harpist in Madison, or maybe the singing laundry in the lovable Knuffle Bunny when it lands in Union. And don't forget to enter our great contest for free children's books from publisher Simon and Schuster!

The December calendar continues to fill with fun holiday shows, craft fairs and fests, and your pick of holiday specials. The ICA celebrates its fifth anniversary with free admission and activities, and the Concord Museum is decked out for the holidays with its annual Family Trees exhibit.

Performances of special holiday shows like The Nutcracker and A Christmas Carol are in full swing, and The Boston Children Theatre’s The Velveteen Rabbit continues its run at the BCA. Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen opens in Cambridge.

Read on for all of our picks and remember, you can find additional options in our Events Calendar.

Enjoy!