Before the wacky snow storm hit CT by surprise our school gave the kids the entire week of Thanksgiving off. In order to make up for lost school days they now have to attend on Monday and Tuesday. That's okay, we still have 5 days off. Plenty of time to celebrate by doing one or two of these fun activities in Litchfield County. Have a happy (and hopefully snowless) Thanksgiving everyone!

As a new Mom, I find myself living in moments of anticipation. I can't really find words to express what it was like the day my baby girl started crawling.  And now I’m awaiting her reaction to Christmas and the big event is still weeks away!   I can't think of a better place for my 1-year old daughter to first see Santa and be engulfed into "the most wonderful time of the year" than at what I consider to be South Jersey’s little gem, Storybook Land in Egg Harbor Township.

It's been a busy week for us! Over the past seven days, we've reviewed two must-see shows, explored three fabulous new exhibits and rounded up 21 places to play on the Upper West Side. After all of this running around, we're definitely looking forward to resting a bit over the Thanksgiving break next week—once we finish cooking the turkey, of course.

Thanksgiving and the holidays are what's on everyone's minds, so we're furiously overhauling our Holiday Guide with updated info about Christmas tree and menorah lightings, offbeat celebrations and other seasonal fun. We also launched our brand-new, locally focused Holiday Gift Guide this week. We'll be adding a lot of info to both of these guides, so be sure to check back throughout the season.

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.

We have a fun give-away for you just in time to celebrate the newest Muppet movie that is coming out next week. Over Thanksgiving weekend choose a day to take the family to see Being Elmo, an award winning documentary about Elmo and his creator. Shows are at noon on the 25th, 26th and 27th. The winner chooses the date that works for them at the beautiful Avon Theatre in Stamford.

The Holiday Craze is just upon us and this is the last weekend before everything officially starts. We've covered lots of Thanksgiving topics however to help you with your plans over the break. This week we've written about Things to Do During Thanksgiving Week in Hartford County and some restaurants that are open on turkey day in Fairfield and Litchfield Counties. We also suggested some great Thanksgiving Books and Games for your family to enjoy.

Connecticut's largest parade is in Stamford this weekend while a gingerbread display is happening at the Stamford Museum & Nature Center. If you are looking for a family fun show, we reviewed Stepping Stones' Global Energy Musical  and Seussical the Musical is playing in Ridgefield. In the mood for a classic? Check out the original Muppets Movie or Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs play.

Not ready for holiday fun quite yet? There are plenty of other options listed in our events calendar. Why not try a mommy and me yoga class?  Don't forget to enter our 4 Pack Ticket GIVE AWAY to see Being Elmo, a documentary for the family about Elmo and his creator that offers a behind-the-scenes look at Sesame Street and the Jim Henson Workshop.

Be our friend on Facebook and Twitter for up to the minute information about fun events and things to do all around Connecticut! Have a great weekend and read more for a round up of some great events happening this weekend.

The big day is coming and so far we’ve given you the 411 about restaurants open for Thanksgiving dinner and bequeathed a great Thanksgiving home-cooked meal planner. But before you start digging into that turkey, you’ve got a weekend to fill, so why not use it to make the proper preparations for your holiday by creating centerpieces, learning some manners, making a gingerbread house or taking the time to gaze at the stars.

Our roundup of events begins tonight, with Brookline’s First Light Festival, one of the holiday season’s kickoff events. Other weekend events include a Dog Sled Fun Run, the Faneuil Hall Tree Lighting, a performance of Robin Hood, and a Big Woods Hike. Read on for details, and remember that our calendar is filled with many more activities.

With the holiday season moving in to full gear next week, we have highlighted some of the area Nutcracker performances, ranging from traditional staging to a modern interpretation. We’ve also highlighted ten artisan and craft fairs, including the Sleigh Bell Artisan Fair, which takes place this weekend in Wenham. If you have a favorite that’s not on our list, please let me know, and I will add it to our calendar.

Finally, Mommy Poppins Boston is giving away two Family Four Packs for families to see the Sing-Along Mary Poppins at the Regent Theatre in Arlington (11/25, 11/26, 11/27). All you need to do is send me an email to enter!

Enjoy!

Though it's not even Thanksgiving yet, the holiday season, it seems, is already upon us—check out the tree lighting and holiday fairs going on this weekend. But don't worry: Thanksgiving hasn't been completely forgotten about. There's a cute Thanksgiving show and an old-tyme Thanksgiving celebration for your family to experience as well.