“The Snowflake”
By Benji Davies

 The Snowflake is a delightful tale that draws parallels between a snowflake’s journey and a little girl’s path as they work out where they fit in the world. This wonderfully illustrated book will transport readers to a snowy wonderland as they follow Noelle and the snowflake.

“The People Remember”
By Ibi Zoboi, illustrated by Loveis Wise

In “The People Remember”, Ibi Zoboi weaves the seven principles of Kwanzaa with Black history in America. With poetic text and stunning illustrations, young readers are introduced to Kwanzaa and its place in African-American history. It demonstrates how cultures can endure adversity, why that is important today, and why it matters to celebrate. A must-read for families.

“Binny’s Diwali”
By Thrity Umrigar, illustrated by Nidhi Chanani

“Binny’s Diwali” is about how Binny does her best to describe the magic of Diwali, India’s annual holiday festival of lights, to her classmates. It’s a story that both introduces young readers to Diwali and demonstrates the vulnerability of presenting a part of your identity to an audience.

“The Christmas Mitzvah”
By Jeff Gottesfeld, illustrated by Michelle Laurentia Agatha

“The Christmas Mitzvah” is the heartwarming story of how friends and loved ones blend their  Christmas and Hanukkah celebrations into a festive symphony that emphasizes being with the people who matter most. Inspired by a true story, this book shows readers that celebrations are about the people we choose to spend them with.

The post 4 heartwarming holiday books for families to enjoy together appeared first on Seattle's Child.

Wild Lanterns at Woodland Park Zoo

Many families still search for “Seattle Zoo Lights,” but the Woodland Park Zoo’s holiday event is now called Wild Lanterns, featuring new illuminated displays each year.

Wild Lanterns at the Woodland Park Zoo | November 14-January 18, 2026 | 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. | Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle | Prices vary by day, peak weekend is $40.95/adult and $35.95/child (3-12), 2 and younger free. Buy tickets here. | The creators of Wild Lanterns have put together a brand-new show this year and the event promises to dazzle visitors with large light displays and interactive areas. See the website for hours and more details.

• What’s new at WildLanterns this year?

Zoolights at Point Defiance Zoo

Also knownn as the Tacoma Zoo Lights, the long-running Zoolights display transforms Point Defiance Zoo into a glowing winter wonderland with over a million lights.

Zoolights at Point Defiance Zoo | November 28-January 4, 2026 | 4:30 p.m. – 10 p.m. | Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, 5400 N Pearl St, Tacoma, WA 98407 | Cost: $14-$40, children 2 and younger are free. Buy tickets here | With over a million, the Point Defiance Zoo transforms its exhibits and pathways into a sparkly winter wonderland with lighted classics like the octopus, flame tree, and tiger face. Don’t forget to meet the groovy goats, then warm up with a cup of hot chocolate.

• Parent Review: 2025’s Zoolights Experience

Large Light Shows & Fairgrounds Events

Fantasy Lights at Spanaway Park | November 28, 2025 -January 4, 2026 | Open daily 5:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. | Spanaway Park, 14905 Bresemann Boulevard South, Spanaway 98387 | Cost: $15-$20 per vehicle. Watch for $10 discount days | Cozy up in your car as you drive through more than 300 elaborate displays with thousands of sparkling lights. Choose a weekday, early in the season, to avoid crowds. 

Lights of Christmas at Stanwood | November 28-December 28, 2025 | Select nights. | Warm Beach Camp & Conference Center, 20800 Marine Drive, Stanwood 98292 | $20 – $40 per car, find admission information here | Located an hour north of Seattle, this drive-thru light show in Stanwood is a must. As you drive, turn on the radio and listen to the display guide, Bruce the Spruce, as he takes you through each light display. Many activity stops along the route, including Joyland and Santa’s Village, which offer fun activities for the whole family, photo opportunities, and snacks. 

Holiday Magic at The Fair | December 5-23, 2025, select days | Washington State Fair Events Center, 110 9th Ave SW, Puyallup, WA 98371 | $22.50/adult, $17.50 for ages 3-12 and free for kids 2 and under, purchase tickets online for the best pricing. | Purchase your tickets to the Holiday Magic event at Washington State Fair Events Center and enjoy interactive exhibits, light displays, an ice rink, festive food, shopping, and more.

(Image courtesy Washington State Fair Facebook)

Parks, Gardens & Outdoor Holiday Displays

Swanson Nursery Holiday Festivities | November 8, 2025 – January 1, 2026, open daily | Swanson Nursery, 9701 15th Ave NW, Seattle 98117 | Free entry | Visit Santa, pick up your tree and home decor, plus see Swanson’s annual model train village for your family train outing! Don’t miss the Santa’s Yurt, an interactive kids’ space. Plus all of the usual holiday fun, including Santa Photos by appointment, holiday décor and ornaments, Christmas trees, and a special golden ticket promotion in the café.

Bonsai Solstice | Saturday, December 13, 2025 | 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. | Pacific Bonsai Museum, 2515 South 336th St, Federal Way 98003 | Free | Take an evening stroll amid the soft holiday lights surrounding the Pacific Bonsai Museum’s collection of trees. Stay for holiday treats and enjoy free hot chocolate, listen to holiday music and view the Bonsai trees twinkling an array of lights. This is a family-friendly tradition that warmly embraces the generous spirit of the holidays.

Bellevue Botanical Garden presents Garden d’Lights | November 29-December 31, 2025. Select days | 4:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. | Bellevue Botanical Garden, 12001 Main Street, Bellevue | $10/person, children 10 and younger free. Buy tickets here | As you follow the pathways through the garden, you’ll discover a variety of brightly lit displays, plant and animal shapes, rock formations, butterflies, bees, and birds. Be prepared: It’s a 1-mile walk. Watch for $5 nights, weekdays, during the show’s first two weeks.

• 2025 Guide to Garden D’Lights

Green Lake Path of Lights | Saturday, December 13, 2025 | 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. | Green Lake Park, 7201 East Green Lake Dr N, Seattle 98115 | Free, donations are welcome | Enjoy the annual seasonal event at Green Lake, this year with a special hot air balloon display (4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.). Walk the inner path around the lake, lined with thousands of luminaries. Dress for the weather.

• Parent Review: Green Lake Pathway of Lights

Evergreen Christmas Lights | December 1-24, 2025 | Open every night | 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. | Evergreen Church, 3429 240th St SE, Bothell 98021 | Free | A Bothell tradition: Hundreds of thousands of lights will cover an entire church building and will be synchronized to music. Stop into the pavilion for warm cookies, treats, a winter village, and a train exhibit. 

• Family Guide to Evergreen Christmas Lights

Garden D’Lights (Image: Ellie White / Seattle’s Child)

Neighborhood & Community Lights Around Seattle

Candy Cane Lane | December 6, 2025 – January 1, 2026. Sun to Thurs: 4 p.m. – 9:30 p.m., Fri & Sat: 4 p.m. – 11 p.m. | Park Rd NE and NE Ravenna Blvd, Seattle 98105 | Free | Visit this neighborhood light show in Seattle and enjoy the beautiful lights! Pedestrians are welcome on any night, but this year, there will be four pedestrian-only nights when the streets will be closed off. The Pedestrian Nights in 2025 are December 6, December 7, December 10, and December 12.

• 2025 Family Guide to Candy Cane Lane

Tree Lighting Ceremonies | Rain or shine, head to your local tree-lighting ceremony. Watch a parade, sip hot chocolate, and catch the magic of holiday displays. Arrive early to stake out a prime spot for viewing. Dates and locations vary. FREE. Here’s a short list of events:

• Pike Place Market – November 29, 2025
• Snohomish – November 29, 2025
• Mountlake Terrace – December 5, 2025
• Auburn – December 6, 2025
• Bellevue – December 6, 2025
• Bothell – December 6, 2025
• Kent – December 6, 2025
• Lakewood – December 6, 2025
• West Seattle – December 6, 2025
• Woodinville Tree Lighting – December 6, 2025

The start of something magical … (Image: Jillian O’Conner / Seattle’s Child)

Day Trip: Leavenworth Christmas Lights

Village of Lights: Christmastown in Leavenworth | November 27-February 28, 2025 | Open daily | See website for hours/days | Downtown Leavenworth, 820 Front Street, Leavenworth, 98826 | Free | Drive over to Leavenworth, where the town celebrates the holidays with over half a million lights, music and entertainment, holiday characters, kids’ activities, roasted chestnuts, Santa photos, and more.

Frequently Asked Questions about Holiday Lights in Seattle

Q: Where can I see Christmas lights in Seattle in 2025?
A: Popular spots include Wild Lanterns at Woodland Park Zoo, Green Lake Pathway of Lights, Garden d’Lights in Bellevue, and neighborhood shows like Candy Cane Lane.

Q: What happened to Seattle Zoo Lights?
A: Woodland Park Zoo’s former “WildLights” event is now called Wild Lanterns, but many families still search and refer to the old name when planning visits.

Q: Are there drive-through Christmas lights near Seattle?
A: Yes — Fantasy Lights in Spanaway and Lights of Christmas in Stanwood both offer drive-thru holiday experiences. Candy Cane Lane in Seattle’s Ravenna neighborhood is quite short, but also can be driven through.

Q: What are the best free holiday light displays?
A: Green Lake Pathway of Lights, Candy Cane Lane, Evergreen Christmas Lights, and many city tree-lighting ceremonies are free to the public.

Q: When do Seattle holiday lights usually start?
A: Most major displays begin mid to late November, with peak viewing between Thanksgiving and mid-December.

The post 2025 Guide: Holiday & Christmas lights around Seattle appeared first on Seattle's Child.

Nikki Gepner, a registered dietitian nutritionist in Woodinville, loves to praise the many benefits of pumpkin. 

So much nutrition in this gourd

Besides containing the immune-boosting vitamins A and C, Gepner explains, pumpkin is also high in lutein, zeaxanthin and beta carotene, which all contribute to eye health. Pumpkin contains plenty of fiber and potassium, both of which are heart-healthy nutrients.

“The seeds have a lot of zinc,” she explains, “which is great for the immune system and healing wounds. And they’re also a source of protein.”

Make it available for your kids

Beyond the health benefits, this superfood is quite versatile to cook with, delicious in almost any kind of dish from soups to stir-fries and curries to chilies. And with Thanksgiving just around the corner, families have a chance to do more with pumpkin than just the traditional pumpkin pie. 

Gepner suggests roasting the pumpkin in an oven first to make removing the skin easier. After that, the flesh can be puréed for chilies and soups, or cubed for dishes that require a starchy vegetable. 

Pumpkin can be used as a substitute for ingredients like sweet potatoes, bananas or applesauce, making it perfect for rolls, breads and muffins. The seeds can also be used to liven up a salad or garnish a dish.

“You can really change it up very easily, depending on what flavors you want,” she says. “It’s really versatile that way.”

The pumpkin’s versatility means it’s easy to incorporate this ingredient into different dishes for your kids. But Gepner recommends taking a relaxed approach to introducing children to any new flavors.

“Have it available,” she advises, “but don’t add pressure to eat it. That really improves how much kids feel safe trying new things, and how much they can enjoy it later on.”

Gepner also cautions against focusing on eating only one type of food. It’s still necessary to have diversity in your diet.

“In terms of color, it’s important to eat a whole rainbow throughout the week,” she says. “It helps you get a wider variety of nutrients.

“You also want to make sure you have a source of protein, a source of fat and a source of fiber in each meal.”

And that’s where pumpkin can really shine: as a complementary food to things you already eat. Whether it’s canned or fresh, you can stock up on this orange superfood and get ready to use it for everyday meals from oatmeal to salads to curries.

Recipe: Nikki Gepner’s Red Thai Curry

Makes 4 servings

Ready in 35 to 45 minutes

Serve on top of cooked chunks of pumpkin (or rice or quinoa).

INGREDIENTS

• 2 tablespoons coconut oil
• ½ sweet onion, thickly sliced
• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, chopped into bite-size pieces
• 1 can coconut milk
• 2 tablespoons red curry paste
• 1 tablespoon coconut sugar (optional)
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced
• 1 cup green beans, sliced in half
• 1 tablespoon fish sauce
• 1 lime, juiced
• 1 bunch Thai basil, chopped
• Dried red chili flakes, to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. Add oil to a large pot or wok. Heat on medium-high. Add onion and sauté for 5 minutes.
2. Remove onion from the pot; set aside. Add chicken to the pot and cook, stirring occasionally for 5 to 10 minutes or until browned on each side.
3. Add onions to chicken, then stir in coconut milk, curry paste and coconut sugar. Bring to a boil, then turn heat down to medium-low and simmer for 10 minutes.
4. Increase heat to medium and add vegetables, fish sauce and lime juice; cook for 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
5. Serve with chopped basil and add red chili flakes to taste. This article was first published in the November/December 2021 issue of Seattle’s Child.

Originally published Nov. 7, 2021

More great gourd ideas:

Recipes for healthy pumpkin oat muffins

How to eat a pumpkin!

Pumpkin-centric recipes for fall: Pumpkin soup

Have all the recipes? Now go pick your pumpkin!

The post Pumpkin: It’s more than just pie appeared first on Seattle's Child.

But first, coffee

I’ve been in love with Hello Em ever since the Vietnamese coffee roastery and cafe opened in January 2021. The cà phê trứng, with its espresso made from robusta beans and foam with steamed condensed milk and egg yolk, tastes like creamy tiramisu in a cup. We looked at the new art exhibits on the walls while we waited for coffee and cocoa. Graced by some pockets of sunshine, we opted to walk the half-mile over to the climbing gym while we sipped our drinks. 

Seattle Bouldering Project: how it works

I had filled out a waiver before our visit, so check-in at the gym was painless. There’s no age limit to climb and rental shoes are free for your first visit, which felt like a great way to introduce young climbers to the sport. We folded up our stroller and got a quick safety briefing that covered things like how to follow a color-coded route and fall safely. 

The facility has two levels. The top level features taller walls that even include a “climb over” option when you reach the top, while the bottom level has the most kid-friendly spaces. My young children were absolutely delighted by the Willy Wonka-esque bright colors decorating the walls. Some of the holds even come in whimsical shapes, like octopuses and turtle shells. 

Turning left past the cubbies at the base of the stairs, we found a fairly quiet space that featured a fortlike area at the top of shorter walls. My 5-year-old quickly scaled the easiest route to the top and egged her younger brother on. He took his time deliberately testing out holds while I spotted him from below, but he eventually made it to the top with a proud smile. In the center of the fort is a chimney-shaped space that has extra-easy holds for descending or for little ones that need uniform shapes.

Just as my kids started to get “tired,” we realized there was another set of walls with a fort area around the corner. This one had some overhangs, a larger space underneath that resembled a cave and even a slide for a quick descent! All told, we spent about 90 minutes climbing (with short water breaks mixed in) before everyone started to get hungry. 

What happens when you get to the top? You slide down and do it again, of course!

Time for lunch

After we changed back into our street shoes, we hiked back up the hill into Little Saigon toward Phở Bac Sup Shop based on a friend’s recommendation. Limited indoor seating is available, but we placed a to-go order for spring rolls and a Dac Biet (beef sampler) pho since our family is sticking to outdoor dining for now.

I hadn’t thought far enough ahead to choose a picnic spot, so we headed to the closest green space I could find for our picnic. We landed at Wisteria Park, a calm oasis across the street from the Betsuin Buddhist Temple. It’s a privately owned park, but seemed open when we arrived and the few older folks who strolled through gave us a friendly wave as we ate. My kids adored slurping the flavorful pho broth and rice noodles. Soup seemed to be the perfect nourishing meal after working hard on their bouldering skills all morning.

We headed back to our car full, happy and exhausted. I’m happy to report that everyone took a long nap that afternoon, so we’ll be back for a repeat soon!

Seattle Bouldering Project: things to know

Location: Seattle Bouldering Project has multiple Seattle locations. Find the Poplar location at 900 Poplar Place S. near the International District, and the primary Fremont location at 3535 Interlake Ave. N. A smaller Upper Walls location is located one block north of the Fremont outpost. 

Hours: The Poplar and Fremont locations are open from 6 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. -10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Upper Walls is open daily 9 a.m.-9 p.m. The gym stays open most holidays with limited hours, so this could be a great option for families who need entertainment over school breaks.

Cost: A day pass costs $18 for adults and $14 for youth. Rental climbing shoes are $4, but are free for first-time visitors. 

Restrooms and parking: Parking is available off Poplar Place South. Multi-stall restrooms are available upstairs (use the one that matches your gender identity) with single-stall restrooms on the lower level. 

Nearby (Poplar Location): Directly across Rainier Avenue, you’ll find San Fernando Peruvian Chicken. We opted for coffee from Hello Em and pho from Phở Bac Sup Shop to fuel up on either side of our climbing session. You’re only a few minutes’ drive from International District favorites like Dough Zone’s dumplings or Young Tea’s boba. 

More fun

A previous review: Seattle Bouldering Project birthday party: “We wore out a dozen boys in a safe environment.”

Find many more things to do in Seattle’s Child

This story was first published online on Sept. 16, 2021. 

The post Kids can climb to their hearts’ content at Seattle Bouldering Project appeared first on Seattle's Child.

For the Castleberry/Frederico family, holiday activities like baking cookies and decorating the house offer fun opportunities for them to bond. And for this blended family, that bonding time is a top priority.

“The family is the root,” explains Jessica. “It’s what’s important to us.”

But it’s not just family time that makes the holiday season special for the Edmonds family. The holidays are also their time to reflect on the past year and set goals for the upcoming year.

“We ask ourselves, what does each individual person want to work on for the coming year?” says Jessica.

“We really like to focus the goal-making on something personal, or we focus on something that’s going to help us become more bonded as a family.”

She describes her three kids as “extremely active boys who all have completely different personalities.”

“My husband and I encourage each one to stand out in their own way,” she says. When Jessica and Brandon wed, Jessica already had two sons of her own. With Conor’s birth, they became a family of five.  

Beyond family bonding, the Castleberry/Frederico family also focuses on how to make the world a better place.

“We have a lot of discussion about how things that are going on in the world impact our family,” Jessica says.

And she often stresses to her kids how doing one good thing for one person can create change for a lot more people. 

It’s this philosophy of paying it forward that allows the Castleberry/Frederico family to truly embody the spirit of the holidays.

The Castleberry/Frederico family was photographed as part of Seattle’s Child’s 2021 Holiday Card Contest.

See the other Holiday Card Contest winners in the November/December 2021 issue and online!

First tamales and empanadas, then the slopes! Texas and Northwest traditions combine for a magical Christmas celebration.

New beginnings and new traditions: Two grandmothers are looking ahead to a happy season of new experiences for their toddler.

Sharing time-honored celebrations: They’re combining traditions from Bolivia and Burien, and they’re awaiting a fourth family member.

A happy, high-energy holiday season: This family has hustle — and lots to do! — this time of year, but they still find a way to be together.

How other local families like to celebrate:

Vashon family created its own holiday inspired by — no kidding — Mr. T

Meet Menorasaurus Rex: Renton family puts creative spin on Hanukkah

Our holiday traditions: Mixing up old and new customs

A Christmas Eve present that never surprises

Formerly homeless family happy to have a home for the holidays

Seattle family honors Sikh traditions while celebrating the winter holidays

How we celebrate: Holidays are extra sweet for foster-care advocates

The post Card contest 2021: They’re blended — and bonding appeared first on Seattle's Child.

Everyone pitched in. “Even the little kids got involved rolling the dough,” Melinda recalls. The highlight was always Christmas Eve: Everyone came together to form an assembly line in order to create the tamales and empanadas to be enjoyed the following day. Pumpkin empanadas with piloncillo (unrefined pure cane sugar) and cinnamon sticks have always been her favorite.

She met her husband Peter in Idaho, and the couple settled near his family in Seattle. 

They are now a family of five and their Christmas traditions have grown alongside their children, Nolan, Lily and Eli. They trek up to Snoqualmie to cut down their own Christmas tree. They invite family friends over for a winter bonfire and treats.

Peter’s contribution to the holiday festivities has been skiing: The family alternates between going up to Crystal Mountain and over to Sun Valley, Idaho. Everyone hits the slopes on Christmas Day, avoiding long lines at the lifts and enjoying time together. For the Woodings, it’s powder over presents.

Whether they wake up at home or in Idaho on December 25th, Melinda makes sure that tamales and empanadas are still a big part of the day. It’s her way of connecting the kids to their heritage and re-creating a little bit of her Texas childhood right here in the Pacific Northwest.

The Woodings were photographed as part of Seattle’s Child’s 2021 Holiday Card Contest.

See the other Holiday Card Contest winners in the November/December 2021 issue and online!

New beginnings and new traditions: Two grandmothers are looking ahead to a happy season of new experiences for their toddler.

They’re blended — and bonding: New family celebrates goal-setting, aiming at making the world a better place for all.

Sharing time-honored celebrations: They’re combining traditions from Bolivia and Burien, and they’re awaiting a fourth family member.

A happy, high-energy holiday season: This family has hustle — and lots to do! — this time of year, but they still find a way to be together.

How other local families like to celebrate:

Vashon family created its own holiday inspired by — no kidding — Mr. T

Meet Menorasaurus Rex: Renton family puts creative spin on Hanukkah

Our holiday traditions: Mixing up old and new customs

A Christmas Eve present that never surprises

Formerly homeless family happy to have a home for the holidays

Seattle family honors Sikh traditions while celebrating the winter holidays

How we celebrate: Holidays are extra sweet for foster-care advocates

The post Card contest 2021: First tamales and empanadas, then the slopes! appeared first on Seattle's Child.

Grandmothers to 2-year-old Skai, whom they have been raising since birth, Jo and Valerie can’t wait to introduce the toddler to the magic of the season this year. Not only will she be old enough to be aware of the festivities and even take part in some, but she, Valerie and Jo will be much healthier. In 2020, all three spent the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas recovering from COVID. 

“We’ll make a gingerbread house,” says Valerie, who has memories of doing the same with her mother. What else is on their to-do list with their toddler? Trips to Candy Cane Lane, Swanson’s to see the reindeer, small family gatherings and just driving around admiring neighborhood lights while sipping on hot chocolate. Both agree Skai will love the lights and the music the most.  

“It’s really exciting because she’s only 2, and we get to introduce her to all of the joys of the holiday season. The Christmas spirit. We’re just at the beginning of that,” says Jo.

Originally from New York, Jo and Valerie hope to one day treat Skai to a New York City Christmas, and take her to Rockefeller Center and to admire the window displays at Saks Fifth Avenue. For now, though, they are excited to enjoy this season together. Opportunities await the new family!

This story was first published on Nov. 1, 2021.

Jo, Valerie and Skai are one of the families photographed as part of Seattle’s Child’s 2021 Holiday Card Contest. 

Don’t miss them on the November/December 2021 cover! Read the issue:

Other Holiday Card Contest winners:

First tamales and empanadas, then the slopes! Texas and Northwest traditions combine for a magical Christmas celebration.

They’re blended — and bonding: New family celebrates goal-setting, aiming at making the world a better place for all.

Sharing time-honored celebrations: They’re combining traditions from Bolivia and Burien, and they’re awaiting a fourth family member.

A happy, high-energy holiday season: This family has hustle — and lots to do! — this time of year, but they still find a way to be together.

How other local families like to celebrate:

Vashon family created its own holiday inspired by — no kidding — Mr. T

Meet Menorasaurus Rex: Renton family puts creative spin on Hanukkah

Our holiday traditions: Mixing up old and new customs

A Christmas Eve present that never surprises

Formerly homeless family happy to have a home for the holidays

Seattle family honors Sikh traditions while celebrating the winter holidays

How we celebrate: Holidays are extra sweet for foster-care advocates

The post New beginnings and new traditions appeared first on Seattle's Child.

This year, their Elf on the Shelf (named Reyna) will make a mischievous appearance, and on Christmas Day the family will don their matching PJs. (Derek has even followed in his uncle’s footsteps and started dressing up as Santa Claus each year.)

But as a first-generation American, Loren has incorporated some of her favorite Bolivian holiday traditions from her childhood into her growing family’s celebrations. (And they’re expecting a baby boy in March.)

“My husband and I grew up in very different backgrounds, very different upbringings,” says Loren. “So now as we’ve started our own family, we’ve made a point not just around the holidays, but just in general, to pull from all the great things that our families did for us and have incorporated them into our lives.” 

Throughout December, she and her husband bake humintas, which are special corn tamales and known as a Bolivian delicacy. For Christmas Eve, they follow the recipe passed down from Loren’s great-great-grandmother for Picana soup – with a slight twist. Since they have transitioned to a plant-based diet, they don’t include the meat in their version of the dish, which is a Christmas Eve tradition in Bolivia.

The Bainbridge Island family wraps up the holiday season by setting out their boots and hay on the night of January 5, and then enjoying the small gifts left for them by Los Reyes Magos (the Three Kings) the following day.

“It’s really special to us to get to incorporate the things that were so meaningful to us as kids – and share them with our kids,” says Loren.

The Ericksons were photographed as part of Seattle’s Child’s 2021 Holiday Card Contest. This story was first published on Nov. 1, 2o21. 

See the other Holiday Card Contest winners in the November/December 2021 issue and online!

First tamales and empanadas, then the slopes! Texas and Northwest traditions combine for a magical Christmas celebration.

New beginnings and new traditions: Two grandmothers are looking ahead to a happy season of new experiences for their toddler.

They’re blended — and bonding: New family celebrates goal-setting, aiming at making the world a better place for all.

A happy, high-energy holiday season: This family has hustle — and lots to do! — this time of year, but they still find a way to be together.

How other local families like to celebrate:

Vashon family created its own holiday inspired by — no kidding — Mr. T

Meet Menorasaurus Rex: Renton family puts creative spin on Hanukkah

Our holiday traditions: Mixing up old and new customs

A Christmas Eve present that never surprises

Formerly homeless family happy to have a home for the holidays

Seattle family honors Sikh traditions while celebrating the winter holidays

How we celebrate: Holidays are extra sweet for foster-care advocates

The post Sharing time-honored celebrations appeared first on Seattle's Child.

All aboard the Yuletide Express!

In a normal year, tickets to the Northwest Railway Museum’s Santa Train are pricey and sell out shortly after they go on sale in late summer, so we had never managed to go.

However, after years of reading bedtime masterpieces like Kevin Lewis’ “Chugga Chugga Choo Choo” and ogling the trains passing the beach at Carkeek Park, my kids have become quite train-obsessed. So when the train transformed into the Yuletide Express in 2020, it felt like the right time to splurge on one of the remaining holiday activities still able to operate relatively safely.

Here’s the plan for 2021

Duration: The Yuletide Express is 25 minutes in 2021. (Trains run Nov. 27-28 and Dec. 4-5, 11-12 and 18-19. There will also be a Santa Limited ride (Dec. 11-12 and 18-19), which is a two-hour excursion in 2021. Tickets must be purchased online in advance at trainmuseum.org.  

Activities: Families on the Santa Limited will fill those two hours with a round-trip ride between North Bend and the Railway History Campus, touring the train shed exhibit hall and receiving a small gift from Santa in the restored Chapel Car. On the Yuletide Express, families take a short ride to Snoqualmie Falls and back while Santa cruises the aisles, delivering a small gift to each child on the train. Prepackaged cookies are provided for kids to take home.

Other COVID protocols: Proof of vaccination required for all visitors 12 and older. Masks required for everyone 5 and older, including crew, and requested for age 2 and up.

Cost: $25 per person for everyone age 2 and up.

All aboard for holiday fun

Aboard the train, we adults enjoyed seeing the old train cars parked along the rails and peekaboo views of Snoqualmie Falls, but the kids started to get a little restless and I was grateful to have our train book along for entertainment.

Then, I turned around to glance through the window at the back of our beautifully decorated car and spotted Jolly Old Saint Nick making his way toward us. My highly practical daughter, then 4, reminded me loudly with a roll of her eyes, “Santa Claus is just for pretend, Mommy!” Thank goodness for the distance from believers!

Despite her lack of faith, when I asked her later about her favorite part of the ride, she replied without hesitation that it was seeing Santa Claus. Wearing a mask with a very realistic bearded mouth on it, Santa managed to delight both my kids with our short visit. My oldest doesn’t normally open up to strangers, but she happily told Santa her age and even managed to squeak out a “thank you” for her gift (a beautiful little wooden top). It’s a miracle!

On the return trip, we compared features of the train cars to the ones in our book and hopped down at the depot to pick up our snickerdoodles. We spent 10 to 15 minutes admiring the antique train cars and climbing stairs before heading home.

Since my young kids have short attention spans, the Yuletide Express was the perfect length pandemic outing with just the right amount of holiday magic.

Yuletide Express boards at Snoqualmie Depot: 38625 SE King St., Snoqualmie.
Santa Limited boards at North Depot: 205 E. McClellan St., North Bend; trainmuseum.org

This updated article was first published on Dec. 3, 2020.

More holiday fun in Seattle’s Child

Seattle-area holiday events, 2021

Zoolights 2021: outdoor holiday fun at Point Defiance Zoo

5 best holiday markets around the Seattle area

The post Parent review: Yuletide Express trains a short, sweet holiday outing appeared first on Seattle's Child.

The spirit of Christmas is in serious trouble.

I know, you’ve heard it all before: 

“It’s too materialistic.” 

“The stores hang decorations right after Halloween.”

“Black Friday is like the Hunger Games.” 

We all know it’s true, but we feel powerless to change it. Every year, our kids write down their wish lists, we pull out our credit cards, and we log on to Amazon or drive to the mall and search for a parking spot for half an hour. After Christmas dinner, with boxes, ribbons and wrapping paper strewn across the floor, and half of the plastic crap we bought for our kids already broken, we stare at the mess and wonder: “Is this really what Christmas is about?”

Sometimes we try to kindle the Christmas spirit by spreading joy to those in need. Our clinic often sponsors struggling families who can’t afford to buy presents for their children. The kids fill out wish lists, we buy what’s on them, and on Christmas morning they wake up to a tree surrounded by presents. It makes us feel good. I’m sure the kids are super-excited. I’m sure their parents are relieved and grateful. And yet, I have to wonder what happens next month, when all of their plastic crap is broken, too, and it’s rent day again. 

This year, about one in seven American children will spend the holidays in poverty. That’s more than 10 million kids who may lack not only presents, but enough food to eat, or a roof over their heads. That’s horrifying, but it could have been even worse. In the last round of emergency COVID relief, Congress authorized a temporary child tax credit that sent checks to families with children all over the country, and it lifted 3 million kids out of poverty. 

Yes, it turns out that you can reduce child poverty by giving money to families with children. Who knew? And research shows that when you reduce child poverty, you reduce crime and you raise productivity and income. Everybody wins.

For a while, it looked like this idea was going to take off with a bipartisan tailwind. After all, it was pro-family and anti-poverty, and that appealed to both the right and the left. One of the first leaders to publicly champion this approach was Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah – hardly a bleeding-heart liberal. And yet, now that the idea has found its way into an actual budget proposal, it’s being crushed under a wave of partisan attacks:

“No more handouts.”

“Why should they get something for nothing?”

“Some people work for a living.”

“If they couldn’t afford children, they shouldn’t have had any.”

“If they would rather die, they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.” 

Oh, sorry, that last one wasn’t cable news. That was Scrooge in A Christmas Carol.

Oddly, a lot of these outraged Americans are probably the same ones who donate generously at work and at church so that poor kids won’t wake up on Christmas morning to an empty tree. And yet a child tax credit that would reduce childhood poverty by 50%, that would cost each American citizen only 40 cents a day, that would pay for itself many times over with greater productivity, more tax revenue, lower crime and less need for social services – somehow they see that as a bridge too far.

Here, in one of the richest countries in the world, what must a child do to “earn” the right not to be poor? How should they prove themselves worthy of help? Or are we simply comfortable with the idea that the bad fortune they were born into is none of our concern? Except, of course, at Christmas.

I know that the politics are complicated. I know that there isn’t consensus on the economics. I know that nobody wants to be guilt-tripped when they’re just trying to enjoy a nice holiday with their family. But I also know this: In this supposed season of generosity and hope, some of us will enjoy an embarrassing surplus of blessings, while others are just trying to survive. 

They call this the season of giving, but a gift that disappears overnight changes nothing. We can do better than that. This year, let’s turn our giving into a New Year’s resolution. Let’s turn it into public policy. Let’s resolve to give our kids – every one of them – a fighting chance.

Jeff Lee spends Black Friday cowering under a blanket in Seattle.

This column was first published on Nov. 1, 2021.

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