I'm dreaming of a white Christmas...

Explorers Academy Preschool Potluck 2011 from NY City Explorers on Vimeo.

 But it sure doesn't look like that will be happening this year, does it?  Having resigned ourselves earlier in the month to calling to mind the white Halloween of two months past, we've rested in all that is holly, jolly, merry and delicious about this holiday season rather than dwell on the less-than-seasonally-appropriate landscape outside of our windows.  With a visit from Santa, our Explorers Academy Preschool Holiday Potluck, the final We SIT, You SHOP event of the year at the Union Square Gap, and an intimate staff dinner in Bed-Stuy all under our belts in the past month alone, there's more than enough to be merry about even without the opportunity for sledding and snow-shoeing (Although we can't wait to do those in the new year as at well!)

     December 10th saw a break in toy production in the North Pole, letting Santa spend the morning at The Learning Garden at 186 Underhill Ave in Prospect Heights!  Neighborhood tots, preschool students and visiting family alike made their way to NY City Explorers' cozy playspace to spend a morning enjoying a bagel breakfast, OJ and coffee with sitters, crafts, treats and toys on hand for one and all.  Bag-of-Tricks-Babysitter extraordinaire Sam Pinkleton spent time engaging sweeties in festive fun, while 3-years-old Shelton, daughter of NY City Explorers' co-owner Kisha Gandsy, kept Santa company for much of the morning.  Perhaps the lovably mischievous Shelton had in mind to make up through cheerful conversation any marks that might be next to her name on the "Naughty List" this year.  Hmmm... 

     On the last full weekend before Christmas, with Santa packed and headed back to the North Pole, and crowds of eager shoppers fanning out all through Manhattan, Bag-of-Tricks-Babysitters Elisa, Ka Yiu and Shani set up shop on the sales floor of the babies' section of the Union Square Gap, equipped with toys, books and holiday crafts to keep the youngest tots of holiday shoppers engaged and entertained while parents shopped with free hands on the busiest shopping weekend of the retail year.  With googly eyes, glue sticks, crayons and sequins, Elisa and the rest of the crew ensured safe, thriving fun for all in their care, from 10am-1pm last Saturday.  With corporate and in-store sitting booking quickly for the New Year, contact Amy Yurcan to set up an event at your favorite store, office or school or community event.  Amy can be reached via email at ayurcan@nycityexplorers.com or by phone at 718-809-6486.

2 Seasonal Sing-Alongs Worth Sharing with Company

Love playing honorary Auntie or Uncle to your bestie's brood, but have had it as much as the next parents with hearing that precious 20-month-old "nephew" prove that "Your Baby Can Read" while your babies are still working on colors?  Ensure your own tot's top spot on the holiday party child performance circuit when you teach him or her to sing (Or, hey, even lip-sync!) to these off-the-beaten-path holiday tunes.  Bonus?  You'll save yourself endless repetitions of "Jingle Bells" on car rides to come!  Both can be found here, along with several other NPR picks:  

*Shiloh

*Patapan

3 Movie Date Nights (The Perfect Gift Package for Every Parent in Your Life)

Gift the kids a night out while you enjoy your own!  Book 3 upcoming evenings for the kids and guarantee yourself some holly-jolly respite from parent-duty.  Reserve Friday Dinner and a Movie Date Night at NY City Explorers' Learning Garden and enjoy 4 hours of time dining without the whining somewhere that's not stocked with  a changing table.  Your youngsters will enjoy pizza and a flick in the cozy comfort of The Learning Garden at 186 Underhill Ave in Prospect Heights under the confident and competent care of our

Bag-of-Tricks-Babysitting staff.  Bring them in jammies for an easy pick-up and seamless transition to bedtime at the end of the evening.   Our recommendations for how to spend your time off?  Check out these three local restaurants, all within easy walking, subway or can distance from The Learning Garden:

* Chavela's 

* Amorina 

* Cheryl's Global Soul 

4 Winter Sports to Try as a Family While Gym Class is Out of Session: Give the gift of quality time to your family this season!

Wall Climbing 

All of the adventure and strength training of hiking minus the trail mix and chapped lips.  Check out one of these spots with older kids for a one-of-a-kind indoor adventure.

Sledding

We love Central Park for classic sled-friendly hills without the exhilaration (and danger!) that comes with worrying about passing cars where the hill meets the roadside.  When you can't get to Grandma's house in Westchester, this urban oasis is the next best thing. 

                 Indoor Swimming

This no-impact aerobic  summer staple for the whole family need not disappear with Labor Day sales each year.  Instead, check out one of the many public or private indoor city pools for an unorthodox way to spend a winter afternoon. 

Cross-Country Skiing

The closest groomed trails may be in Putnam County, but when snowfall is sufficient to allow it, cross-country skis can be rented in NYC's Central Park as well.  With the danger of falls nearly eliminated, the appeal of this intro to winter sporting goes beyond perceived safety to include a great work-out with an amazing view to boot!

He lost his poor meatball :(

The first weekend of December is under our belts and with it we finally ushered in temperatures worthy of the season.  While it's hard to take mittens and hat weather after the unseasonably but delightfully warm November we enjoyed on the East Coast, with the Holiday season upon us, it is about time we're able to start seeing our breath in the chilly morning air!
     We're so glad that despite the early winter chill, some of our Explorers Academy Preschool family members were able to make it to The Learning Garden at 186 Underhill Ave in Prospect Heights on Saturday.  We always enjoy the time that we're able to spend in fellowship with the preschool families outside of school hours, and Saturday was no exception, with NY City Explorers' Creative Director Amy Yurcan in attendance with her family and Bag-of-Tricks-Babysitter (www.nycityexplorers.com/sitting) Sam Pinkleton on hand with a slew of colored Popsicle sticks and plans for holiday tree craft in his noggin.  Company co-owner Kisha Gandsy, a usual fixture at EAP Parents Playgroups on first Saturdays, was missed, but as her childhood BFF was making a visit from South Cackalacka, she was excused from the festivities for the first time, with all in attendance looking forward to seeing her fam, all three little ones included, in January!
     Kisha's and husband Chris' Haven, Shelton and Isa were surely missed by the attending tots, but Olive, Kai and Jules enjoyed playing, snacking, crafting and even an impromptu song circle just the same, with the intimate crowd allowing for personal conversation that the dads in attendance seemed particularly appreciative of.  Amy's hubby Bryan missed his usual chitchat with Kisha's Chris, but the convo about all things classic rock-related that he enjoyed with Jules' papa Andrew and Kai's dad Rory filled the gap nicely, and then some!
     Sam and Amy loved bringing the little ones' song requests to fruition, shakers, drums and all.  Kai impressed the whole group by keeping nearly perfect rhythm on a hand drum throughout the session, while Jules' mama Melanie warmed the hearts of Amy and Sam both with the revelation that one of the tunes suggested for the sing-along, "On Top of Spaghetti", would be a poor choice.  Jules, Melanie revealed, finds the premise of the song, the journey of a wayward meatball, to be saddening.  Is there a cuter tale to be told?  We think not!