December 2024

Holiday Lights
The holidays are here, and that means so are holiday lights! Check out these fantastic displays:
Filoli (My personal favorite!)
San Jose Drive Thru (Christmas in the Park)
Vasona Park (Tickets Available Starting Nov 7th)
Glowfari at Oakland Zoo
Enchant in San Jose (Our first time attending this year — so fun!)
WinterFest at Great America

The Nutcracker
Another holiday favorite, the Nutcracker is back in town! I’ve heard that the Ballet America production of the Nutcracker on Dec. 7 and 8 at Cañada College is fantastic (thanks, Betsy!). And the SFBallet production is also a treat and personal favorite!

Discount Holiday Movies at Cinemark
Cinemark theater on Shoreline is showing some classic holiday flicks for $5 per ticket. And they aren’t crowded — last Saturday we had the whole theater to ourselves for Elf! Tickets and other details are here. Protip: Get the XL refillable popcorn for about $10 and bring extra paper bags to redistribute — you get enough popcorn for your entire family (and everyone else you know too).

Hotel De Zink (all of December) and VTA Safe Parking Lot (Dec 12th)
Want to support the unhoused this holiday season? Our church is hosting Hotel de Zink this month. Please consider signing up to bring a meal or other supplies!

Also, our church is hosting a party for people living in the VTA safe parking lot in Mountain View on Dec 12th! Please come join the fun. Also, there are ways you can contribute like donating thermal water bottles, baking sugar cookies, or making a financial donation. More info is here.

Holiday Boutique (Dec 18th)
Come shop for unique and handmade gifts at Stevenson Elementary School in the Multipurpose Room (MUR) on Dec 18th 3-5:30 pm. I’ll be there at “Mrs. O’Leary’s Candle Shop” shop selling hand-painted candles in support of Heifer International. *Note the day change! December 18th, not the 13th 🙂

Holiday Train (Dec 7th and 8th)
Caltrain and Salvation Army are again teaming up to collect toys for kids in need with the Holiday Train! It is always fun (and always a crowd, so go early!)

Mountain View Christmas Tree Lighting (Dec 9th)
Come celebrate the season with your city! There will be hot chocolate, games, music, dancing, Santa, and lots of light!
https://www.mountainview.gov/our-city/departments/community-services/special-events/community-tree-lighting-celebration?locale=en

Mountain View Library Programing
There are SO many great events coming up at the library!

Bel Cantos Flute Concert (Dec 3)
Mandarin Storytime
Pages and Paws Reading Buddies
Let’s Create
Holly Jolly Storytime
and More

Also, the library makes it easy to explore the outdoors — check out a parks pass and hiking backpack!

Lastly, you can reserve free tickets to local museums, the California Academy of Science and the de Young Museum!

Parenting Book Club
If you are interested in discussing, just shoot me an email and we’ll figure out a time!

December: Good Inside by Dr. Becky. Yes, this is a repeat but I needed to reread it for another book club and thought I would throw it out again to this group, as it really is that good inside.

January: Nonviolent Communication: Create Your Life, Your Relationships, and Your World in Harmony with Your Values by Marshall Rosenberg PhD