Christmastime is very busy for my family. Both my and my husband’s immediate family (including parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, and assorted nieces and nephews) live locally, so there are lots of parties and get-togethers during the season. After all of this holiday togetherness, I need to take a break and forget about Christmas and do something fun with friends.

One fun, active, and indoor family activity for Winter Break is bowling. I used to bowl at Nave Lanes in Ignacio when I was younger, but since it was torn down and replaced by a Safeway, we often head up to Southern Petaluma and go to AMF Boulevard Lanes, which is spacious and clean with a friendly staff. For the kids, they offer bumper bowling, which consist of metal barriers on either side of the lane so the ball can’t go in the gutter. We've even seen families use a special slide like ramp, so small children could roll their balls down the lane instead of facing the dreaded prospect of having their ball lose momentum and stop halfway to the pins.

Le Petit Jardin's French “total immersion” approach is an effective ten-week session for toddlers and children at the Golden Gate Tutoring Center in San Anselmo. The toddler Mommy & Me French Class is on Tuesday mornings from 10–10:50 am and runs from January 11 through March 15, 2011. These ten 50-minute sessions are designed to help you and your child explore the French language through singing, dancing, crafts, and storytime. The enrollment fee is $250 for this ten-week session. It also includes a book, CD, course materials, and a snack.

The French immerison for primary grades is an after school enrichment course on Wednesday afternoons from 3:30–5 pm starting on January 12. This enrichment class helps your child explore and absorb the French language and culture through fun themed-based lessons and hands-on activities all in French. The very small class sizes offers the benefit of a private tutor. The enrollment fee is $500 for this ten-week session. All course materials are included.

For more info, contact Amber at (415) 459-3978 or visit www.LPJkids.com.

Last week I hosted a holiday cookie party for my daughter's playgroup. I wanted to make my usual homemade gingerbread people, but ran out of time and ingredients while preparing for the party. By coincidence, I had a box of Trader Joe's Deep, Dark Gingerbread Cake and Baking Mix in the pantry. I took a look at the side panel and, lo and behold, found you could use it to make gingerbread cookies! I was saved!

I got out my trusty gingerbread person cookie cutter and prepared the cookies before the party so they'd be ready to decorate. You just add a stick of melted butter and a large egg to the baking mix, then form into a dough and chill. Then just roll and cut out as usual. I have to say, they made some of the best gingerbread cookies I've had in a while—moist and chewy with a pronounced spicy kick. They also had a hard to place richness about them, which I attribute to the inclusion of cocoa in the mix.

To us, the holiday lights and decorations at Novato resident Kirt Donaldson's house on Vineyard Road were the stuff of legend, mainly because we never were able to see them—until now. For the last year or two, the house remained undecorated through the holiday season, but we're happy to report that this year it's back and well worth checking out, especially if you're in the area visiting the Rombeiro Christmas House.

The front yard of the Donaldson house is covered in lights, figurines, and inflateables. Giant lighted candy canes serve as posts to hold strings of icecicle lights that criss-cross the yard. Speakers play jolly holiday tunes. And there's a snow machine. Seriously. Actually, it's not really snow in the way that snow really is (i.e. frozen water flakes) but foamy water bubbles churned out by machines on the roof that really do look like snow. The effect is impressive and it's the closest thing we're probably going to get to snow here in Marin, at least not without having to drive to the top of Mt. Tam on those rare snow days.

Marin Kids and Maternity Consignment, owned and operated by Marin moms, can help you find the perfect gifts and outfits for your sweet darlings this holiday season! Looking for the perfect "wear-it-once" outfit for your Christmas Eve family gathering? They have new-with-tags and "worn once" outfits for boys and girls ages newborn to 10.

 They also have a wonderful selection of next-to-new toys. Your kids (or you!) won't have to spend 20 minutes removing all the plastic wraps and ties! They can get right to play time and you will spend 50 to 70% less:

• Nilo train table, blonde wood with removable landscape sheet to switch to a blank play table $80 (sells new for over $175 with the mat!)
• Fisher Price Rainforest Bouncer Seat with buckle, vibration, hanging toys, music/lights/sounds ($29.99)

Is your child fantastically fantastic? Then chances are, she's a fan of Jane O'Connor's Fancy Nancy series of books about the little girl with the fancy vocabulary and fantastic fashion sense! She can show the world how fancy she can be by entering the Fancy Nancy Fantastic Fan Contest. (We're also giving away an awesome Fancy Nancy prize, so read on to the end of the article for details!)

Have your little Fancy Nancy Fan aged 3 to 8 dress up in her most spectacular outfit and accessories, and submit it online at photocontest.fancynancyworld.com. The most magnifique fan photo will be illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser in an upcoming Fancy Nancy book. The winner will also win a signed copy of the newest Fancy Nancy title, Fancy Nancy and the Fabulous Fashion Boutique!

Check out their website for rules and more information, as well as to take a look at the other entries, and vote on those that you think are the most fabulous. You can also sign up for Fancy Nancy email alerts and find Fancy Nancy activities, recipes, a fan club kit, and more. You have until January 31, 2011 to submit your entry.

Looking for something to do with your playgroup on a rainy day? Bring your playgroup down to the Magic Bus Music Studio in Novato for 30 minutes of singing, dancing, and instruments for newborns to 4 years. Cost is $10 per child. There is a minimum 6 children and a maximum of 12 per playgroup per session. If you're hungry after your musical playdate, Round Table Pizza with the Merlin's Magical Kingdom play area is right across the parking lot. Call Melissa to schedule your next musical playgroup at the Magic School Bus at (415) 721-1929 or email her at m1@musicwithmelissa.com.

The Cantina, a blast from Marin's recent past, has re-opened in Mill Valley's Blithedale Plaza. If you grew up in Marin you probably spent some time at this Mexican restaurant, renowned for its margaritas and family friendly setting. I loved coming to this restauant in my younger years. The Cantina closed in 2007, and was turned into a branch of musician Carlos Santana's fancier, pricier Maria Maria. Well, Mill Valley's Maria Maria is history, and the Cantina is once more open for business. We visited a short time ago with our own kids, and are happy to say that it hasn't changed much, despite the restaurant's three-year hiatus. The Cantina's current chef was even with the restaurant way back in 1983.

The Bus has arrived! Magic Bus Music Studio, Marin's newest early childhood music studio is now open in Novato at 1530 Center Road Suite 12, inside the Nautilus of Marin Building. The “Bus” offers Kindermusik classes, birthday parties, fundraising events and playgroup outings for families with children ages newborn to 4.

The Magic Bus Music Studio is owned by Melissa Ayotte, who has been teaching piano and Kindermusik in Marin for over 11 years. Joining Melissa is her long time friend and colleague Dee Dee Lawtonwho has also been teaching Kindermusik for over 11 years with “maestro programs” (in the top five percent world wide) in San Francisco and Napa. Dee Dee also offers instruction in flute and piano. For more information, call (415) 721-1929 or visit www.magicbusmusic.com.

Here are some of the programs offered this winter at Magic Bus Music Studio:

• Birthdays at The Bus
  For your 1-, 2-, or 3-year-old
  Cost: $125 for up to 12 children
  Start your child’s special day with 45 minutes of magical musical fun at the studio, where a licensed Kindermusik educator will delight your guests with live guitar and singing, lots of movement and dancing, playing with balls, hoops and parachute, and, of course, playing instruments! When the music ends, take your group right next door to Round Table for pizza, presents, and playtime! To make a reservation for your child’s 2011 Birthday Party call (415) 721-1929 or email m1@musicwithmelissa.com
• Musical Playgroups
  For children Newborn to 4 years old
  Cost: only $10 per child