Break for the holidays

On the first day of Christmas vacation

My school district gave to me:

Three hyper children,

At home while I’m working,

Bored out of their skuuuulls.

Too many days off

While the parents work….

But we had our Valley Voice calendarrrr….

With Christmas vacation starting, it’s helpful to have some ideas lined up before the kids come home, said Karen Schatz, a Spokane Valley mom. “You really need to kind of plan to be flexible.”

Roughly 20,000 Spokane Valley students will be on Christmas vacation for the next two weeks.

When Schatz’s children were younger, playing in the snow or sledding at Valley Mission Park or near their home in the Ponderosa neighborhood were always fun activities during the break, she said.

Indoors, there are the movies they never got around to watching, and “a big thing in our house every year, and we still do, is we make lots and lots of Christmas cookies and Christmas goodies that we give away,” she said.

“The key is just to enjoy it,” she said of the break. “They’re not at home that long.”

Her son and daughter are 19 and 17.

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Here are a few suggestions for holiday-harried Valley parents and soon-to-be bored kids during the 12 days of Christmas.

Sweet tooth

The Happy Cake Co., 1312 N. Mullan Road, is offering a candy making class Monday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Demonstrations include making peanut butter cups, chocolate covered cherries, suckers, mints and more. The suggested age range is 8 and up. The cost is $10.

Call 924-8455 to reserve a seat. More information is available at www.happycakeco.com.

Skate, rattle and roll

Children can skate while parents go Christmas shopping, or if they simply need a few hours off.

From noon to 4 p.m. this Monday through Friday, kids can skate for $4.50. Price includes skate rental. A hot dog lunch is available for a dollar more.

From 1 to 5 p.m. Dec. 26 through Dec. 31, skating is available for $5 or $6 with lunch.

Also, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday and on Dec. 28 skating is available for $3.50.

An inflatable obstacle course and play area is available for those under 4 feet for $3.

Finally, the rink will host a New Year’s Eve party Dec. 31 from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.

For more information, visit www.rollervalley.com or call 924-7655.

Curl up with a book

At 4 p.m. on Wednesday children in kindergarten through fifth grade can decorate cookies and listen to stories at the Argonne Library, 4322 N. Argonne.

Regular hours there are from noon to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Until January, Spokane Valley Library hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.

Libraries will be closed from Christmas Eve through Dec. 26.

For more information visit www.scld.org.

Kingpin alley

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, bowling is half price ($1.50 per person) at Players and Spectators, 12828 E. Sprague Ave. Shoe rental is $2.50. Bowling is $3 per game on evenings and weekends. Call 924-5141 for more information.

At Valley Bowl, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays, games are $1 per person and shoe rental is $2. Leagues play throughout the week, so call ahead at 926-6245 or visit www.valley-bowl.com for other open lane times.

On Christmas Day, Valley Bowl will offer free bowling and a free Christmas dinner for those who would not otherwise be able to afford it.

Dinner will be from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and bowling will be available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Plus, all bowling alleys will now be entirely non-smoking because of the new law put into effect earlier this month.

Do something constructive

Michael’s craft store offers for children during the holiday season. A winter crafting camp will be held 10 a.m. to noon from Monday through Thursday. The cost is $7.50 per day or $30 for the whole week.

From 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and Dec. 28, a jewelry making workshop will be held for $10, not including materials.

From 10 a.m. to noon Christmas Eve, kids can make their own gift sack for $2.

Make your own gift wrap Friday from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. for $5, not including materials.

Make New Year’s decorations, jewelry and costumes on Dec. 30 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. for $10, not including materials, or make a noise maker from 10 a.m. to noon New Year’s Eve for $2.

Projects are for children age 5 to 12. Visit the store at Sullivan Road and Broadway Avenue or call 893-0543 for more information.

Hike the winter wonderland

Mirabeau Point Park north of Sullivan Road near the YMCA features a short network of wooded walking trails on its 54 acres and access to the Centennial Trail along the Spokane River. Bring snow boots, though, as the Centennial Trail is not cleared in the winter.

Dishman Hills Natural Area also will be open for hiking. It is located on Sargent Road, accessible from the south side of the Sprague-Appleway couplet about half mile west of Park Road.

Visit www.spokanevalley.org or www.spokanecentennialtrail.org for more information.

Shop ‘til you drop

The Spokane Valley Mall will be open from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. today and Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday this week, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Christmas Eve and it will be closed Christmas.

The day after Christmas the mall will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Santa Claus will be available for photos Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Game night at Uncle’s

Play and learn how to play games like chess, apples to apples and Catch Phrase at Uncle’s Games at the Spokane Valley Mall. Game night is free and will take place 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. each Friday until Dec. 31. For more information call 891-7620.

Creative collage

The Monart drawing school will hold a one-day workshop titled “Creative Paper Collage” Wednesday. Children 6 to 8 years old can take the class for $15 from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Children from 8 to 12 years old can attend from 2:30 to 4:30 for $20. Classes are held at Spokane Art Supply Too, 14401 E. Sprague Ave. Call the store at 892-0353 to sign up.

Slip slidin’ away

Valley Mission Park is the place to be for downhill sled fun. The park is on East Mission Avenue a few blocks west of Pines Road and the hill sports strategically placed hay bales to keep sledders away from the trees.

Bacon and airplanes

The Skyway Cafe at Felts Field allows youngsters to watch planes take off and land just outside the window while they eat. They might even catch someone learning how to fly a helicopter just outside the door of the 85-year-old art deco terminal at 6501 E. Rutter Ave.

Pottery party

Parents and children can paint or glaze their own bowls, cups, etc., in the comfort of their own home. An instructor with Knots n’ Pots will come to your house and teach two to six children to paint ceramics. The instructor provides all of the supplies and the cost is between is between $10.50 and $12 for each item painted.

To set up a session call Knots n’ Pots at 922-8167. Parents must be present.