The Christmas Countdown is ON! We’re less than two weeks away from the big day, and I’m not going to lie, I still have so so much shopping to do. I’m thinking the reason I’m so behind is due to Thanksgiving falling a little later this year? … Or at least, that is what I’m telling myself. While I haven’t finished shopping for my extended family, I do have my immediate family all covered. Phew!
This year, Patrick and I wanted to give each other gifts we could immediately enjoy together as a family on Christmas Day – making the holiday all the more memorable. The backyard of our new home is a complete blank slate at the moment. We thought we’d use the holidays as an opportunity to find fun outdoor gift ideas to fill our yard with – not only to enjoy on Christmas Day but all year long too.
Academy is always my favorite place to shop for family adventures and our new backyard is shaping up to be one of our biggest outdoor adventures yet. So it is no surprise I was thrilled with the opportunity this holiday season to partner with Academy and share a peek into our Christmas gift list. Head on down below to see how we’ll be spending Christmas Day along with what we’re surprising Annie with this year! There are also several last-minute gift ideas for the entire family to enjoy on Christmas Day & beyond too. More below!
Any guesses as to what is in my Christmas present this year?!
Festive Presents Under the Tree
We’ve been busy trimming the tree and wrapping the presents (that I have shopped for) in printed paper and finishing them off with big bows. This Christmas is especially exciting because Annie actually understands the reason for the season for the first time. She wholeheartedly believes in Santa Claus and is utterly bewildered by him too.
In an effort to keep the spirit of surprise alive for our little girl, we wrapped one of her biggest gifts up and placed it under the tree only to be opened by her on Dec. 25th. As you can see in the snap above, Annie simply can not wait to open her presents and has been trying her best to sneak a peek too.
A Christmas Cruiser
While I won’t share what’s in the box with her until Christmas Day, I thought I’d go ahead and tell y’all. Surprise, Annie is getting a Frozen 3-Wheeled Cruiser this year!
Academy has an amazing collection of bikes, tricycles, cruisers, and even wagons for the whole family to enjoy. As soon as we saw this one online we just knew Annie would love it. Of course, she has jumped on the Frozen bandwagon. (We listen to the soundtrack every single morning on the way to school!) And I can not wait to see her face light up as soon as she comes downstairs to see what Santa Claus has left for her under the tree.
Outdoor Gift Ideas for Mom & Dad to Enjoy All Year Long
If you are still wondering what was in the tall and slender box wrapped and tied with a bow above, it is one of my biggest Christmas presents this year: a woven hammock! (Being a blogger and all, sometimes you get to open your presents a little early in an effort to best share them in the stories you’re telling.)
A Hammock for the Holidays
I’m all about finding a cozy and comfortable spot to curl up with my favorite read and the thought of having a woven hammock in our backyard sounded just beyond dreamy to me! This one is the CastAway Deluxe Polyester Hammock, also from Academy. We opted for this 100% handwoven polyester hammock over the cotton option so it would hold up better with the weather over time.
As soon as Patrick set it up, I grabbed several pillows, a flannel blanket and jumped right on in to swing away the day in my (early) Christmas present. At less than $80, this hammock makes for a thoughtful gift for the outdoor enthusiast, reader or even the busy mama in your life. I mean really who doesn’t need an excuse to slip away, swing and relax for a while!?
And the Fire is So Delightful
Technically this Mosaic Deep Bowl Fire Pit was going to be Patrick’s big Christmas gift, but I feel like it was a Christmas gift to me too! We have both been looking forward to having a fire pit in our backyard for pretty much our entire 10+ year relationship now. The time has finally come and thanks to snapping these photos a few days before December 25th, we were able to enjoy the fire pit early!
I can’t tell y’all how wonderful it has been to end our evenings around the backyard fire pit. It has not only made an enjoyable gift but it has brought our family and friends closer too. Having a fire pit in our yard has created a technology-free space to come together and create meaningful discussion while just enjoying each other’s company. I’m so looking forward to lighting a fire and cozying up back here with a blanket and mug of hot chocolate come Christmas Day!
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While the Frozen Cruiser, hammock, and fire pit are the biggest parts of our Christmas gifting this year, I can’t resist filling our stockings and space under our tree with smaller but just as meaningful gifts too. A few things outdoor gift ideas from Academy that I thought y’all might like too are rounded up below!
SHOP THESE OUTDOOR GIFT IDEAS:
Frozen 3-Wheel Cruiser // Fleece Blanket // Holiday Socks // Dog Toy // Flannel Shirt // Astros PJs // Hammock // Fire Pit // Bicycle
A big thank you to Academy for sponsoring this outdoor gift ideas post. I have had a wonderful experience partnering with a brand that I’ve enjoyed shopping with for years now. Thank you all for continuing to stop by the blog and supporting the brands that make Lone Star Looking Glass possible. It means more than you know!
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Happy Holidays, y’all!
xo, alice
