Last weekend during a Costco trip, I spent $20 on a 90-pack of holiday themed hot cocoa cups. Did we need that many? Absolutely not. But, we needed a few and I didn’t want to make a trip somewhere else so I laughed and told the boys we had enough cocoa cups to last until they graduate college.

That night, I broke out the cups and a crockpot of cocoa for the boys and their friends while we toured the neighborhood looking at Christmas lights. Neighbors brought out tables of treats and cookies, and we all chatted and walked the streets like a more cheerful and far less scary Halloween.

In years past, we’d taken the kids to big name events like the Enchant Hallmark Christmas or Pratt Brothers Christmas, purchasing tickets and standing in long lines to ride a train or see a light show set to music. While I have great memories with our kids in those event centers or parks transformed into magical workshops or wonderlands, I’ve learned over the years that you don’t have to break the bank for a truly magical experience if you don’t want to. We’ve even had several encounters with the big man himself- Santa, without standing in a line at the mall for hours on end or reserving an appointment. Just yesterday morning he winked from across a farmer’s market, waiting with his wife for children to come ask about their lists.

Last night, we filled a couple more cups of cocoa and drove about 15 minutes to a neighborhood with a well-known light display so the boys could mail their letters to Santa, in a true North Pole mailbox (the only way to get it to the North Pole without using a ton of stamps.) When we pulled up, we realized the traffic was even more packed than we anticipated. We found ourselves in a turnaround, but caught a glimpse of a parade, so we parked. Walking over to the curb, we had a great spot to see the Queen Creek 4×4 Parade, an annual event I had no clue existed. There must have been over a hundred jeeps, go-carts and four wheelers, lit up and decorated, throwing candy and blasting Christmas music. We laughed and cheered as the boys filled their pockets. Then, we wandered the “Lights on Lark” display and dropped their letters in the mailbox, waving to Santa. We couldn’t have planned it better if we’d tried. And I think that’s the best part; the parts that come together when you don’t plan.

One of my favorite holiday memories happened because I couldn’t go to an annual holiday party. I was about 5 years old and I had the chicken pox. Instead, as a sort of consolation prize, my dad took me to a neighborhood much like “Lights on Lark,” where everyone on the street decked out their houses for all to enjoy. We walked down the street looking at lights, and of course, drank some hot cocoa.

I can definitely understand and appreciate annual family traditions of train rides, high dollar holiday events, and professional photos from Santa’s lap. But, for families that want to make memories without the means, there’s a joy in the simplicity and surprises that come with finding the magic everywhere you look. And if you want to add cocoa, I have about 70 cups left.