Christmas Favorites

Every year I have Christmas "favorites" that I need to see, hear, do or watch in order for it to be Christmas for me.

I thought I would share my favorites in various categories:

Favorite Christmas TV/MOVIE Programming
Elf
The Grinch (cartoon)
The Grinch (movie)
Charlie Brown's Christmas
Elf On The Shelf (new this year, still waiting for our elf to arrive...stupid customs)
Mickey's Christmas Carol
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
Home Alone
The Muppets: Letters To Santa
Merry Madagascar
Prep + Landing Various Christmas Specials

I think that it is all the Christmas specials that I absolutely must watch each Christmas.  Finley's favorite is the cartoon version of the grinch.  She watches it a few times each day.  Greg's favorite is Elf.  Penelope doesn't have a favorite yet!

Christmas Music
This is a tough one because there are SO MANY great Christmas songs so I will only name a few.

A Very She & Him Christmas by She & Him.  Fantastic christmas album.  My friend introduced me to this album and it is fantastic.  I even bought it on itunes and I never buy Christmas albums.  This music was also featured on the Christmas special of The Office this year if you watch that.  The 'She' in She & Him is Zooey Daschanel whom I just love.  We almost named Penelope Zooey after her :)

I love the Boney M Christmas album but really doesn't everybody?  I am almost embarrassed to admit this but I LOVE Mariah Carey and Jessica Simpson's Christmas albums as well as Celine Dion's.

I have nearly 500 different pieces of Christmas music in my itunes so as you can tell I LOVE Christmas music - Cher, U2, Eagles, Raffi, The Pogues, Paul Brandt, The Pretenders, Alan Jackson, Carrie Underwood, Destiny's Child, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Brenda Lee, Bing Crosby, Michael Buble, Justin Beiber (i know you are all laughing at me), Britney Spears, Elton John and I could go on and on and on but I won't.  Just know I love almost ALL Christmas music!!

Christmas Baking
An absolute must for Christmas baking is my Aunty Sandy's whipped shortbread, butter tarts and butterscotch confetti.  I always get sent home with loads of extras as well as her cabbage rolls - we look forward to this every year!!

I also bake Gingerbread Cookies and Greg does his mom's sour cream cookies.  They are a must!!  This year Greg also made Poppyseed Rolls that he is taking to the Diederich's Christmas celebrations on the 26th.  Grandma Erna makes them every year for her grand son's and they all fight over them.  I really don't get it.

Christmas Activies
Well obviously visiting Santa Claus ranks high on this list.  My girls love him which makes me glad because I don;t want to be the mom with the super screaming kids although that is kinda cute too

Putting up our 2 Christmas trees is the true kick off to the Christmas season.  The girls both love putting on the decorations!

Putting up the outdoor Christmas decorations is also really fun although this year only some of them went up and they were broken by the crazy wind storm we had.  Greg was too busy working on our floors to put the ones on the house up.  But we usually go all out.  I am sure we will next year!

Every year on Christmas, after supper we all get into 2 or 3 cars, stop at 7-11 for snacks and drive through the Enchanted Forest and through certain streets that go all out.  We sing Christmas carols and have a great time.  I think Finley will really like it this year if she can stay awake!

We love to do Christmas crafts especially ornaments that the girls can give to their friends and family.  This year we painted a canvas, did a hand print wreath and made salt dough ornaments.

Every night in December leading up to Christmas we watch some type of Christmas programming.  We cuddle up on the couch and watch it.  I love it!


I think that's it for favorites - what are some of your favorites??

Merry Christmas!