Christmas has always been my favorite holiday, ever since I was a little girl. Of course, it used to be all about the presents, but now it's not about that at all for me. It's about family, the food, the movies, and the music. So, below, I've listed the things I look forward to every Christmas... (in no particular order).
1. Decorating the
Christmas Tree. I love doing this every
year. I love the lights, the smells, the
ornaments, everything. I loved it when I was young, when our biggest
thrill was who was going to get to put the angel on the tree that year (sister
and I alternated), and it's even more special now that my kids get to do the
same thing.
2. Christmas
Songs. Unlike the above, I seriously
disliked Christmas songs when I was young, but as I've gotten older, I've grown
a deeper appreciation for them, and am having a blast teaching them to my kids. They're really loving "All I Want For
Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth," "I want a Hippopotamus For
Christmas" and, of course, "Jingle Bells."
3. Spending Time With
Family. This may be kind of an obvious
one, but there's something really wonderful being around the people you love
around the holidays. After all, that's
what the season is really about.
4. Watching A
Christmas Story. I don't know what it is
about this movie, but it's a classic and I enthusiastically look forward to
watching it ever year. I have it on DVD,
sure, but there's something awesome about it being on for 24 hours on Christmas
Eve and Christmas Day. And quoting it all day long until the hubby is sick of it.
5. Sugar
Cookies. Sugar cookies are available
year round, true, but there's nothing like a sugar cookie decorated
specifically for Christmas. When I was
young, my sister and I used to make them with my mom. This is a tradition I plan to uphold when my
kids get to be a little bit older.
6. Peppermint Tootsie
Pops. I have no special love for tootsie
pops. I can say the same thing about peppermints.
But put them together and they make the
most delicious treat for the holidays.
7. Tamales. Being from Tucson and all, I'm surrounded by
many wonderful people who get together with their families around the holidays
and spend an entire day making and rolling tamales. And since the times I've made them they
haven't been as great, I'm twice as grateful for all the wonderful friends,
co-workers, and parents of my students who generously bring in tamales to share
with this girl.
8. Mickey's Christmas
Carol. This one is another favorite from
my childhood. I remember bugging my
parents to watch our worn-out VHS tape of this over and over again around
Christmas time. This year, I downloaded
it from Amazon onto the TiVo. I've been
thrilled every day after daycare when I bring the kids home and they ask to
watch "Mickey's Christmas," because it means I get to watch it over and
over again.
9. Rudolph The
Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie. I'm, of course,
talking about the stop-action one that first came out when my mother was a
kid. She watched it with me every year,
and I plan to do the same with my kids.
10. Starbucks Caramel
Brulee Latte. Okay, fair enough, this is
a new one this year, but I am in LOVE. I
plan to add it to my list of things I look forward to around Christmas time,
because I'm certainly going to miss it when it's gone.
11. My Mother-in-Law's Cioppino. I make
a mean Cioppino, but it's nothing compared to the epic Cioppino my
mother-in-law makes each time we go to Washington...and I'm here now. :D I'm
already mentally jumping up and down. I
swear, there's nothing than fresh, caught-that-morning seafood in your stew. #am_drooling.
12. Two-Week's
Vacation Around the Holidays. Being that
I'm a teacher by day, I've always had vacation around the holidays, and I love
that time to recharge my mental batteries before returning for work for the new
year.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all! And be sure to enter the 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway below!
XOXO,
Jaycee
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Jaycee
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