I bring you good tidings tonight, exemplified A): in my ability to casually use the phrase “good tidings” and B): by this Christmas angel…
Lainey announced to me a bit ago that she put Christmas stickers on “every single light switch in the house–even the one behind the washer in the laundry room,” and from the quick glance I just made in my office, I’m estimating 6 hours of scrubbing sticker residue and half a bottle of Goo Gone in my future, but you know what? Gotta hand it to Sister for her Christmas spirit. Let there be tacky snowmen on the light switches. Let there be a festive display of this blessed season, and yes I just said BLESSED SEASON. I have no organized collection of thoughts to offer you tonight, but I have a grateful little heart that’s bursting at the seams with love for tinsel and people and music and Christmas footy pajamas that are too big and hang off Dash’s feet like floppy mittens soaked from a day of sledding. Also, I made a pact with myself that all written similes this month keep a winter theme. Hence the floppy mittens. Sorry. Can you handle a stream-of-consciousness bundle of holiday crazy? If not, click away. Go check your e-mail or “Alt-Tab” over to the Christmas JibJab video you just made.
Which is what my kids want to do every second of every day. Christmas Jib Jab. Except Nella can never remember the word “Jib Jab” so she says “Sponge Jab.”
I’ve seen so many of these over the years, and they still make me smile. If we know you and you are especially reserved and quiet, know that your photo is the first one we pick to be the head on the crazy Christmas disco dancer.
Our Christmas entertainment this year? Waking up to see what toy’s been shoved onto the Nutcracker stage in the village. Thus far this year the ballerinas have performed with Barbie, Ken, Paquel, a plastic dinosaur, Tommy Ketchup Shopkin, a zhu-zhu pet, an American Girl doll shoe and Batman.
And before I run off to finish watching Elf and cut more snowflakes, a few fun last-minute kid gifts if you need ideas:
1. Alphabuild Learning Toy. A brilliant and fun learning toy, this magnetic set comes with all the pieces you need to make every letter of the alphabet, or just play freestyle and make whatever you like.
2. Hot Chocolate Design Mini Chocolaticas Popcorn Shoes. Packaging Win? These shoes come in a hot cocoa carton. I cannot take how fun these are–mismatched themes like popcorn and best friends and sweet watermelon. Give them a party on their feet this Christmas.
3. Melissa & Doug Garbage Truck. We love the Melissa & Doug vehicles–solid construction, durable and simple designs. This one has a little garbage lift that really works.
4. Alice & Ames Twirly Dress. The twirliest of twirly dresses, this is a classic for little girls, and it comes in several colors. My girls wore theirs to the Nutcracker this year, and it continues to be a favorite pick, especially for Nella who will point to her closet and demand, simply, “Twirly.”
5. Best Choice Products Walking Dinosaur T-Rex. This year, our Dash gift picks are based on one question: “does it move?” This ferocious but friendly dinosaur does which will have all the little kids screaming and running, pretending to be afraid but really…just having fun.
6. Djeco Vehicles Tap Tap. A great occupational therapy toy for any kid to practice fine motor skills, these build & design kits come with interchangeable pieces that lock into place on the cork board with a simple tap-tap of the included hammer and board tacks.
7. Jumbo Checkers Rug Game . Think Cracker Barrel breakfasts. Strike up a fire Christmas morning and after the kids open gifts, you can take your turn playing winner on this fun and affordable floor checkers game.
8. Melissa & Doug Magic Kit. Abracadabra! Lainey is all about magic tricks this year, and this set puts a slew of kid-friendly tricks together. And once again–great construction and quality from Melissa & Doug.
And finally, a little bit janky video but all the Christmas feels from the past few weeks. It’s not all twinkly and beautiful around here, and Lord knows we have our lows, our sads, our just-trying-to-keep-it-togethers. But there are so many things to celebrate…we find them.
I have to add one disclaimer before I gush just a little more about Christmas…
If you don’t celebrate Christmas, please just smile at my foolishness this time of year and know that I can’t turn it off but I also love your Hanukkah and your Kwanzaa and whatever it is you do to celebrate tradition and family and love. The world is big, big, big. Also, twinkle lights are universal, you know. Because…stars.
With that said, comment, comment with the good stuff because I love to read other people’s opinions on this:
Tell me!
3 Favorite Christmas Songs
3 Favorite Christmas Movies
1 Favorite Christmas tradition that makes you feel in love with the world.
I’ll go first because I’m the obnoxious kid with my hand all up there waving, waiting for the teacher to pick me.
Songs: Judy Garland’s “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” Nat King Cole’s “Cradle in Bethlehem” and any choir’s rendition of “Lo How Arose E’er Blooming”
Movies: The Family Stone, Elf, and the newer Miracle on 34th Street with that hot guy from The Practice and that cute little girl from Mrs. Doubtfire who says, “You forgot to thew up the turkey’th bottom.”
One Favorite Christmas tradition that makes you feel in love with the world: North Pole Party…coming this weekend.
Maria DIsmondy says
Songs: Coldplay Christmas Lights and Dido’s Christmas Day
Movies: The Family Man. LOVE the perspective in this movie!
One Favorite Christmas tradition that makes you feel in love with the world: Talking about our special ornaments. Like the tamale Dave got me one year because he thinks I’m hot (which is a good one to look at three kids later!) Or the frog prince a student once gave me because I was always telling her I wasn’t married yet because I was waiting for my prince to come along (he did! he did!) Ornaments make me happy.
Darlene hovey says
Love your Xmas video!!!! Enjoy all of your posts.
Maria says
There is so much to love about that video. The song. Brett & Dash asleep. Lainey picking up Nella. Ivy & Nella twirling in tutus…but my favourite has to be Dash’s expression when he finally gets the ornament on the tree. Precious! Love your posts this time of the year. Love to see your decorations, your tree, the kids in pajamas by the fire, everything. Such a beautiful time of year. Can’t wait to see the North Pole party pictures. Nothing beats children having fun in this magical season.
Abigail says
Love this! Here are mine:
Fave Christmas songs: Little Drummer Boy (Justin Beiber & Busta Rhymes) it combines my Christmas and Gangsta love & is just fab! Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Michael Buble) All I want for Christmas Is You (Mariah Carey) Just fun.
Movies: Serendipity, Elf & Home Alone. My hubs and I randomly drove to the actual house in Chicago one Sunday (we are 3hrs away in Indy) and it was one of the best days ever!
Love for the world: My pre-K class at school makes two ornaments to hand to people who need holiday cheer out in public (parents help with this) I get so many thank you emails from families who love this activity and usually end up making more on their own to hand out!
Merry merry.
Taryn B says
Songs: I am loving Pentatonix “Mary did you know” and “Little Drummer Boy,” but we simply must listen to Amy Grant’s Tennessee Christmas album while decorating the tree.
Movies: “While you were sleeping” is our FAVE Christmas movie, but we also must watch “White Christmas,” “Family Man,” and “It’s a wonderful life.”
Tradition: cookies, cookies, cookies. All of them. And driving around to see the lights on hours. And Christmas Eve service at church. Singing Silent Night with candles.
Karen says
Oh the old Christmas movies – White Christmas, Miracle on 34th St, but then … Elf!!
Traditions that even the now adult nieces and nephews insist upon -trying to learn to cook grandmas pralines, and all piling on the furniture in the living room to applaud and cheer for every gift opened! (We’re a loud bunch!). Oh and the best – holding hands around the table and singing the Doxology in harmony for our blessing before our meal.
Cristen says
Songs: ANYTHING by Pentatonix but especially “That’s Christmas to Me.” John Denver and the Muppets “Alfie the Christmas Tree/A Carol for a Christmas Tree/It’s in every one of us.” And The Drifters “White Christmas.”
Movies: The Christmas Toy(its a classic!!!) White Christmas. And ELF.
Tradition: too many to count. But I love how our Christmas season kicks off- with pumpkin pie and Christmas Eve on Sesame Street at breakfast the day after Thanksgiving!
Angela says
Songs – Do They Know It’s Christmas (Feed the World), When a Child is Born, Oh Holy Night.
Movies – Love Actually. Watch it every Christmas Eve when I am wrapping presents
Traditions – My daughter’s birthday is on Christmas Eve so we take a mini break from Christmas and celebrate her day (her party is usually a few weeks before), otherwise we make cookies, cake, home made chocolate gifts. I make cards and wrap presents to a theme (this year it’s brown paper packages with stamped names). We open all our gifts on Christmas morning.
Liz A says
Christmas songs: 1) the entire “Carpenters Christmas” album 2) a good twinkly version of “Carole of the Bells” 3) what Child is this?
Movies: 1)White Christmas (forever and always to the end of time) 2) Miracke on 34th street (old black and white version, Natalie wood and the little boy that’s says “isn’t that right Daddy?” 3) Rudulph the red nosed reindeer 4) Christmas vacation
Tradition: baking cookies with mom
Aly says
3 Favorite Christmas Songs
1.) Sarah McLachlan, Song for a winters night
2.) Please come home for Christmas
3.) Louisiana Christmas Day – Aaron Neville (makes me want to cut a rug)
3 Favorite Christmas Movies
1.) Love Actually (my absolute fave!!!)
2.) The Family Stone
3.) The Holiday
Favorite Christmas tradition:
Putting my boys special ornaments on their own little tree in their room and watching their faces light up as we reminisce about each one dating all the way back to the year they were in my belly.
Loved the video❤️
Danielle says
Fave songs are little drummer boy by justin bieber and any silent night. Love to sing it in church it reminds me of going to church on Christmas Eve with my grandma. Fave movie would have to be national lampoons christmas vacation and Arthur Christmas. Fave tradition is having Christmas Eve with just my husband and 3 kids. We get ready for church and are there an hour before service to take pictures and to have a spot to sit. We come home and cook and clean up. Let the kids use the cork screw and the go down stairs to open presents. Then later they go to bed and the hubs and I wrap stocking stuffers in old fashion Santa paper that I have used for the past 5 years and put out their big gift from Santa and fill the stockings. All this while watching A Christmas Story!! Hope you and yours have a blessed Christmas! Thanks for sharing!!
Sarah says
Songs… Oh Holy Night, Hard Candy Christmas by Dolly Parton, All I Want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carey
Movies… Love Actually, National Lampoons Christmas Vacation, The Holiday ( for the English cottage)
Tradition… Christmas Eve service and singing silent night by candlelight
Allison says
Followed you for many years and love the perspective you offer and the inspiration you give me to do life better
Song: God rest Ye by BNL and Sarah Mac.
Movie: elf, disneys prep and landing and the holiday
Tradition: writing our goals the day after Christmas and placing them in our stocking to read the next year. Also, we have a Santa wall that has a picture of our babes with Santa from every year of their 8 and 9 years of life.
Jessica Able says
I like the idea of writing goals the day after Christmas and putting them in your stocking to read next year 🙂
Kelle says
I saw that same one and made a note of it…such a great idea with meaningful results!
eRIN says
The goals in the stocking idea is genius. Thank you for sharing!!
Essie b says
Songs: Silver Bells, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, O Holy Night (even as an atheist, I love that song!)
Movies: A Christmas Story, Christmas Vacation, Christmas in Connecticut
Tradition: Traveling somewhere/anywhere on Christmas Day… I have a tiny family and nobody gets together, so we go places and do things!
Erin says
Songs: Taylor Swift’s “Silent Night”, Sister Hazel “River” and Trans-Siberian “For the sake of our brother”
Movies: Elf “watch out, the yellow ones don’t stop!”, Love Actually and Christmas Story.
Tradition: Cutting down our tree and receiving my yearly ornament from my husband. He started it our first year dating and now our family has grown to two kids and a pup. 🙂
Amy says
Love!
Songs: anni lennox- or Rita macneil’s “the holly and the ivy”
Franz biebl’s “ave Maria” seriously the feels, the chills, the goose flesh every dang time
And Harry bellafonte “Mary’s boy child”
Movies I love so many but nothing at all puts me in that tears streaming down your face and falling into your huge open mouth smile like “love actually” , every year it kicks off the holidays for me – and then “a Christmas story” closer to Christmas!
Tradition – Christmas Eve we bundle up and the kids scooter out our back gate into Steveston village to see the lights and one largish house display. Then cookies that we’ve decorated and eggnog and kids letters left for the jolly old elf and off to bed!
Erin says
Songs 1.Trans-Siberian Orchestra – Christmas Canon 2.Where are you Christmas Faith Hill 3.Any Christmas song that comes out of Buble’s merry mouth.
Movies 1.Little Women 2.Elf 3.A Christmas Story
Tradition: We have friends/family (framily) over every year and the kids make and decorate cutout cookies and we make an ornament.
Tonya says
Songs: Mariah Carey’s “All I want for Christmas is You”, Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” and Martina McBride’s “What Child is This?”…dang, it’s hard to only choose 3! Christmas music is my love language.
Movies: White Christmas, The Holiday…because Jude Law, and Home Alone
Tradition: Singing “Silent Night” A Capella during the candlelight service at church. Goosebumps!
Csmith says
Favorite Songs: Mary Did You Know, Baby, It’s Cold Outside, The Christmas Song
Favorite Movies: A Christmas Story, It’s a Wonderful Life, Jingle All the Way
Our best tradition is our annual Gingerbread House Party, 12 years ago we started with 6 cousins now we’re up to 20 including one delicious little red-headed newborn!
PS: You once posted a gift idea for guys featuring prints of diagrams, blueprints, space charts etc. I cannot find that post anywhere! Would love it if you could mention it.
Molly says
Aw, that video is so sweet! I love when Dash puts the ornament on the tree and looks so proudly at it! 🙂 xoxo
Well, for Christmas songs, I like the Nutcracker and anything that can be sung in 4 part harmony – like “Silent Night” and “Deck the Halls” 🙂
My favorite Christmas movie is definitely “Love, Actually” but I also really like “The Christmas Story” and “Elf” too 🙂
And it’s not really a *Christmas* tradition, but I love it when I finish grading and get my final grades of the semester turned in! 😀 😀 😀
Julienne says
Our family is a new family so we’re still working on establishing traditions. But one tradition I had with my mom growing up was listening to John Lennon’s Greatest Hits, starting with “War is Over,” of course, and then listening to the rest of the cd. Now every John Lennon song reminds me of Christmas, which is a wonderful thing.
Movies are White Christmas, Little Women (the Winona Ryder version, plus I can’t get enough of young Christian Bale), and I recently added The Family Stone to that list.
Songs (other than John Lennon) are White Christmas, Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth (Bing Crosby and David Bowie) and The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole.
I love reading everyone’s traditions and hopefully getting ideas to start with my two girls.
Merry Christmas!
Kathleen says
Silent Night, Carol of the Bells & I’ll Be Home For Christmas… White Christmas, Arthur Christmas & How The Grinch Stole Christmas… Decorating the tree with carols playing, hot chocolate in the crock pot and chili on the stove…
Merry Christmas Hamptons!
Sue Hindle says
I have been following your blog for a while love the photos , I love Christmas, my favorite movie The Sound of music. the Family Stone , I always watch Charlie Brown Christmas, and How the Grinch stole Christmas, to remind me of the sense of wonder and magic that is a part of Christmas
Siobhan says
Thanks to you I have purchased several of those dresses, couldn’t love them more.
Lindsey says
I love your Christmas spirit Kelle!! I am right there with you, loving every second of it. Your writing is so lovely.
Choosing favorites is almost impossible but here it g
Lindsey says
Whoops, having phone issues, sorry! My favorite Xmas songs: 1) Silver Bells 2) It’s Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas 3) Angels We Have Heard on High 4) All I Want for Christmas is You
Favorite Xmas Movies: 1) Home Alone (nostalgia factor!) 2) Love Actually 3) The Holiday
Favorite tradition: driving around to look at lights and singing carols, brunch with my family on Christmas morning.
Merry Christmas to you!!
MeloNy says
Songs
1) It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
2) Silent Night
3) Pennies From Heaven -Louis Armstrong (which is decidedly NOT a Christmas song, but is on the Elf soundtrack… So it makes me feel all Christmassy)
Movies
1) The Family Stone (“I don’t care if you like me or not”…. “Ohhhh – of course you do”)
2) Christmas Vacation (“Merr’ Christmas, Shi%%ers full!”)
3) A Christmas Story
Memories
making cinnamon ornaments with my babies. Letting them decorate the tree and not moving the ornaments when they get done. Getting everyone ready for bed, brushing teeth, and then yelling “everyone in the car! We are going to look at lights!” Decorating cookies for Santa. Christmas Eve service at church.
Naomi says
Loved your video. I’m a big fan of Xmas too 🙂
So here are my answers:
1. Xmas songs
Mary, did you know – by Pentatonix – I just love these guys
Little Drummer Boy – by Pentatonix
The Pogues – Fairytale of New York
2. Favorite Xmas movies:
Home Alone
Love Actually
Elf
Xmas tradition:
Watching my son opening his presents – priceless 🙂
Sarah says
Favorite Christmas songs : Any version of Oh Holy Night, Pentatonix’s version of Little Drummer Boy & Silver Bells
Favorite Christmas Movies: Claymation Christmas, Miracle on 34th Street both versions & Last Holiday
My favorite Christmas tradition is just being with family & all the fun & chaos that ensues!!!
On a side note, Lainey is SO grown up…wow
renee weichselbaum says
3 songs and I am not as good as you because I don’t know the singers! I want a hippopotamus for Christmas, We need a little Christmas, and silent night.
3 movies Elf, Christmas Vacation, and the old Miracle on 34th Street.
Our Christmas tradition is driving through the local light display, no matter how cold it is with all the windows down, heat up, thermos’ full of hot chocolate, and Christmas music blaring.
MamaLeone says
3 Favorite songs: Mary Did You Know by Kenny Rogers, Favorite Things by Lorrie Morgan, The Christmas Waltz by Frank Sinatra.
3 Favorite Movies: Elf, The Christmas Story and National Lampoons Christmas Vacation.
I don’t have a favorite tradition. We usually have Christmas Eve with my in laws we feast on “seven” fishes. Santa puts an ornament in everyone’s stocking and we eat prime rib for Christmas dinner. THere’s so much to do and see and enjoy that we can’t possibly fit it all in so some years it is driving to look at lights, some years its baking cookies, some it’s making gingerbread houses.
Katherine says
Loving all the Christmas anticipation. songs I love are: o come o come Emmanuel with memories of being a server swinging the censor at midnight mass, o holy night – the version by Celtic women especially, and the entire Sting album if on a winters night a traveller . When it’s 40 degrees Celsius outside we hit the aircon, close curtains and light candles, and listen to the songs of winter, for film I love all the sports night and west wing Christmas episodes – specially when josh gives Donna an old book, swoon, and the tradition I most love is the wrapping behind closed doors – so full of love,
Missy says
Christmas Music – Harry Connick, Jr. “When My Heart Finds Christmas” cd. Specifically …
1. When My Heart Finds Christmas
2. It Must’ve Been Old Santa Claus – Childhood favorite, I would JAM out to this on stage (aka my bed) with a microphone (aka brush).
3. What Are You Doing New Years? – First date with my husband was on NYE, insert heart eyed emojis and feels
Christmas Movies!
1. The Holiday! I can’t even type the title without putting an exclamation point because I just love it so! much! The snowy cottage, the blanket fort that literally dreams are made of, jamming out in the cd store, listening to stories and wisdom from the old guy. This movie encompasses all of my favorite things.
2. Charlie Brown Christmas – Proud lover of all things Linus, sad Christmas trees being turned into happy Christmas trees, and Peanuts characters dancing.
3. Does the SNL Christmas special count?
I think my favorite tradition right now is coming up with new traditions. I’m in that place of navigating my “new” family (husband + dog) and my “old” family (my parents). However, there is nothing I love more than coming home after a long day, turning on the twinkly lights and lighting candles, embracing the season. It comes and goes so fast!
Carissa says
3 Favorite Christmas Songs
Where Are You Christmas
Little Drummer Boy
All I Want for Christmas?
3 Favorite Christmas Movies
ELF
Fred Claus
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (JimCarey)
1 Favorite Christmas tradition that makes you feel in love with the world.
I’m not sure I have just one … one of my most favorite things about the holiday is definitely putting up my Christmas tree. The minute my house is decked out in Christmas lights, I can’t help but live my life by the light of those twinkles for the month I get to have them up. Christmas lights sing my love song. Also, being with family so much during the month is always something I love and enjoy so much.
Katie P. says
Songs: “Pray” by Justin Bieber (I know, how embarrassing, right? Check it out though, it is so good!), “All I Want for Christmas is You” By Mariah Carey (Who can resist that song?!), and “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” by any choir!
Movies: “The Ref” (No one has ever heard of it, but you would LOVE it! Kevin Spacey, Dennis Leary…so so so funny!), “Jingle All the Way,” and “Home Alone”
Tradition: Christmas Eve with my mom, brother, and grandma. Christmas Eve has always been more special to me than actual Christmas Day because it is when my immediate family always gets together to exchange gifts. My dad is no longer with us, but the tradition lives on with all of our spouses and my niece (who is fresh from the womb as of Oct. 28th!).
Merry Christmas, Kelle! Thanks for always sharing your family with all of ours!
deb says
David Bowie and Frank Sinatra singing Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy:)
Sarah says
Christmas Songs: All the Muppet versions, especially with John Denver, and O Holy Night (especially sung ridiculously loud in the shower)
Christmas Movies: Muppets Christmas Carol, The Grinch, and Home Alone (love listening to them howl in laughter)
Updating the felt stockings with the new infatuation (i.e. upgrade the penguin to mine craft creeper) Just like my mom did
stefanie mcdonald says
My favorite Christmas movies:
1. Home Alone
2. Home Alone 2
3. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (the original Dr. Seuss cartoon version)
My favorite Christmas songs:
1. Jingle Bells (the Batman version that my kids sing ALL year long!)
2. Frosty the Snow Man
3. Jingle Bell Rock
My family’s Christmas tradition: Every Christmas Eve I let my kids open a present, which is always a new pair of pajamas and a snack. This year it’s pj’s, yoohoo, ritz bits and peanut m&m’s.After their bath we watch a holiday movie together and follow it up with the book “Twas a night before Christmas”.
Another tradition I have is letting my boys decorate the tree. Growing up I wasn’t allowed to help. My mom had to have everything perfect, from the tree decorating, to the making of the cookies and I grew to hate Christmas. I feel you should enjoy each other and the memories rather than buying your kids love with millions of presents. Our tree may have three ornaments on the same branch, but the kids had fun and that’s all that matters!
Kim in NC says
Ooh, I’m game!
Favorite songs: Mary Did You Know (Kenny Rogers and Winona Judd version), the Eagles version of Please Come Home For Christmas, and Christmas Canon.
Favorite Movies: I am not ashamed to say that I am a Hallmark Movies junkie, but have been upset with them the last couple years because most of my favorite Hallmark movies are on the newer Hallmark Movies and Mysteries Channel, which I don’t have. Christmas in Conway, Gift of the Magi, November Christmas just to name a few. But I do love traditional movies like Little Women, Miracle on 34th Street and Holiday Inn. So many other too. Oh, I could go on and on with movies!
Favorite tradition: Our crazy Christmas game at my mom’s house. Some people call it the White Elephant game. My mom buys stuff throughout the year, some nice things she finds on clearance and other practical items as well as some silly things. It’s always fun to see what the gift is that everyone wants to end up with. One year it was a loofah and Axe (body wash and deodorant….teenage boys). Last year it was a car dust buster! And she always includes a pair of extra large pink panties, which the kids find so funny and would do anything not to end up with.
Krista says
1.) I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm- Dean Martin
Carol of the Bells- Manheim Steamroller
Baby It’s Cold Outside- any version
(But Amy Grant’s Emmanuel is a close runner-up!)
2.) National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
White Christmas
Home Alone
3.) Donning jammies, grabbing warm caramel corn from the mall and driving around Portland looking at the lights.
<3
Beverly says
Movies – Elf, Home Alone, and It’s a Wonderful Life (still haven’t seen the whole movie of Miracle on 34th Street but I will one year – I say this every year)
Songs- Mary, did you know?, Little Drummer boy, and Breath of Heaven
Tradition – Driving around in our pajamas and looking at Christmas lights. Also seeing the Osbourne Christmas Lights at Disney (last year for them).
mabyn says
Songs:
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas (It was written about the town where I’m from!!)
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays (yep, can’t help it. N’sync nails it)
Baby It’s Cold Outside (the Kurt and Blaine version from Glee)
Movies:
Love Actually (makes me feel all the happy feels…everytime.)
Muppet Family Christmas (“watch out for the icy patch!”)
Elf (who doesn’t love elf)
Favorite Christmas Tradition:
Going as a family to look at Christmas lights on Christmas Eve 🙂
kari says
Songs: Silver Bells, Christmas Song, Do You Hear What I Hear?
Movies: Elf, Meet Me in St. Louis (not specifically a Christmas film but it’s where Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas came from) and Charlie Brown Christmas (does that count? it’s TV)
Tradition: Since I was a little, little kid we’d go out Christmas Eve to look at Christmas lights. My parents are both gone now but I get my family out to do the same
Beverly says
Oh! I forgot to leave my FAVORITE OF ALL TIME Christmas song – You’re Here by Francesca Battestilli. If you haven’t heard it – youtube it!
Karla says
This year I’m not feeling the Christmas spirit as much – had a miscarriage earlier this year, and then our precious niece was stillborn. It can be hard to focus on the joy when there’s all this sadness inside. BUT I have faith and know I am blessed despite all of this.
Songs:
My all-time favorite Christmas song, doesn’t matter the version, gets me every time: “O Holy Night.” My heart swells and my eyes pool with tears. This year I have discovered “In the Bleak Midwinter.” I’m sure I’ve heard it before, but never really paid attention. There are so many others, but I also love “Breath of Heaven.”
Movies:
“A Mom for Christmas,” “The Grinch,” and “Last Holiday.”
Tradition: I love getting together with friends and family, but I love the coziness and simplicity of our Christmas morning with just us. We have Danish abelskiever for breakfast and open our stockings. I also love going to a Christmas Eve candle light service, and we also singing songs with the rest of the family.
Jessica Able says
Songs: Oh, Holy Night; O Come All Ye Faithful; Last Christmas by Wham!
Movies: Christmas Vacation, Elf, and The Holiday
A new tradition for us: taking my daughter to see the Nutcracker
Amy says
Songs:
1. Bing’s version of Do you Hear what I hear
2. White Christmas
3. Bony M’s Mary’s Boy Child. Trust me. Google it. You have to watch the video at least once. And if you’re me, 50 times during the holidays….
Movies:
1. White Christmas
2. Wonderful Life
3. Elf
I could add at least 10 more…
Memory:
Opening gifts on Christmas Eve, just the four of us, watching “Christmas Vacation” and eating Chinese. Every.single.year. Can’t wait for next week!
Melanie says
Movies: Currently: Love Actually, The Holiday, and Fred Claus
I’m about to take someone’s suggestion from here and watch another one!
jesseybell says
3 Favorite Christmas Songs:
1) O Come All Ye Faithful
2) The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
3) It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
3 Favorite Christmas Movies – I am choosing TV shows, but the movie I love is Home Alone
1) Frosty The Snowman
2) Prep and Landing
3) Rudolph
Favorite Christmas Tradition: How can I choose just 1?
The Saturday before Christmas we go out for either Thai or Japanese food and then drive around looking at lights
Christmas Eve is my favorite night of the year – we have a yummy, fancy dinner along with fabulous appetizers and sinful chocolate.
I too get post-Christmas blues. For me Christmas is over the minute the last gift is opened – Why would I want to have our Christmas meal in front of an empty tree? If I had my way I would take down all the decorations on December 26th!
Allie says
Oh, oh, oh, this just brings out the Crazy Christmas Lady in me!
3 Favorite Christmas Songs: White Christmas, Jingle Bells,
I’ll Be Home for Christmas
3 Favorite Christmas Movies: A Christmas Story, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, A Charlie Brown Christmas
1 Favorite Christmas tradition that makes you feel in love with the world.
Every year on Christmas Eve we open one gift, as well as our special Christmas PJ’s.
This year our daughter is 14 months old for Christmas so I have absolutely fallen in love all over again!
Lesli says
Christmas songs I love: Kids singing “Must Be Santa” (My daughter just had her Holiday Program last night), Mary Did You Know, and Breath of Heaven.
Movies: Christmas Vacation and also the newer Miracle on 34th Street, I love Jack Frost too!
Favorite Christmas tradition: getting in pajamas, making hot chocolate, and taking kids to go look at lights, almost every night, even if it’s past bedtime!
Lyndsay says
Favorite Christmas Songs:
1. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas sung by Kristin Chenoweth (theatre nerd speaking, I can’t help it).
2. I’ll Be Home For Christmas sung by She & Him.
3. Jingle Bells? by Barbra Streisand. Because it is pure 60s goofy, weird, strange Barbra Streisand that I am completely in love with.
Favorite Movies:
1. Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town (Put one step in front of the othhherrrrr)
2. Harry Potter series just because ABC Family has ingrained their marathons into me during the holiday times.
3. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (the cartoon version).
Memory: When I stopped believing in Santa Clause and was finally old enough to shepherd my younger cousins upstairs during Christmas Eve so the adults could place the presents under the tree for all of us. I found it utterly beautiful to see my younger cousins eyes glow with the anticipation of Santa Clause and to be able to fuel that and play along with them. We are all grown up now, but I will forever cherish those memories.
Oda Karoline says
Your blog is so inspiring! I look at it and always think: I want to be like Kelle when I grow up! You’re so creative and pure hearted! I’ve been reading your blog since early 2010, and it has never been a dull moment! I especially love it during Christmas time, because you and I feel the same way about it! I think I’m also a distant Calus-relative! Looking forward to follow you another year!
My favorite christmas songs are:
1. Det lyser i stille grender – Hanne Krogh (It’s a Norwegian christmas song, and it’s so beautiful)
2. Fairytales of New York – The Pogues
3. Carol of the bells!
My favorite christmas movies are:
1. Love actually
2. The Holiday
(I’m a hopeless romantic)
3. The Polar express!
My favorite christmas tradition:
It’s hard to choose, because I love every tradition we have, but I picked two of my favorites:
1. When me and my siblings bake gingerbread cookies together, and later decorate the tree together! It’s so nice to still do it together, even though we are 22, 25 and 29!
2. After we eat the Christmas rice pudding, the whole family goes to the “nissehule” to give the nisse some food (A nisse is almost like a miniature versions of Santa Claus (we call Santa Claus Christmas nisse) that lives at the farms, in houses, in the woods, in caves etc. And they protect the Norwegian people from bad things, but they also do some mischief when you don’t treat them well, so we give our Nisse rice pudding every Christmas, so he protects us and are good to us!)
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas!
Hugs <3
Kellie says
Hardest year of my life. We decided to become foster parents this year. Most difficult thing I have ever done. I am clinging to the meaning of CHRISTmas this year more than ever.
Favorite Christmas songs: How many Kings by Downhere, any Toby Mac Christmas song and Francesca Battistelli’s version of Marshmallow World
Favorite Christmas movies: The Christmas miracle of Johnathan Toomey (beautiful in so many ways), It happened on 5th Avenue, Shop around the Corner (so cool to see where it inspires You’ve Got Mail), Rudolph and Charlie Brown.
Favorite tradition: my homemade lego advent calendar ( fun for the kids and fun for me), driving with the kids to see decorations with a huge cup o’joe, stockings and the little bits I find to fill them (tiny messages that I get who they are), and having a beautiful time out of life’s activity to meditate on The Gift from 2000 years ago.
Caryl says
I was brushing my teeth while reading your post and almost shot toothpaste out of my mouth with ‘sponge jab.’ Well played, Nella, well played.
3 Favorite Christmas Songs: Bing Crosby, White Christmas; Adeste Fidelis; Ave Maria.
3 Favorite Christmas Movies: White Christmas; The Bells of St. Mary’s.
1 Favorite Christmas tradition that makes you feel in love with the world: ‘light looking’ with Miss A. We drive all over Sacramento looking at lights while drinking hot chocolate.
Cheers,
Caryl