Christmas Favorites

It's hard to believe that Christmas Eve is 10 days away. As cliche as it sounds, each year seems to go by faster than the one before. I thought I would take a moment and share with you some of my favorite Christmas memories, traditions, and also songs.

I believed in Santa until I was about 8 years old. He still comes and visits each year though as I am still a good girl. :)

My Mom and I take a weekend each December and make cookies together. Well, she bakes, I sit back and watch and taste test for her. It works out well.

Christmas Eve is spent up at my Grandma's in Pine City with my Mom's side of the family. We typically spend the day grazing on munchie foods, playing cards, watching TV, and just annoying I mean enjoying each others company. We have an actual sit down meal for dinner which consists of Swedish Meatballs, mashed potatoes, rolls, veggies, and of course, dessert. I wouldn't want my Christmas Eve meal to be any other way.

Christmas Day is spent with my Dad's side of the family. Breakfast in the morning, presents, late lunch/dinner in the afternoon. Basically eating, eating, and more eating.

One of my favorite Christmas memories was back in 1995. My parents had us believe that Christmas was going to be smaller that year meaning no real presents, no Christmas Tree, just a nice meal as a family together. My brother and I were 13 and 9 years old. Hearing that there wasn't going to be a true Christmas was heartbreaking, but we both took it like champs. A week after Christmas, my parents ended up surprising us both with a trip to Disney at 4am. My mom created a book and recorded a little poem as we read through it. At the end of the book there were tickets to Disney and our flight was leaving in 3 hours. This was all recorded on video as well. As you can imagine... my brother and I were ecstatic. I remember taking a shower that morning and was shaking with excitement. It was the first real and also last vacation my family took together before my parents split up and eventually divorced. A very bittersweet memory but a Christmas memory I will never forget.

Tradition is important to me and my family. Tradition = making memories and I plan on carrying on these family traditions along with creating some of my own when I do get married and start having a family of my own. My heart smiles just thinking about those possibilities.

Now I leave you with 2 of my favorite Christmas Songs and of course, a clip from Buddy the Elf. The greatest Christmas movie, ever.

Someday, I would love to spend Christmas in Hawaii! That would be a very Mele Kalikimaka time! P.S. I love Bing Crosby.



I saw this movie for the first time last year. I know, where have I been? It instantly became a Christmas favorite... that, and Love Actually and of course, Christmas Vacation.



My absolute favorite Christmas Hymn is O Holy Night. I think Carrie Underwood sings a pretty good version of it. I always get goosebumps when I hear

"Fall on your knees!
Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine,
O night when Christ was born"



Merry Christmas to you and yours!