Christmas Favorites: Christmas Day Traditions

Hmm. I'm not entirely sure we had a lot of Christmas day traditions, but I'm going to give it a shot.

1. Waiting to come down the stairs - Mom and Dad made us wait at the top of the stairs while they took pictures, and did who knows what while we sat there FOREVER!!! Finally, one of us would be allowed down the stairs and the other two had to continue our wait while we could hear she-who-was-luckiest gasp with excitement. At last the anticipation turned to glee as we flew down the stairs to see what Santa had brought. I miss that tradition. It's hard to carry it on, however, when I'm the only kid at home on Christmas, and Mom and Dad usually have to wake me up on Christmas morning now.

2. Taking turns opening gifts - Some might find this tradition tedious and frustrating, but I secretly enjoyed it, because it prolonged the excitement of opening my gifts. We still do this, and I'm glad! Now I enjoy opening my presents, but I can hardly contain my excitement as each family member opens the gifts I have put so much energy and thought into.

3. Bubble Ring - Yes, this gets two posts. It is a favorite food and a favorite tradition. It would NOT be Christmas without Bubble Ring for breakfast after opening gifts. The best part of being the only kid at home on Christmas morning? More bubble ring for me! :)

4. Stuffing stockings - This is a fairly new tradition. A couple of years ago I decided it would be fun to sneak a few little gifts into my parents' stockings after they went to sleep. It was so fun to watch their faces the next morning as they were surprised by gifts they weren't expecting and knew they hadn't put in each other's stocking. It's not such a surprise any more, but I still enjoy doing it.

Christmas Day traditions, anyone?

Christmas Favorites: Christmas Eve Traditions

This will be an easy list. I like tradition. *cue Tevye singing in my head*

1. Christmas lights - My family used to pile into the car and listen to Christmas music as we drove around looking at the Christmas lights people had on their houses. It was so much fun to see the ones that were especially festive. There was a house down the street that resembled the Griswolds'. In case you aren't familiar with it, this is the Griswolds' house in the movie "Christmas Vacation".


My friend lived next door. She said it was hard to sleep with all the lights shining in her window, but we loved to go see that house every year.

2. Family Dinner - For several years, my extended family got together on Christmas Eve and ate chili or Aunt Susan's famous (and delicious) clam chowder. It added to the excitement of Christmas Eve to be together with our cousins, and it helped the time pass quickly until we could go home and crawl into our beds in anticipation of Santa's visit.

3. Christmas Eve Presents - Each Christmas Eve before we went to bed, we were allowed to open ONE gift. It was always a new pair of Christmas pajamas. I really miss this tradition. I had to buy my own last year, and this year I can't even find any cute ones. Sad.

4. Christmas Goodies and Stories - We would all sit around the Christmas tree and munch on treats from the neighbors while Mom read the story of Christ's birth from Luke 2, and also "The Littlest Angel". It's just not Christmas Eve without them.

What are your Christmas Eve traditions?

Christmas Favorites: Christmas Food

Now this will be a hard list to narrow down. Here goes:

1. Pretzels dipped in White Chocolate - I don't normally love white chocolate, but there is something about the way the white chocolate combines with the salt on a pretzel that makes a little bit of heaven for my mouth. I love it when there are a few white chocolate pretzels on a goodie plate from a neighbor.

2. Carmel Rolls/Bubble Ring - It just wouldn't be Christmas without Carmel Rolls. They have been a traditional breakfast staple on Christmas morning for as long as I can remember.

3. Melbas - Mmm. My mouth waters just thinking about them. A friend of my mom's opened a chocolate shop when I was young. The Melbas were our favorite treat from her store. When she went out of business, she was willing to share her recipe with my mom, and now we have Melbas every year. A Melba has a delicious, melt-in-your-mouth fondant with milk chocolate covering the outside. You should try some! I recommend them without nuts. They're the best that way.

4. Mom's No-Fail Fudge - rich, fudgy goodness. Who could ask for more? Oh yeah, it contains hershey bars and marshmellows, so it's pretty much perfection!

What are your favorite holiday treats?

Christmas Favorites: Christmas Stories

As much as I don't like Christmas, I love Christmas stories. This could possibly have something to do with the fact that I LOVE reading. Seriously. I would choose a good book over almost anything. These are my favorites:

1. Tale of Three Trees - It's not really a Christmas story, but I read it every Christmas, so I guess that qualifies. This is such a beautiful tale and has several applications. It chronicles important points of the Savior's life, and it also shows that even though your dreams may not be accomplished in the way you planned, they are still important and lead you to where you need to be in the end.

2. The Littlest Angel - My mom read this story to us each Christmas Eve, so I love it not only because it's a great story, but because it takes me back to Christmas as a child. It is the sweetest story about a little boy angel who is trying to figure out what gift he can give to the baby Jesus.

3. The Last Straw - If you have siblings, you will be able to empathize with the boy in the story. The Last Straw is a great reminder of how we should celebrate the Christmas season.

4. Trouble at the Inn - This story touches my heart. That a young boy was willing to do for Mary and Joseph what none were willing to do on that night long ago when the Savior of the world was born in a stable.

What are you favorite Christmas stories and why?

Christmas Favorites: Christmas Places

My favorite places to go at Christmas:

1. Temple Square - Even though it's always really cold, I love to walk around Temple Square and look at the lights. I also love that Temple Square is a little bit of quiet in a crazy busy world.

2. Doug & Emmy's - I have been to this little restaurant lots of times, and most of them weren't at Christmas, but when I think about going to breakfast at Christmas, I always think of Doug & Emmy's. I'm so sad that they're closing! I hope I can make it there at least once more before that happens. Anyone want to go?

3. Disneyland - We went to Disneyland right after Christmas one year, and it rocked!!! Disneyland is one of my favorite places anyway, but it was especially fun when it was all decorated for Christmas. And it was so warm. I love wearing a T-shirt and no coat in the winter!

4. Jimmy's - I used to work there, and it's fun for me to go back and visit at Christmas. I love to see all the different tree decorations, and the flower arrangements. I have really fun memories of working there at Christmas, and it's fun to go back. It feels like home.

Where do you like to go at Christmas?

Christmas Favorites: Christmas Decor

More favorites...this time decor.

1. Red/Green/White - Traditional Christmas colors. While I appreciate the visual appeal of other colors in Christmas decor, I don't think that I could ever stray from the traditional set in my own decorating.

2. Snowmen - I love many different styles and I generally lean away from the cutesy, but for some reason, I love snowman decor. Seriously. Love it! My Christmas decor is probably 90% Snowpeople.

3. Christmas Lights - They're just so darn pretty. And festive. I like the ones you can see from miles away.

4. Nativities - I love looking at all the different versions. Is there a stable? Are there wisemen? Is the baby Jesus in a manger, or in someone's arms? Do they do a festival of nativities like the Festival of Trees? I would totally go to that!

How do you like to decorate?

A Little Giggle...

I know this is a break from my Christmas favorites, but I just had to share. During Sharing Time in Primary , the Primary President was teaching about the Savior's birth. She started to read from Luke 2..."And it came to pass that in those days..." That's as far as she got before one of my little boys started yelling "Hey! That's in my scriptures!!!" I thought he must mean that the Christmas story is in his scriptures, so I asked "Does your family read the Christmas Story every year?" I was about 3/4 of the way through that sentence when he yelled "My scriptures say "And it came to pass!". Funny boy!

Christmas Favorites: Christmas Movies

Today wasn't any better than yesterday. So I continue with trying to focus on the good parts of Christmas. Tonight...movies. (Just so you know, the numbers have absolutely no significance. I just like to make nice, neat, numbered lists. It's an illness.)

1. White Christmas - I love Bing Crosby. I love Danny Kaye. This movie is funny and heartwarming all at the same time. And I really want one of those red cloaks trimmed in white fur like the sisters wear at the end.

2. Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer/Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town - It just wasn't Christmas until we watched these movies when I was little. I especially remember one year when Mom made tomato soup with dumplings for us to eat while we watched Rudolf. Yummy!

3. Elf - Hilarious!

4. Mr. Krueger's Christmas - This movie makes me think of Chorale. We watched this once at a Christmas activity and my friend Derek could say "would you like to come in for some chocolate?" just like Jimmy Stuart. I must have made him say it 4,000 times that year. I especially like the part where Mr. Krueger is in the Nativity. It makes me cry.

What are your favorite Christmas movies? I'm sorry if you get annoyed that I keep asking for your favorites. Get over it. I like to know what you think. I already know what I like. ;)

Christmas Favorites: Christmas Songs

It's been a long day. And I'm sad. And it's really cold. And I don't love Christmas. I'm sorry. I know that Christmas is the favorite holiday for most people, but it's not mine. I am trying to get into the Christmas spirit this year, so I've decided to post my Christmas Favorites. Tonight's list will contain my favorite Christmas songs and why they are my favorites. So here goes:

Sacred:
1. O Holy Night - This one is a favorite for several reasons. I have happy memories attached to this song, and each time I hear it I am transported to a beautiful December night about 12 years ago. I think it is beautiful. My favorite part of the song is where it says "fall on your knees". I can picture the shepherds falling on their knees to worship the Christ Child. And I can imagine myself doing the same thing when I meet the Savior someday.

2. Stille Nacht by Manheim Steamroller - I have loved this song since the first time I heard it. I've always liked Silent Night, and this arrangement is so peaceful and reverent. I imagine that would have been the mood there in the stable that first Christmas.

3. Candlelight Carol & Angel's Carol by John Rutter - These are together because I like them for the same simple reason...I love John Rutter's song arrangements.

4. Still, Still, Still - Good memories associated with this one as well. It was the best when my high school choir sang it accompanied only by the bells. So beautiful.

Secular:
1. Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town - I remember my dad singing this to us around Christmas time when we were arguing, or whining. "You better watch out, you better not cry" always makes me think of my dad.

2. Must Be Santa - We sang this in Elementary School. I can still picture Mr. Tams frantically flipping the pages of the big chart and pointing out the words as we sang faster and faster. Christmas was still fun back then.

3. White Christmas - I was in "Meet Me In St. Louis" my senior year of high school. It was really fun and this song makes me think of that. And I love the movie.

4. Sleigh Ride - more good memories. When I was in High School, my choir class sang this song. Our director didn't think it was appropriate for a bunch of High School students to sing about passing around coffee, so we were trying to come up with other words to add there. Someone suggested water and we all thought that was pretty funny, so that's how we sang it for the rest of the season.

What are your favorite Christmas songs and why? Leave them in the comments so I can see. :)