Favorite things #10...Work Christmas Dinners

I really enjoy a good Christmas dinner. I also really enjoy the prizes given away at these said parties...especially when it's packaged in this and means that we get to go do a little shopping. Thank you work parties!

Favorite thing #9...Gingerbread houses!

I haven't made a gingerbread house in years, but after last night, I think I will every year...at least for Oliver. The kids did such a good job decorating their designated tree or gingerbread man and then decorated the house together. Oliver just wanted to eat all the treats, but who can blame him? The best thing about this house was that it was pre assembled so all we had to do was decorate it and that's always the best part.

Favorite thing #8...Christmas Music.

I love Christmas music. I especially love all the memories tied to many of the songs that frequent the radio stations and the unique songs that have accidentally found me. Some songs are tied to important people that have been a huge influence on my life. Others that remind me of old friendships and past romances. A few more that remind me of my family and growing up.

One of my favorites is the one that reminds me of Luke. It's Jingle Bells by Frank Sinatra. When we were newer newly weds, Luke and I were waiting in line to be checked out at Costco(and you know how those lines at Costco go). Well, we were just kind of standing there looking around waiting and suddenly Luke breaks out in song-rather loudly I might add-singing this...

"I love those J-I-N-G-L-E BELLS! Those holiday J-I-N-G-L-E BELLS! I love those J-I-N-G-L-E-B-E double L-S I love those J-I-N-G-L-E BELLS!"

I also should note that as he was singing this, he made sure that the Bells part was extra loud. Sad, yet funny thing about this is that he didn't really realize how loud he was singing or maybe that he was even singing at all.

As it registered that my husband was the loud singer, I did the slow wide eyed turn of the head towards him and gave him the what-are-you-doing-and-why-are-you-singing look. That is the moment when he came to and we just laughed hoping that I was the only one that heard it even though we both knew that really wasn't the case.

I love it every time I hear that song because it reminds me of Luke and the way we are together....in many aspects of our relationship now that I think about it.

A few other songs and lyrics that I love are Oh Holy Night by Celtic Women. That one is amazing! A fun one is 12 days by Straight No Chaser (but that may be because the song "Africa" is one of my all time faves). And I don't know why I'm so struck by the lyrics to "The Little Drummer Boy".

What are some of your favorite holiday songs and why? I'd love to know.

Favorite Thing #7...Bag Balm

That's right,Bag Balm! Every winter my hands get so dry and they literally start to crack and bleed. Bag Balm has saved me precious lerpy hands....


Even if it means that I have to go to bed at night with a thick coating of this lovely sticky stuff and socks over my hands to lock in the moisture. Luke thinks I'm crazy, but I've gotta do what I've gotta do, right?

Favorite thing #6...Pictures w/ Santa!

(I don't have a scanner so I had to take a picture of a picture...lame, eh?)

Tonight I took Oliver out to Colonial Square where they had some Christmas festivities. We enjoyed some hot cider, hot chocolate and then we waited in line so Oliver could take a picture with Santa. I was pretty worried that he would have a fit as soon as I put him on Santa's lap, but I some how managed to coax him into it. I think the trick was showing him how all the kids got treats from Santa. He was pretty happy about that and I was pretty happy about the picture. Next year we'll work on getting him to smile.

Favorite thing #5...Holiday scents!

I love walking into my house or into the grocery store during the holidays and smelling those familiar Christmas scents. Currently it smells like Pinetrees with a dash of cany cane in my home...It's the only time that I can really say that my old house smells nice. I also just ordered some more holiday scents and can't wait to try them out.

Favorite thing #4...Shopping!

I love giving gifts. At times it stresses me out trying to find that perfect gift for certain people...like parents and all in-laws, but when I finally do, I get so excited and can't hardly wait until Christmas when I can see the looks on their faces. That is why shopping through all the chaos during the holidays makes it all worth it...to see their reactions and to let your loved ones know you were thinking about them.

I'm happy to report that I only have 1 more gift to buy!