Christmas

Christmas Vacation

A couple Christmas seasons ago, after hearing it referenced and raved about year after year, my husband and I watched National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation for the first time. Confession: We didn’t think it was that funny. There are many Christmas movies I love to rewatch, but it’s not joining the list. (Before I get in trouble for that opinion, as far as cult classics go we are all for The Princess Bride. Our three-year-old, in random moments of quiet, will quip, “Anybody want a peanut?” I’m confident he’s a future fan.)

I’ve slowly gotten back into posting this year and I’ll be back next year, but I’m planning a pause for the month of December. I love this time of year and we try to slow down and keep things relaxed in our house. As much as we can anyway with two energetic kiddos who react to all holidays like Buddy the Elf ready to greet Santa.

May the season bring comfort and peace, and may it have the fun of cozy pjs and favorite Christmas movies, be they of the comedy, classic, or Hallmark variety. (No judgment.)

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Yuletide Mystery: The Case of the Disappearing Doll

“You better watch out, you better not cry, better not pout, I’m telling you why…”

Christmas: That magical time of year when we bribe children into good behavior under the watchful eye of Santa Claus and his army, a.k.a. the Elf on the Shelf. As children discover whether their efforts result in toys or lumps of coal, parents will search for new strategies to coerce them into being good during the off-season. Or, if they’re anything like my parents, gift-wrapped reward or no, they’ll have the audacity to expect good behavior year round. Still, if it was Christmas-related, my parents weren’t above playing the Santa card. Which brings me to a tale of one of my Christmases long, long ago. Continue reading →

Deck the Halls (And the Blog)

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Readers of my blog around this time last year likely caught on to my love of the Christmas season. (There may have been an overabundant use of exclamation points.) Well, Christmastime is here again and I am at my traditional level of excitement with decking the halls — and the blog.

While last year I went for a festive header (and started with the same idea this year), I decided on a temporary change of theme. Perhaps inspiration came from the annual WordPress provision of falling snow on my page. Maybe the emailed pictures of my niece today brought out my love for all things adorable. Whatever the reason, it’s been an extra dose of fun to decorate my little corner of the Web this December. Continue reading →

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year is Here!!!!! (Yes, I am a little excited)

I am no Scrooge. Christmas is my favorite holiday. It’s also the only time of year I find snowfall acceptable, then I’m bah humbugging with the best of them.

Besides weather, the common Christmas complaints surround commercialism. This includes how early displays show up in stores and how shoppers trample over the true meaning of the day to get the best deals on the most stuff. Growing up, I loved waking on Christmas morning to find gifts under the tree that weren’t there the night before, regardless of what I believed about jolly old St. Nick. After all, what child doesn’t like presents?

But even then I loved traditions that were less about getting. Continue reading →