Unexpected Christmas cheer

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The other night I searched Netflix instant streaming for something festive to watch on TV as I wrapped gifts in front of it. I found a British comedy called Nativity! that looked appropriately festive, so Jim and I gave it a shot, figuring we could always just shut it off if we hated it.

We definitely did not hate it! Quite the opposite. In fact, immediately upon it ending I added it to my list of all-time favorite Christmas movies to watch each and every year—and used my iPhone to order a DVD of it from Amazon right then and there to ensure we'd always have it.

You know the feeling you get watching that silly but sweet scene in Love, Actually when David (Hugh Grant) is knocking on doors throughout a neighborhood in search of Natalie (Martine McCutcheon) and at one door, three charming young girls inside gleefully dance to the carol they request the Prime Minister and his driver sing? Well, that is how this entire movie feels.

If you have time before Christmas, I urge you to watch Nativity!. If you don't have time, watch it after the holiday—I can pretty much guarantee you'll find it just as delightful.

Today's question:

What holiday film or program did you most recently watch?

Cookies = Christmas

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One major mile-marker on my road to Christmas has been passed: I hosted my family's annual Cookie Swap on Sunday.

The lineup of goodies swapped was impressive:

And the time with family was festive (with a large chunk of it dedicated to football, as expected):

My mom and sisters and I have been swapping holiday cookies for about a quarter of a century now, and Sunday's gathering had four generations of the family in attendance.

Cookie Swap prep time and baking can be quite a chore, but it's one well worth it as I hope the tradition will continue for many more years to come, for many more generations to enjoy.

Today's question:

If you had to eliminate all sweets and treats from your holiday diet except for one, which one seasonal goodie would you keep on enjoying?