Unexpected Christmas cheer

/

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

/

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?

Sing it: Only six days 'til Christmas

/

A little ditty to sing (very loosely) to the tune of 12 Days of Christmas:

Only six days 'til Christmas, wish someone would give me

a muzzle so I'd stop eating all I see.

On the fifth day 'til Christmas, wish someone would give me

more energy,

and a muzzle so I'd stop eating all I see.

On the fourth day 'til Christmas, wish someone would give me

magically finished greeting cards,

more energy,

and a muzzle so I'd stop eating all I see.

On the third day 'til Christmas, wish someone would give me

an elf to wrap the presents,

magically finished greeting cards,

more energy,

and a muzzle so I'd stop eating all I see.

On the second day 'til Christmas, wish someone would give me

a personal shopper for final groceries,

an elf to wrap the presents,

magically finished greeting cards,

more energy,

and a muzzle so I'd stop eating all I see.

On the last day 'til Christmas wish someone would give me

an easy-to-learn DSLR camera for taking incredible shots of my family—including Megan, Preston, Bubby, and Baby Mac, who will arrive Christmas afternoon—plus extended family for a sure-to-be-festive, not-likely-to-happen-again-for-a-very-long-time holiday celebration,

a personal shopper for final groceries,

an elf to wrap the presents,

magically finished greeting cards,

more energy,

and a muzzle so I'd stop eating all I see.

Merry Monday to one and all!

photo: stock.xchng

Today's question:

What do you wish someone would give you in these last days 'til Christmas?

Decking the halls: Like mother, like daughters

/

I've got my tree up and the stockings hung by the chimney with care:

As does my oldest daughter, Brianna:

As does my middle daughter, Megan:

As for my youngest daughter, Andrea, I've yet to see what she's done. No rush though: Andie always has and always will do things in her own time, in her own way. That's the magic of Andie.

That said, I have no doubt Andie will have her tree up and photos sent long before I finish the rest of the holiday decorating I've yet to do. But at least my tree is done. That's what I keep telling myself...despite the numerous Santas, holiday village, nativity scene figures, candles for the windows and more in boxes scattered around the house, just waiting to be placed (and just out of frame of my photo above!).

Like I said, at least my tree is done ... At least my tree is done ... At least my tree is done ... At least my tree is done ...

Today's question:

What holiday decorating have you completed...and what do you have left to do?