I guess it all started with a 'silly old bear'.
Shelby received her first stuffed Pooh Bear for Christmas in 2000.
Maddie got hers in 2002.
We soon started collecting the movies. We're crazy about Disney/Pixar!
When the girls were 4 and 6, we started having family movie nights. We'd cuddle on the couch, eat supper, and watch a movie together.
As the girls got older, we started adding other types of movies and even themes to our family night.
Now, with Joey's busy schedule and the girls starting their teens, we've cut back to one big theme night a month.
We love it! We go all out with a bit of costuming, games and decorations.
This month we couldn't quite make up our minds on one theme, so we decided we'd make December a little special! One theme - based on a favorite holiday movie - every Friday night until Christmas!
(I should mention, we surprised Joey with each theme! He had no idea what was on the menu until he came home from work and we gave him his 'costume' for the night. Too fun!)
We started off with 'A Christmas Story'.
 |
| We ate Chinese, of course! (Buddy's Christmas present played the part of the goose!) |
 |
| The girls and I performed a couple of songs for Joe. (I was the pink bunny) |
 |
| Even Buddy got in on the act!!! |
Next, we headed to Whoville to meet
'The Grinch Who Stole Christmas'.
Joe and the girls were decked out in their Grinchy best,
 |
| Love the footies! |
I wore my Who-bilation Celebration hat!
 |
| Eat your heart out Martha May! |
We dined on rare Who roast beast (We call it herbed chicken 'round these parts), green/red/yellow veggies, and pink mashed potatoes!
And what Who-bilation Celebration would be complete without the
WHO who who
PUDDING pudding pudding
COOK OFF cook off cook off !!!
 |
| Joey did quite well! |
Our third weekend was a little different.
We bundled up, piled in the car and headed out. We grabbed dinner on the go, and set off to see the Christmas lights around town!
 |
| The Broadmoor |
 |
| The Riverwalk |
 |
| A creatively decked out residence with an insanely high electric bill! |
After the light tour, we went home and watched
'The Santa Claus' with hot cocoa and homemade cookies!
 |
| One of our fav Christmas traditions - baking and decorating sugar cookies! |
 |
| Love my Santa Claus. . . |
Our last Friday was based on one of my all time favorite Christmas movies -
'Scrooge' with Alistair Sim.
We cooked an authentic Dicken's dinner that night. Roast turkey, walnut and marmalade glazed carrots, sage sausage and cranberry dressing, dinner rolls,
 |
| Duchess potatoes - |
 |
| and Lemon Syllabub for dessert! |
Delicious! Then we all settled back to enjoy the movie.
 |
| Tiny Tim, Scrooge, and Martha Cratchit! |
That wrapped up our theme nights. Of course, with so many great holiday movies how could we choose just four?!
We also watched 'The Nativity', 'It's A Wonderful Life', 'White Christmas'. . .
It was a wonderful December!
When I look back on my childhood Christmases, I honestly don't remember any specific gifts. I remember family.
*I remember lighting the candles around the advent wreath and reading devotions.
*I remember Christmas caroling.
*I remember that every Christmas Eve was sacred. Mom worked outside the home. And dad, being a pastor, was always on call. But Christmas Eve was ours. No interruptions.
Time with family, warm winter memories, traditions old and new...
Those are my favorite ways of remembering the birth of our Lord.
