The holiday season is here. Thanksgiving and Christmas are my favorite times of year. The air is crisp, you’re surrounded by family and friends, and nothing is better than Christmas music and decorations.
Here is my list of my favorite holiday season traditions and some things I’m looking forward to about this year.
the original Amy Grant Christmas album…
because every Christmas is like a “Tender Tennessee Christmas”
my mom’s broccoli, cheese, and rice casserole that I learned to make last year
the Nutcracker
my mother’s sweet potato casserole that I finally learned to make
the Point of Grace Christmas CD
my family has already agreed to see this with me when they’re here for Christmas
What are your favorite things that remind you of home and the holidays?
I am so excited for the Marley & Me movie…I cried like a baby when I read the book, but I'm so excited to see this!!!!
1. LOVE Amy Grant’s Christmas CD.
2. Christmas Vacation is a movie we watcher every Christmas Eve.
3. We also always go see the Nutcracker the Sunday before Christmas.
4. We always go see a movie on Christmas day and this year we are going to see Marley and Me!!!
YAYAYAYAYAYAY I LOVE THE HOLIDAYS!!!!!!!!
Ooo… I LOVE Christmas! I even re-designed my blog for the season! I LOVE the POG Christmas CD and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation… when Grandma prays (with the pledge)… absolutely hysterical!!!
I would have to add Elf to that list of Christmas movies. It just cracks me up every time and I love when they sing “Baby It’s Cold Outside.”
I also love Christmas decorations, driving around looking at all the lights, drinking hot chocolate ALL THE TIME, wrapping gifts, trimming the tree, baking bread…you name it, I love it!
Happy belated birthday!
Ditto to the Lavender Lily! Looking at holiday lights is a must!!! as is Christmas decorations!
Those recipes look so yummy! I love the holidays and everything about them – mostly spending time with friends and family.
Have you READ Marley & Me? If the movie is like the book, I don't have enough emotional stamina to see it.
And, that sweet potato dish looks scrumptious!
-E
I love this post! You just got me into the holiday mood!
There is nothing better than Sweet Potato Casserole! In fact, I had my Mom make that for me as my Birthday Cake this year, haha!
I LOVE everything you listed! Can you share your broccoli, cheese, and rice recipe, that sounds soooo good! How about adding a comfy fire to the fix. The smell of the wood, the cozy warmth from the fireplace… 🙂 Great post!
Amy Grant is my favorite Christmas CD too! I’m looking forward to spending a week with my family at my mom’s house and cooking and wrapping presents. I’m most excited about Christmas morning, when my little one sees all the wonders Santa will leave for him!
I can’t do without 1) going to church on Christmas Eve with my family, 2) driving around with my mom, assigning grades to people’s outdoor decorations, 3) going out for breakfast with family on Christmas Eve morning. Great post!
I can't wait to see Marley & Me! That book just warms my heart 😉 Hope you had an amazing birthday.
mmm… I love the holidays! The 11:00 Christmas Eve service – when ends at midnight with the kids tolling the bells to ring in the birth of Christ. All of the great Christmas movies. The decorations – really no house looks better than it does when it is filled with Christmas! I can’t wait!!
Love your list!
1. My family watches Christmas Vacation every year and we have snack night with all kinds of goodies too. My Dad and I know all the lines…it’s kind of sad really.
2. I love to watch White Christmas, The Grinch (animated) all those great claymation holiday specials and It’s a Wonderful Life. My holiday movie collection grows every year.
3. Decorating my tree is my favorite thing to do. I’m sad we won’t get to this year because I’m moving.
4. I love all the Christmas classic songs. Give me some Brenda Lee singing Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree and I’m happy.
Oh..any chance you could give us the recipe for the broccoli/rice casserole? Or is this a family secret? It looks amazing!
Amy Grant Rocks!
She is married to Vince who is one of my all-time fav musicians.
As for Home Alone. I could go home alone and leave that back at the store. haha.
When you get the time, please check out my blg.
I have some very interesting Christmas Music.
CLICK HERE!
Thanks a trillion,
Chris
You need to add the best Christmas movie ever: All I Want for Christmas! and…I am super excited about the new Reese/Vince Vaughn movie: 4 Christmases – I’m making husband go on Thanksgiving weekend!
I don’t get it… this year, when I have less money to splurge on gifts for everyone, and I’m looking forward to the holidays more than ever.
Amy Grant was my first concert ever. Memories just came flooding back. And, POG… I haven’t heard about them in years!
Thanks for bringing the holidays back to mind!
I love that Point of Grace album…I just looked at it on Amazon, because I want a copy for my personal collection. I also love a fire in the fireplace, baking, watching a White Christmas, looking at Christmas lights….the list goes on!!
I love It’s a Wonderful Life! SO good. I can’t wait to make our gingerbread house and decorate our Christmas cooking that we do every year!
I LOVE sweet potato casserole! It’s my fave dish to make. Do you put marshmellows on top….soo good! I’m so excited for the radio stations to start pumping out some Christmas tunes. And Marley and Me is definitely on our Christmas eve/day movie list 🙂
Where to begin?! I love Christmas musicals at church and pretty much any Christmas music. I also love How the Grinch Stole Christmas (both the animated and Jim Carrey versions). I love Christmas trees and decorations. Oh, and I can’t WAIT for Marley and Me!!
I could have written this very same list..
Oh except for the sweet potato thingy.. I am not a fan..lol.
Our favorite tradition is Movies Christmas Night.. to fun.
I can't wait for Christmas! Elf is my fave Christmas movie… And the Marley & Me movie will be great. Hope you are having a good day!
I am SO excited for Christmas! It’s almost here!!!!!
Amy Grant! Those are the DAYS! ha ha, love it! 🙂 Also, Marley and Me, totally in for that one too, annnnd yes, yes, I am soo excited to see the new Vince Vaughn movie, Four Christmas with Reese Witherspoon, I think you should add that one to your list!
And BL.. I was soo happy about Amy when Bob told her she could win the whole thing, and so sad when Phil and Stacy lost. Oh well, at least Amy C stood up for self. Down with the Blue Team, or MEAN TEAM! (minus Amy C)
and ps happy late birthday!
I LOVE “It’s a wonderful life!”!!
Something that reminds me of family and the holidays is the movie “Elf”. We’ve started watching it every christmas as a family– it’s soo much fun!
I will admit I am a big fan of Mariah Carey’s old school Christmas album-ha! Seriously-i love it!
And Chevy Chase always makes an apprearance in our house 🙂
I can’t wait!
Hey Erin, naturallycaffeinatedfamily@yahoo.com. Thanks! They sound soo yummy! 🙂
MMM, I LOVE sweet potato casserole! That’s my #1 favorite Christmas (and Thanksgiving food)…
My family always does a movie on Christmas as well and I CAN’T WAIT to see Marley and Me. Lab puppies and Jennifer Aniston…two of my favorite things! 😉
I love the Amy Grant album! And, I thought I might be the only person to own the POG Christmas album 😉 Nice to know I’m not alone–I love them!
This past weekend I watched Home Alone 1 and 2 b/c I was in a very Christmas-y mood!
Watching my favorite holiday movie – A Christmas Story! I love love love it when TNT announces 24 hours of A Christmas Story.
I found your blog via Marina’s blog. My goodness you have a lot of followers! 🙂
I have to watch ‘A Christmas Story’
I love the movie It’s a wonderful life! Those recipes look good I want the recipe if they are not secretive!!
Just the thought of drinking hot chocolate, watching a Christmas movie, and wrapping Christmas presents [all at the same time] makes me feel warm and fuzzy.
A new tradition that Lee started for us last year was making a gingerbread house. We didn’t do such a great job but it was fun nonetheless! [I even did a post on it last year. If you’re interested search for “a dream realized” (must use the quotes) and it will pop up.]
I cannot WAIT for Marley!
And your mom’s recipes look so, so good. You should share!
I gave you the smile award on my blog….even though I know you’ve already received it. Just wanted to show some love.
This post just got me a tad bit excited 🙂 I’m already slightly in the Christmas mood already (I’ve been singing It’s The Most Wonderful Time in my head for about a week) but this just did me in. You have to add Elf to your movie list though. That would just complete it. And Green Bean Casserole! I have a countdown til decorating day!!
The Amy Grant album is one of my all time favorites also. Ummmm…I don’t suppose you would share your mom’s broccoli casserole with me, would you?
Your new header is fantastic! love it!
I love Xmas movies (and movies in general).
We always go to a movie on my dad’s bday (dec 22) and Xmas eve too 🙂
Christmas Vacation is one of the greatest movies ever made.
This post is so much fun!
My ALLTIME favorite Christmas movie is Prancer!! The past two years in college, I’ve made all my friends come over to watch it because most haven’t seen it before. 🙁
I, like everyone else, LOVE Amy Grant’s Christmas Album. Some of my other favorites are Mariah Carey, Alabama, Celine Dion, and ONE song off of N*Sync’s album! 🙂
I’m getting excited just thinking about all the holidays!
I looove Christmas! The decorations, the lights (white lights- love love love), shopping for presents, the Nutcracker, Christmas music, gift wrap, spending time with my family- I could go on and on about the things that make me so happy for the holidays!
Music: I love Christmas music in general (and on occasion listen in July!) so it’s hard to name all my favs, but I love Amy Grant’s second Christmas album, although I do love Tender Tennessee Christmas! Another album that’s a holiday must for me is Lee Ann Womack’s Christmas album.
Movies: Elf, White Christmas, Love Actually, It’s a Wonderful Life, Home Alone, and all the cartoons!
i can not wait for Xmas! and i didt know marley and me was going to be a movie! i am more excited now!
The Amy Grant Christmas cd is my favorite too!
I love Christmas and I can’t wait!!! I love all your music and video choices as well for this blessed season!
I love Christmas and I can’t wait!!! I love all your music and video choices as well for this blessed season!
I love Christmas and I can’t wait!!! I love all your music and video choices as well for this blessed season!
I love Christmas and I can’t wait!!! I love all your music and video choices as well for this blessed season!
I love Christmas and I can’t wait!!! I love all your music and video choices as well for this blessed season!
I just started reading Marley & Me and as a lifetime lab lover I am just grinning ear to ear.
He so easily caputers a labs carefree approach to life.