Every year, right after we clean up the kitchen after Thanksgiving dinner (which is usually eaten around mid-day, because in the south, we eat dinner in the middle of the day and supper in the evening), we sit down for a Christmas Vacation viewing party.

As soon as we watch Christmas Vacation as a whole family, we know it’s officially time for the Christmas season.

Throughout the next month, as we count down to Christmas Day, we watch a lot of movies. I’m very nostalgic, and have to watch all of my favorites. And there are too many where I can recite every word. Todd isn’t a fan of this, so I refrain, for his sake.

I can sing every word to “Sisters” and I want a family just like in The Family Stone someday. In my next life.

And now that Hudson is old enough to watch some of them, and Hayes is old enough to watch a very select few, it’s become a fun, family tradition. We’ll eat dinner and settle in with some popcorn, hot chocolate, some warm pajamas, and watch our favorites.

I’ve included my list of 25 days of Christmas movies here. They can obviously be watched in any order you want! Some nights, we’ll watch one with the boys right after supper, and sometimes Todd and I will stay up late watching one after we put the kids to bed, depending on how age-appropriate it is.

I’m proud (or maybe I should be ashamed) that we own all of these movies. I’m a Christmas movie junkie. Or just a movie junkie, in general.

(Almost all of the movies are available via Amazon Instant Video through Amazon Prime. I’ve linked to the movies for easy viewing.)

In the words of Kevin McAllister, “This is it. Don’t get scared now.”

25 Days of Christmas Movies

1. Frosty The Snowman

2. A Christmas Story (Full-Screen Edition)

3. Four Christmases

4. Holiday Inn (Special Edition)

5. Santa Claus: Movie

6. A Charlie Brown Christmas (Remastered Deluxe Edition)

7. Miracle on 34th Street (the original)

8. Miracle on 34th Street

9. White Christmas (Anniversary Edition)

10.The Polar Express (Widescreen Edition)

11. Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Deluxe Edition)

12. Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas

13. The Holiday (2006)

14. Elf (Infinifilm Edition)

15. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

16. Love Actually

17. The Family Man

18. It’s A Wonderful Life

19. The Family Stone

20. Prancer

21. All I Want For Christmas

22. Home Alone

23. Home Alone 2: Lost In New York

24. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

25. The Santa Clause

Okay, so what did I miss? Is your favorite on this list?

 

Family Photos Style Guide– This week Jenny posted the greatest guide for getting dressed for Christmas card photos. It was full of great tips!

Orange Pomander Balls– Megan posted a great DIY for the yummiest fall scent- and it’s completely natural.

Thanksgiving Hostess Gifts– Nina shared her very best and most personal ideas for Thanksgiving hostess gifts for when you are visiting someone’s home this season.

Sweet Potato Cupcakes with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting– If you’re sick and tired of pumpkin pie, you should definitely bring these delicious cupcakes to Thanksgiving this year. Shay posts the most delicious- and easy- recipes!

Free Printables for Christmas Cookie Exchange– Lauren created the most adorable cookie exchange printable set for me to use for this year’s cookie exchange. And you can print them for free! It’s the perfect idea for a play date or girls night.

Thanksgiving Kids Table– Lauren also created the most adorable printables to create a fun, kid-friendly table for Thanksgiving dinner. It’s so easy to turn your kids table into a spot where they will want to sit for the entire meal!

Holiday & Winter Pajama Roundup for the Kiddos– Ashley is sharing her favorite kids pajama sets for the season! So much cuteness.

 

It’s been a long time since I’ve done a good old-fashioned brain dump, so here goes!

-ONE-

Today I am joining one of my favorite bloggers, Shay of Mix and Match Family and Mix and Match Mama, for her monthly pajama party. Shay is so much fun and her posts make me so happy every day. And she’s one of the contributors on Every Day Cheer! I loved “chatting” with Shay and it only would have been more fun if we were actually hanging out for a pajama party with chick flicks, popcorn and M&Ms, and lots of giggles! So head over to Shay’s blog to see the fun!

-TWO-

Are y’all watching Scandal? I understand that shows have to get a little complicated, but don’t y’all feel like it has gotten so complicated? But I seriously love this show.

-THREE-

Hayes had the flu and strep throat last week. He had a fever of 103.5 last Wednedsay night and we took him to the doctor the next morning. The pediatrician did a strep test and a flu test, and she was shocked that both were positive. My sweet guy stayed home for five days and is doing 100% better. But goodness. Flu season came early this year!

-FOUR-

We made our first pot of chili last night. It was glorious. There was actual frost in Columbia this week– some even say they saw snow– so chili was a necessity.

-FIVE-

After the time change, I had this huge burst of energy. I hoped it would last, but it was short-lived, and now I can’t bring myself to get out of bed in the mornings. I need all the minutes of sleep I can get!

-SIX-

Our house got toilets this week. That’s major progress. We still can’t use them, obviously. But this means that my days of running to Trader Joe’s to use the bathroom when we’re checking on house updates are over. I could never bring myself to use the port-a-potty in the front yard. Toilets in the house is a very good thing. (Here’s the latest kitchen update photo from Instagram.)

-SEVEN-

I love Pure Barre, but our local Pure Barre no longer offers the class I attended that meets when the boys are at preschool. So I can go at 6:00 a.m. or go at night after Todd gets home. Neither of those are good options. I’m irrationally annoyed.

-EIGHT-

I got my haircut last Saturday morning. With the lack of humidity, I’ve been wanting to wear it straight more often. But it was way too long for me to flat iron. My hair is very wavy naturally, so it’s easier to just wear it in big waves and wear it on the longer side. But I decided to get rid of some length so it wouldn’t look so stringy if I wore it straight. I’m loving the cut this week. It’s about five inches shorter than it was, and still plenty long to style however I want to.

-NINE-

And, finally, guess what is coming on Monday! It’s a huge giveaway, and you’re all going to want to be here on Monday morning to see this!