Ten on Tuesday, Christmas Style

{Ten Things I Love About Christmas}

1. Spending time with my boys.

2. Claymation Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer.

Watching this movie every year is one of my favorite traditions. Last year Kendry and I watched it together and he fell asleep in my arms.

This year he refused to sit still long enough to watch the movie, although he seemed amused by Burl Ives' talking snowman.

I wonder what next year will be like. Will I be watching it with two kiddos?

3. Christmas jammies! I was up past midnight last night finishing Kendry's Christmas pajamas. I intend for this to become a new tradition - new jammies made by moi for him to open on Christmas Eve and wear that night. (Thanks to my friend Patty for this fun idea!)

4. Stockings. (You can see our homemade stockings here.) The last few years our stockings have been merely for show. We hang them above our fireplace and leave them there when we spend Christmas at my in-laws. This year we're packing up our stockings and taking them with us to the in-laws, where they will be hung by the fireplace in anticipation for Santa.

Who knew it could be so much fun finding stocking stuffers for my boys?! I have enjoyed that more than shopping for regular gifts.

5. Egg Nog.

6. Santa Bites. As a bake-aholic I had to include at least one tasty Christmas treat with my favorites. These are a cinch to make. Crush a full box of Oreos into very small pieces in a mixing bowl. Mix in 8oz of cream cheese until well combined. Roll the mixture into individual balls about the size of a walnut. Place them on a cookie sheet and refrigerate for at least an hour. Once the balls have hardened, dip each one into melted white chocolate chips (or white almond bark), completely covering each one. Place them on wax paper to set. Once the white chocolate hardens they are ready to eat! Yummers! (For a minty touch: use mint flavored Oreos, or sprinkle the tops of the balls with crushed candy canes after dipping them in the chocolate.)


7. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. There is something so magical about singing Christmas songs by candlelight, remembering the true reason for Christmas.

8. O Holy Night. This has always been my very favorite Christmas song.

"...Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born."

Each time I sing these words I am moved to tears and truly want to fall on my knees before my Lord and King. Can you imagine what it would have been like to witness the angels announcing Christ's birth? Oh, hear the angel voices!

And speaking of angels...

9. The angel atop our tree. My Grandmother gave me my angel years ago and I adore it. When we place it atop our tree it reminds me of the angels who appeared to the shepherds, singing "Glory to God in the highest!"

10. Celebrating the birth of my Savior!

"Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us."

-Matthew 1:23-

MERRY CHRISTMAS!