Now that Thanksgiving is behind us, I feel like there’s this mad dash to do all of the Christmas things. Once it’s December 26th, the Christmas things just make me glum (do you feel the same way? Like listening to Jingle Bells once the day has passed is just such a bummer?), so I have just under a month to shove all the jolly and merry into our days. 
Here’s my checklist:
WATCH: Home Alone, The Holiday, It’s a Wonderful Life, Charlie Brown Christmas (we’ve already watched it twice–five more times, at least), Elf, Little Women, Grinch (Jim Carrey version), White Christmas, Love Actually. What am I missing?
DO: go ice skating at the Frog Pond, cut down our tree and decorate the house, build a gingerbread house, try (try!!) to move “Jack” our Elf on the Shelf every day, make sugar cookies, get matching pjs for the boys (checkkkk!), and generally be merry
LISTEN: Josh Groban, Vince Guaraldi Trio, Bing Crosby, Michael Buble, Little Women, Celtic Christmas, The Holiday Soundtrack… there’s too many more to list. What’s your favorite?
The boys are in Nordstrom outfits, including these sweet slippers. Anders’ pair light up (a very happy discovery Parker made as Anders tooted around the second floor). This pair is pretty cute too.
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This post is sponsored by Nordstrom. Their free shipping, return policy, and price matching make them one of my favorite online retailers. Thanks so much for reading and supporting this blog.
yes! totally feel you. there is such a mad dash to be so MERRY for 25 days and then the january doldrums set in.
good list!
xo, brittany
gift guide for the new mama on my blog today!
http://www.notablob.com
I always watch While You Were Sleeping this time of year and I love love love the Chris Isaak Christmas cd/album (what do we call them these days?).
I come from a big Sicilian family, so we also celebrate the Italian holiday Epiphany – which makes the Christmas season last a weeee bit longer! On Jan 5, La Befana (a nice witch) comes and fills our boys’ stockings with small presents and treats. They love it. Usually by the time Jan 6 rolls around, I’m “ready” to turn off the Christmas music and take down all the decorations, but not right after Christmas. Here’s more about La Befana if you want to give it a try this year… http://www.italyheritage.com/traditions/christmas/befana.htm
I forgot to mention, La Befana also cleans your house. :o)
thank you for sharing this with me! i love that it extends the christmas season a bit.
I love your take on watching Charlie Brown Christmas. It’s sacred in our house – my husband won’t let us watch it until a few days before Christmas. I get that, though. We love Garfield Christmas too (it’s on youtube) – soo cheesy and classic. I wonder if your guys would like Arthur Christmas? It’s been my new classic the past few years. “Grand-Santa!” Polar Express is a good one too, especially for little kids. For music, might I recommend Eddie Higgins and Bill Evans? They sound like Vince Guaraldi, and we could all use more of him! And I think you’d love Dave Barnes too!
I’ve already started listening to your recommendations and I love ’em!
Have you done Raymond Briggs “The Snowman”? A classic, but a tough sad. My two-year old watched it back to back this weekend with eyes wide, and its short…15 minutes maybe? 20 max… so I didn’t feel bad indulging.
The Family Stone! Gives me all the feels and you can’t beat the cast
I like Family Stone, yes, but for some reason I never got crazy about it like everyone else did!
First and foremost the jammies are adorable as ever!! Secondly, under Watch, add, The Family Stone!! So, good.
Josh Groban at Christmas is totally my favorite! “O Holy Night” brings tears to my eyes!
Hi! Love your list! And of course all nordstrom clothes…too bad we cant get it here on the other side of the continent.
The thing with christmas here is that since the weather is always so hot de we never get to do winter stuff which, to me, makes it so much more cosy. I know mi girls would looove a white Christmas, and so would i. Who knows, one day maybe we get to spend it in the snow. For now is late pool parties waiting for Santa with friends and family. Eating veggie hamburguers (with champaign, fancy ha!) and openening presents which is always fun.
Love from the south
Eliana