I heard from my mom last night and she confirmed that she had been reading these Christmas posts and that they were appreciated. Today I'm feeling a little bah-humbug myself, but alas, duty calls as I promised a post each night this week, so we're stretching a little bit.
Today's post will be a list of my favorite things about the holidays in a Top Ten sort of fashion.
10. Opening presents & seeing loved ones reactions at their first sight of the gift. Last year we went in with my Grandma to get my mom a digital camera, something she desperately needed because her stone age film camera was on its last leg. I don't think she was expecting it, but her face was priceless. She was excited and that made me excited. And then she had to learn how to actually use the camera--one of those technology lessons I had the pleasure of giving her.
9. Lights, specifically the red lights on the HUGE tree at Temple Square. Though it isn't necessarily a tradition to make a visit to the lights every year, it is always a must for me to see that HUGE red tree.
8. Watching "Love Actually." Call me (and my husband) sinners, but we love, love, love this movie, which is--gasp--Rated R. I always cry, Ben gets giddy. There is just a special Christmasy feel to the movie and always reminds us that "Love Actually is all around." I have too many favorite parts of this movie to count. We usually watch it a few times during the season, snuggled up with a blanket, hot chocolate, and the only lights coming from our tree (and the TV, of course).
7. Egg Nog and other Christmas treats, namely chocolate covered cinnamon gummy bears, clementines, pepermint hot chocolate, and chocolate oranges (are you seeing the same chocolate theme here that I am?)
6. A nice little break from my job. This year it's a two week break from seeing the little darlings who sometimes make me want to pull out my hair and strangle them. For two weeks I don't have to worry about lesson plans, grading, classroom management, or any other number of teacher-related things. I get to sleep in, spend the day in my pj's if I want, and just be called Lauren for a change.
5. Christmas Eve with my family. It's been a tradition for years to go to my mom's house on Christmas Eve with my brothers and (usually) my dad. We have a feast of a dinner created by my master-cook mom, laughter provided by silly Cassidy, more treats and food, usually a game or two and sometimes a movie. We also do a present exchange--including the already blogged about ornament tradition--and take family pictures by the Christmas tree. I heart my family and love spending time with them since we don't all get together all that much.
4. Ben's personal excitement of getting me a gift I really, really want. One year it was a car (who really ever gets a car for Christmas?), last year it was my Guitar Hero. He spends months before Christmas picking my brain to find out what I really want--regardless of price--and usually finds a way to make it happen. He is excited when I open the gift and loves to see how happy I am that he pulled off another great present.
3. Did I already mention not having to go to work for two weeks? That's definitely a favorite.
2. And did I already mention how much I love all of the food associated with the holiday, including the feasts, sweets, and beverages? I'd better put that on my list twice.
1. The overall feeling of peace, giving, gratitude, and family. I eat every minute of it up, every minute of being lazy for two weeks, every minute of chillin' with my peeps, and every minute of eating.
(ps...the picture above is from Christmas 2004)
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