Christmas & A Few of my Favorite Things

Before I can jump in to 2012 I need to just close the book on 2011 with a Christmas recap and a tribute to some of my most favorite holiday things!

 

So to get started...in no specific order....I especially love...

 

1.  White Christmas

 

I LOVE this movie!!  We watched it every year on Christmas growing up at my grandparents house but I never really appreciated it until I matured into my adult years and now I can't get enough.  I watch it and dream of dancing like those girls.  And while I do really love this movie I also love Christmas movies in general.  I have to watch Love Actually, The Holiday and Elf every year.  Richard and I shared a few chuckles with Christmas Vacation this year...I forgot how funny that movie is.  And I have a weakness and secret love for the Hallmark Channel and Lifetime Christmas movies.  I watched 3 of them on Christmas morning while waiting for Richard to wake up...oops!!!

 

 

2.  Starbucks Peppermint Mocha

 

 

I wait for this drink every year.  Now I know that technically you can order it at anytime of the year but that just is not fun.  I want it in the Christmas cup wtih the little chocolate flake sprinkles.  Just the smell of it makes me love Christmas.  This fall I fell for the Salted Caramel Mocha and thought I was in heaven but once they rolled in the peppermint mocha I never looked back.  I think I drank my last one for the year this morning (really my last one for 2011 but I'm just a day behind). 

 

 

3.  Christmas music

 

Again I can't get enough!!  I'm still singing Hark the Herald Angels Sing at any moment that I can!  I especially love the songs about Jesus like O Come All Ye Faithful, O Holy Night, Angels We Have Heard on High, etc. 

This is a song I just found this year and both Richard and I love it...

BarlowGirl's Hallelujah (Light has Come)

4.  Christmas Trees

 

I think we accidentally made it through the whole season without taking a picture of our tree.  I'm not sure how that happened and we certainly can't let it happen again.  I can tell you that it looked like the Griswold's tree in that it was too big for the room so it was bent over on top and stuffed in to the corner.  But it was PERFECT!!  I love big trees!  I take lots of time to put lots of lights on it and Richard and I enjoyed decorating our first tree together.  Big tree + Small Living Room = Christmas magic!!  I was sad to see it go yesterday but my living room seemed to grow in size overnight!  

 

 

5.  Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls

 

Thanks mom for making me some while I was in Wilmington!!  They are a Christmas staple and I can pop them in by the handful.  YUM!!

 

 

6.  Christmas Decorations in general

 

 

 

Love them.  Pull them out the day after Thanksgiving.  Sad to see them go back in the closet.

 

Those are just a few of the many things that make me think about Christmas and that I especially look forward to the other months of the year.  

 

 

 

This year Christmas was really special since it was our first Christmas as Mr. and Mrs. Stein and we spent it right here at home which was a big change for me.  We both worked on Christmas Eve so we stayed in Greenville and celebrated with each other.  Here are a few pics of Christmas morning/afternoon when Richard woke up and we opened presents.

 

 Tupelo loved all of the wrapping paper

 

 

My mom and David came over for dinner that night and we had a delicious meal of steaks, potato casserole, salad and peppermint ice cream pie.  We opened more presents, played a game and enjoyed spending time together on Christmas night! (I can't believe I didn't take any pictures!!)  It was weird to not be in Wilmington surrounded by lots of family but it was just right for us.  I was lucky enough to go to Wilmington for a few days after Christmas to spend time with friends and family.  Overall I would consider the 2011 holiday season a complete success!! 

 

This picture was taken as we were leaving the Christmas Eve service at church.  I love it.