Christmas Memories 2013

“On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me: ten Lords a Leaping, nine Ladies Dancing, eight Maids a Milking, seven Swans a Swimming, six Geese a Laying, five Golden Rings, four Calling Birds, three French Hens, two Turtle Doves, and a Partridge in a Pear Tree.” – Frederic Austin

Merry belated Christmas everybody! This week was Christmas and we both had fun celebrating with our families. I’ll have to admit that I was a little busy and preoccupied on Christmas day and the days leading up to it, that I didn’t get much of a chance to take photos. We’ll have to rely on Nicole to share Christmas day photos. 

Overall my Christmas was good. We had a quiet day. We got up late and opened presents slowly. I emailed friends and we all talked to family on the phone. I did my baking and cooking prep the day before; I made my traditional crème brulee and brussel sprouts. I was lucky to receive some very nice presents. I got a pair of purple Hunter boots that I have been wanting for months and months, actually I have had my eyes on them since my trip to England almost 2 years ago, as well as a very cute nightie and sparkly housecoat. For the most part, Christmas this year was like any other day... I exercised, my brother played catch with his friend, and I cleaned my room while watching reality TV, nothing too out of the ordinary. We had dinner next door at my grandparents’ house; we cooked everything here and brought it over to them as they are older now and more comfortable at home. I was happy to watch It’s a Wonderful Life on Christmas Eve though, that made me happy. 

Samantha

As I’m sure everyone is aware, this past Wednesday was Christmas and I just wanted to share a bit about my wonderful day with my family! Our day started with a trip to the beach. My parents go every week to run/workout and so my brother and I joined them this week (some of us did a bit more running, some a bit less). It may sound like an odd way to start off Christmas Day, but it was actually kind of fun, and the view was gorgeous.

Then we went home, put on some Christmas music and had a lovely pancake brunch. Then it was time for presents! Our dog Niki is very interested in all our presents and think there must be something in them for her…she noses them, and tries to get to whatever is inside! One of my Mom’s gifts to my Dad was having all our old, home videos put on to DVD, so after all our presents were opened we watched a few home videos, including one from Christmas 17 years ago, which was really cool. 

Next up was Christmas Dinner at my Aunt and Uncle’s house with my cousin and her husband…as well as a few more presents. In the evening, after coming back home, we played a new board game that I got for Christmas. It’s called ‘Ticket to Ride: Europe’ and it’s lots of fun!

Well, that’s the speedy version of my Christmas. I hope your Christmas was just as fantastic as mine was!

Nicole

Nicole's Decorations & Party

“On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me: nine Ladies Dancing, eight Maids a Milking, seven Swans a Swimming, six Geese a Laying, five Golden Rings, four Calling Birds, three French Hens, two Turtle Doves, and a Partridge in a Pear Tree.” – Frederic Austin

This week Nicole and her family are hosting their annual Christmas party. She will be sharing pictures of the preparation process as well as sharing some of the things that her and her family have in store for their guests. 

Enjoy!

Samantha

Like Samantha said, every year my family hosts a Christmas Party, and while it can sometimes be a bit crazy around our house as we’re getting ready for it, it’s always a fun night and a highlight of the Christmas season.

One of the big things we do to get ready is decorate our house! We usually start decorating at the beginning of December and slowly add more decorations as the days go by…finishing with our tree the week before the party. This year our Nativity set was one of the first decorations to go up, along with our Winter Village. I love our Winter Village! A number of years ago, my mom and dad and I made it with a bit of help from my little brother. We got the directions from a Martha Stewart Magazine (if you want to make one yourself, you can find instructions here, on the Martha Stewart website). 

We’ll also put up a few garlands, candles and a wreath on our front door. We always get a real Christmas tree…and I love that fresh Christmas tree smell!

Another thing we have to do to get ready for the party is all the planning and preparing of the food. Every year my Dad makes his ‘famous’ Christmas cookies…a definite highlight of the party and Christmas! We do our party in a pot-luck, buffet style. Everyone brings some sort of appetizer and we always have fruit and vegetables, a cheese ball, as well as meats and cheeses for little ‘bunwiches’. My mom usually makes meatballs, and maybe another appetizer as well, and everyone always brings something interesting…this year Samantha is going to bring fried Won Tons…yum!

The day of the party is spent cleaning, setting up, and preparing more food. Lots of dusting, vacuuming, setting up the table, chopping fruits, veggies, and cheese etc. Once everyone arrives, there’s lots of eating, talking, and laughing going on all evening! Some years we might sing a few Christmas carols as well. After everyone leaves there’s usually lots to clean up, but it’s always worth it!

Nicole

Christmas Movies and Music

“On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me: eight Maids a Milking, seven Swans a Swimming, six Geese a Laying, five Golden Rings, four Calling Birds, three French Hens, two Turtle Doves, and a Partridge in a Pear Tree.” – Frederic Austin

Music and movies are two things that both Nicole and I love! This week we are both devising lists of our favourite Christmas music and movies. I’ll take the reins for the movies and I’ll let Nicole take over when it comes to music. 

We all know that I am a movie person. If I could just sit on the couch and watch movies all day long I would. Some people are not fans of watching movies more than once, but I love watching my Christmas favourites each year. I’m definitely one for traditions, so every year we always watch certain Christmas movies at Christmas time. The weekend before Christmas we watch Miracle on 34^th Street (the original with Natalie Wood) and Holiday Inn (with Fred Astaire), Christmas Eve we watch It’s A Wonderful Life, and then on Christmas Day we watch White Christmas. Those movies are musts for me during the Christmas season. I’ve listed a few others in my must see Christmas movie list as well. 

Samantha 

Our Must See Christmas Movies (in no special order)

Samantha’s List:

Miracle on 34^th Street

The Holiday

Holiday Inn

It’s A Wonderful Life

White Christmas

Home Alone

The Family Stone (I’ve seen this movie hundreds of times)

The Santa Claus

Meet Me I St. Louis

Elf 

Nicole’s List: (Some of mine are repeats of Samantha's but I couldn't leave them out!)

The Gift of Love (1978)

White Christmas

Holiday Inn

Meet Me In St. Louis

Miracle on 34^th Street

The Shop Around the Corner

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe

Frosty the Snowman

A Charlie Brown Christmas

I Love Christmas Music! Especially the classic carols such as 'The First Noel', 'Joy to the World', 'God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen' and my all time favourite 'What Child is This'. In our house we're not really allowed to play Christmas music until December; sometimes I think it would be fun to play Christmas music all year round...but then it wouldn't be quite so exciting or special when Christmas came around, would it?
Not only do I love listening to Christmas music, I also love playing it on the piano. Now, I'm not an amazing pianist by any stretch of the imagination, but I enjoy plunking away, and I'm at least good enough that you can tell what song I'm playing. Sometimes, if there's nobody else at home, I might even sing along!

Nicole

Our Favourite Christmas Music (in no special order)

Nicole's Favourite Christmas Music:

“A Prayer for Every Year” – Plus One

“King Jesus is His Name” – Larnelle Harris

“Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song)” – Amy Grant

“White Christmas” – Bing Crosby

“My Favorite Things” – Tony Bennett

“Mary Did You Know”– Kathy Mattea

“This is the Time” – Michael Bolton

“This Christmas (Joy to the World)” – TobyMac

“A Strange Way to Save the World” – 4Him

“The Christmas Song” – Natalie Cole

Samantha’s Favourite Christmas Music:

“Christmas Time” – Backstreet Boys

“Last Christmas” – Wham!

“All I Want for Christmas Is You” – Mariah Carey

“The Magic of Christmas Day” – Celine Dion

“The First Noel” – Frank Sinatra

“Adeste Fideles”– Frank Sinatra

“Ding A Ling, the Christmas Bell” – Lynn Anderson

“Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” – Lynn Anderson

“A Whistle and a Whisker Away” – Lynn Anderson

“It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” – Andy Williams

Favourite 'Generic' Christmas Songs:
"What Child Is This?"
"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"
"We Three Kings"
"Silver Bells"
"A Holly Jolly Christmas"
"Silent Night"
"O Holy Night"
"Angels We Have Heard On High"
"Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"
"It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas"
"Carol of the Bells"
"Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!"

And of course..."The Twelve Days of Christmas"!

Samantha's Decorations

“On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me: seven Swans a Swimming, six Geese a Laying, five Golden Rings, four Calling Birds, three French Hens, two Turtle Doves, and a Partridge in a Pear Tree.” – Frederic Austin

Every December 1^st in my house we put up our Christmas tree and decorations. We of course have an artificial tree because of all the allergies that we suffer from. This year our decorating has been a bit slower; we’ve all gotten sick with that nasty flu again, so it’s slowed us down dramatically. We have however, managed to put up some decorations. I had planned to have a lot more photos of finished decorations but half decorated trees and boxed decorations will have to do!

Samantha 

First we have the tree when we first put it up Sunday night. I was laying down on the couch observing, haha. Then from my same position shivering and laying on the couch the following day and night, I took some more photos of the slow decoration progress; we should have it completed before Christmas.

Here are some pictures of all the decorations that have been boxed up all year. It's going to take a little more time for all of them to find their way out this year but eventually they'll get put up.