Friday Five Favs

Susanne at Living to Tell the Story hosts this carnival every Friday for people to list their five favorite things for the week.

Look at the pretty snowflakes on the new FFF banner. Makes you feel all Christmas-y, does it not?! Well, I'm STILL in a Christmas mood so you'll just gave to bear with this goopy Christmas spirit of mine. It just IS and that's all I can say about THAT!

Now on to my five favorite things about Christmas (which I can drag out to more than five...you just watch me!).

#1 - Christmas TREATS!




Now, a few weeks back Susanne posted her recipe for Gingerbread with Lemon Sauce. Regretfully (but only somewhat so!) I made it. It IS delicious. In case you missed that, CLICK HERE. And remember: It's Susanne's Fault. Not Carrie's. You just keep saying that . . . esp. if you decide to lick the spoon. DEFINITELY Susanne's fault.

#2 - Christmas MOVIES!




When my husband Jonathan was growing up, he and his family watched very few movies. I've always been amazed (and somewhat taken aback) by how few movies he's ever seen in all his growing up years. However! This Christmas season I've been positively DELIGHTED by this fact. It has meant that *I* get to introduce him to all of the movies (above) that I grew up watching. We watched The Santa Clause the other night after bookworm bedtime and it was still just as funny, relaxing and enjoyable as I remembered. We also watched The Preacher's Wife which is a great holiday movie. (And yes, I am very well aware that it's a remake and yes, I have seen the original - which I also like.)

#3 - RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER!

This year we let Bookworm1 (age 3) familiarize himself with Rudolph. We've been singing the song and we read a book about this famous reindeer. THEN, I found little Rudolph character cupcake toppers (Wilton brand) at our local Michaels. We have an advent calendar that is counting down the days until Christmas (to give the little person around here some perspective and so as to avoid being asked every hour on the hour whether or not it is Christmas day!). In one of the days I put a little notecard that said we would get to make cupcakes and decorate them and then EAT them while watching Rudolph for the first time! SUCH a hit! We had a blast!




His favorite character? The "bomidable snowman."



#4 - Christmas Storybook Village

Every year, the next town over hosts a special Storybook Christmas Village and you get to walk through a huge display at the fairgrounds full of trees and familiar characters, music and freezing cold temperatures. (You do have to remember to dress as if you'll be spending the evening in the Arctic in sub-zero temperatures and then you'll be ok. This place is a bookworm paradise and we love going (once.). (It's fun but it's cold, ok? I DO have my Christmas spirit limits after about 45 minutes. Ha! You've found my fatal flaw when it comes to enjoying Christmas traditions.... I need to be adequately warm.)






#5 - Christmas MUSIC!

I love it that radio stations are playing non-stop Christmas music. I love it that when you walk into stores you hear familiar tunes. I love walking just about ANYwhere these days and seeing my son's face light up when he recognizes a song we've been singing around the house. I just LOVE the festive feel of the music.

This is such a special time of year, full of things to have fun with and be thankful for! I'm enjoy it (if you couldn't tell)!

What are YOU enjoying this Christmas season? Don't be too bah-humbuggish. You'd be missing too much. If you haven't had a chance to start celebrating yet - start now. Today. It's easy to do...you just have to start. And why start at all?

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest. . . "