~*Day Twelve*~

We are so close to it now. In a few hours the sun will set, and by the time it rises the day will be upon us. (Or...actually, at least for the families with little children, about five or six in the morning. Perhaps sooner.) It will be the day that a month of frivolity and cheer has been dedicated to in preparation of. (Yes, there is the ugly preposition at the end of my sentence. =P is all I have to say to you!) Have these themed days been here merely for the purpose of the day? Or is it more for the journey than the destination? A time when all come together to recognize magic and love, not because of the day itself, but with the day simply as an excuse? 

Whatever the reasons, all have led to tomorrow, Christmas. The celebration of Christ's birth. That makes today Christmas eve, and for this day, my family has a couple of traditions. The first is Ginger...well, this year it was men, usually it is houses, but this year we decorated gingerbread men. Here are some pictures. The last three were made by me. 

Here are pics of us working on our ginger men. We got really into and gave them outfits and stuff. Even I thought, when I started, that I would only do simple designs, but it was so fun. We all totally got into it.

Psychedelic dude.

Can you tell which ones are German?
Better yet, which on is the chef, gone ninja,
gone guy at the gym?

My lovely sister made this one

Here's me working on a couple of mine.

Yum!

As morbid as it is, I think this one may be a favorite, made
by my brother-in-law Shawn, (the bald guy in the picture above.)

I was going for something more abstract with this one,
as opposed to an actually person. Plus, it was my
third one so I was getting a little bored by this time.

My sad sleepy man. I don't know why he's sad,
he just ended up that way.

 These are the three that I made.

  

My Japanese Student. Originally it was supposed
to be an elf, but I thought the eyes looked like they
belonged on an anime character, hence the
Japanese, I'm not sure where the student part is.

Every year my family goes to the Christmas eve service, or, as it is also called, the Candle Light service.

There is usually some Christmas hymns, a short sermon, and then we all light little candles and wave them around awkwardly trying to avoid the hot wax, because it melts really, really, really fast. It's very nice and it's one of my favorite traditions. It's a nice fun way to center the season on Christ. 

When we come home, we eat a dinner of clam chowder, (we always have it on Christmas eve.) After cleaning up after dinner, we read the Christmas story from Luke, eat a sugar plump, (which are actually a type of truffle like treat) and open one present, each our Christmas eve presents, which are typically pajamas. After we have all snuggled into our new pajamas, we watch a Christmas movie before going to bed. This year it's going to be The Nativity Story. 

~*Day Eleven*~

As we near the Christmas holiday, do you find yourself with very little to do? Well fear not, because today's post if chock full of links to some fun Christmas activities. 

If you want to test your knowledge of Christmas centered useless facts, hop over to http://www.christmastrivia.net/ where there are all sorts of Christmas trivia to partake in. 

Or if you want to see how many Christmas carols you know, go to http://www.ssqq.com/archive/christmaspuzzle00.htm for an epic time of solving picture puzzles. 

http://www.northpole.com/ is an entire website dedicated to Christmas time and Christmas fun. 

Or, if you feel like watching a Christmas play, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eadndvXGoM&feature=youtu.be is the Christmas play my church put on this year. (Hey Tim, you don't mind I put that up here, do you?) It was better live, but if you care to watch I'm the annoying one second from the right.

Oh, if only you could make the computer you're reading this post off of could be more seasonal...wait it can! http://www.freechristmaswallpapers.net/ has a great selection of Christmas themed wallpaper for your computer. 

~*Day Ten*~

 

Yes I know, I am late, twice as late as I have ever been. You see, our internet was sketchy the past couple days, and after trying complex computer-ry things, I decided it best to wait and hope for it to clear up, and then my sister finally looked at the cord and realized it was only half plugged in. Go figure. 

Anyhoo, today you will have the pleasure in viewing Christmas decorations! Ah yes, every year people drag out the Christmas decorations they have accumulated over several years and deck their houses to the point where it practically screams Christmas. There are fabric snowmen, ceramic santas, and sparkly garland everywhere you look. 

Here are some pics of the decorations found at my families house. 

Our Christmas tree

And a tree that acts as our advent calender

                                                               

Sorry, no matter what I did I couldn't see to get rid of all the extra space right here. 

A dining room and a couple hallways. 

My mom's collection of snowmen

And my mom's collection of santas

Except for the house right across from us, we're the only
people on our block that does Christmas lights.
Kind of sad really. 

We don't have
a fire place to
hang our stockings,
so we put them on
this tall santa.

Here are some more awesome Christmas decorations. 

Link to website

Link to website

Link to website

Link to website

Link to website

~*Day Nine*~

This one is coming to you just a little late in the day, but hey, not officially late day wise! For those of you who have known me for a while, you know how I wrap my presents for Christmas. That's right, I can see you shaking your head, thinking, "Boy, that girl really has too much time on her hands." And I can see the rest of you, jumping up and down in excitement. As for you who don't know...just you wait...

This year, the presents are no less awesome.  Here are some pics of some of them.

Present of De-sending 

A huge candy cane, who wouldn't love that?

 

My first thought was to call it the Tub, but everyone else is calling it the Drum.

A star, both awesome and Biblical.                                                                                    

Big, big, big lovely bow.

And here are a couple of presents that aren't really impressive unless they are viewed in action. No still life for these presents!

I made a really cool, interactive slide show that made use of the pictures and the videos, but alas, it was too long for blogger to handle. Or perhaps blogger just couldn't take that much concentrated epicness.

~*Day Eight*~

Today we shall indulge in the more literate side of Christmas....

With a review on "Miracle on 34th Street" the book. I know that the movie and book have the same exact plot, but I did not just recently watch the movie, but I have recently read the book. 

In it's simplest synopsis, Miracle on 34th Street is a story about a woman who doesn't dare believe in miracles, a lawyer, who oddly enough faces the danger of believing things too easily, a young girl who doesn't quite know how to be a child, and an old man...who believes himself to be Santa Clause. 

When Doris Walker hired Kris Kringle to be the Santa for Macy's, she was just as surprised as anybody that the man thought he was really was Santa Clause. Maybe just as surprising was the sudden wave of good will that he brought with him. It started with the store he worked in, crept and effected other businesses, and eventually threatend the whole country.  Everyone seemed to love the old man, and several even believe he was Santa Clause, one of them being Fred Gailey. But there were a few who didn't. In an attempt to be rid of the man, they try to claim him insane. Fred is the only man willing to possible ruin his career on defending the Kris, but it's going to take a little extra to save Kris. In fact, it just might take the belief of a young girl who never before believed in Santa Clause, and the dedication of the woman who hired him in the first place, and possibly, just a little help from the U.S. Postal Service. 

Miracle on 34th Street is a , sweet, and rather short book. It is a simple story, that captures the "Christmas spirit" in its pages, in an effective way you don't see very often. It's a delight to read and enjoy. 

And note: the original movie of Miracle on 34th Street is way better, and I'm not nostalgic at all about it so it is a pure and un-affected opinion. 

~*Day Seven*~

As well as the traditions and Christmas themed music and movies, one thing that is prevalent during the holiday season is, well, food. In fact, the kind of tempting treats that parade around during Christmas time have almost become synonymous with the season.

Every Christmas season my mum makes an assortment of delicious Christmas cookies and candies, including chocolate covered cherries, ginger cookies, and almond brittle. Below is one of everyone's favorites, Kiss Cookies. (I was going to do Cake Cookies, but my sister already took it.)

Cocoa Kiss Cookies

1 cup butter or margarine, softened

2/3 cup sugar 

1 2/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup of cocoa

1 cup finely chopped pecans (optional, we don't do it) 

54 Hershey's Kisses 

Confectioners' sugar

In large mixer bowl cream butter, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy. Combine flour and cocoa; blend into creamed mixture. Add nuts; beat on low speed until well blended. Chill dough 1 hour or until firm enough to handle. (We personally don't chill the dough, and it doesn't seem to harm the cookies in any way, I'm just writing out the recipe exactly as it is.) Heat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Mold scant tablespoon of dough around each unwrapped Kiss, covering Kiss completely. Shape into balls; place on un-greased cookie sheet. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until almost set. Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet onto wire rack. Cool completely. Roll in confectioners' sugar. (Or dust it on if you have a powdered sugar shaker. It's a lot easier than rolling the cookies, and it looks prettier.) 

~*Day Six*~

Yea! I caught up. Today is all about random useless information. That's right, you guessed it...

CHRISTMAS TRIVIA!!!!!!

I have collected these tidbits of Christmas nonsense over the years through a varied assortment of sources. I have researched all facts before posting them today for the very reason that I can't remember where I got most of these facts. Of course, if you type in Christmas trivia in a search engine you could probably find out all that I'm about to tell you...but I'm more interesting so you'll probably stick around. 

Allegedly, Martin Luther started the tradition of decorating the Christmas tree. There is no "proof" for this, but it is a popular theory. 

The Nutcracker was originally a story written by a German author named E. T. A. Hoffmann. 

In the ballet, the main girl is usually referred to as Clara, but sometimes she is named Maria. This is because in 1847 Alexandre Dumas rewrote the story, taking out some of the darker elements and renaming Clara, Maria. 

Silver Bells, was originally supposed to be Tinkle Bells.

Miracle on 34th street was a movie before it was a book.

The abbreviation for Christmas, Xmas, actually as religious orgins. In Greek, Jesus' name began with the Greek character chi, which looked like an X. The X was therefore used in representation of the word Christ. 

The song "White Christmas" came from an old musical, which is fairly well known, but what isn't as well known is that it came from the musical "Holiday Inn," and not the musical "White Christmas." In fact, the song "White Christmas" does not even appear in the movie of the same title.  

The star on top of a tree symbolizes the star that the Magi saw which led them to Jesus.

One of Santa's reindeer as two names. That would be Donder/Donner. After research I'm still not sure how the name was changed, the different stories are too conflicting, but changed it was. 

~*Day Five*~

Yes, I'm a day late again. The hope is that I'll catch up tomorrow. And unlike like last time I was late, I actually have something to share. 

This post is all about Christmas movies. Despite the fact that there are easily hundreds, more keep being made each year. Honestly I think they should slow down on the production of them, as most are...less than wonderful. But once ever few years a Christmas movie is made that is more than wonderful, that captures the spirit of Christmas and becoming and instant classic. Today, I would like to share some of my favorite Christmas movie. A couple of them may be purely nostalgic, but they are still my favorite. 

To start things off, I have a classic movie that everyone knows about, that has been spoofed about a gillion times, yet not near as many people as you would think have watched it. The move is...

George Bailey as some big dreams. He wants to see the world, travel, and do great things, to live an extraordinary life. As time goes on though, George must give up his dreams, whether it's because he needs to stay with his family, take care of the women he loves, or support the town in his business. A point in his life comes when he begins to wish that his life had been different. Luckily, a angle desperately wanting his wings comes to help George, and reminds him that just because your life isn't extraordinary, doesn't mean it isn't wonderful.

The second movie is probably a favorite purely for nostalgic reasons.

And you would not believe how hard it was to find a picture of this movie! The main thing I got when I typed in "Jack Frost" was the live action movie and some tacky horror flick. When I was a little kid, I loved all the  claymation Christmas movies that they would show each year, on ABC family. Along with "Little Drummer Boy" and "The Year Without Santa Clause". I remember "Jack Frost" being my favorite though, perhaps with "A Miser Brothers' Christmas" as a close second.

This movie is a combination of nostalgia, and the twelve year old boy inside of me, perhaps one of my favorite Christmas comedies, it's...

I love both the original cartoon and the newer movie. As far as comedies go, I prefer it over "A Christmas Story," and other's that I can't remember the titles of. I think that it may be that I grew up with the Grinch story, and I have always loved the works of Dr. Seuss, even now when I'm older I have a soft spot for him.

There are many more where that came from, for modern, serious, and funny Christmas movies, but if I was to list all of my favorites, well, this would be a very long post.

~*Day Four*~

Hello, this one is coming a day late. The original idea was to write a poem for today, but I wrote a couple of short ones and didn't like any of them, so instead here is a poem written by Henry Vaughan entitled "Christ's Nativity." 

Awake, glad heart! get up and sing!

It is the birth-day of thy King.

Awake! awake!

The Sun doth shake

Light from his locks, and all the way

Breathing perfumes, doth spice the day.

Awake, awake! hark how th' wood rings;

Winds whisper, and the busy springs

A concert make;

Awake! awake!

Man is their high-priest, and should rise

To offer up the sacrifice.

I would I were some bird, or star,

Flutt'ring in woods, or lifted far

Above this inn

And road of sin!

Then either star or bird should be

Shining or singing still to thee.

I would I had in my best part

Fit rooms for thee! or that my heart

Were so clean as

Thy manger was!

But I am all filth, and obscene;

Yet, if thou wilt, thou canst make clean.

Sweet Jesu! will then. Let no more

This leper haunt and soil thy door!

Cure him, ease him,

O release him!

And let once more, by mystic birth,

The Lord of life be born in earth..

~*Day Two*~

Okay, in all truth this is kind of a cop out day...and Tuesday may be that too, but after that all days are planned ahead and good. I have been fiddling on my computer for about ten minutes now thinking of a topic for today. I thought back over the Church service of this morning and decided to do one on advent.

Every year our Church lights the candles of an advent wreath. The traditional is four candles for the four Sundays leading up to Christmas, and often a fifth candle in the center to light on Christmas day. Each Sunday a new candle is lit, as well as the one before it, to show the passage of time. Every candle has significant meaning about the story of Christmas, Christ's birth and coming. 

First Sunday: The first candle is The Prophecy Candle/The candle of Hope. It is represented by a purple candle. John 8:12 and Isaiah 60:2-3

Second Sunday: So this Sunday the Prophecy Candle, and another purple candle, The Bethlehem Candle/The Candle of Preparation. 

Scripture: John 14:6 and Mark 1:4

Third Sunday: Is The Shepherd Candle/The Candle of Joy, represented by the pink candle.

Scripture: Isaiah 35:10

Forth Sunday: The Angle Candle/The Candle of Love. This Sunday all three purple candles or lit, and the pink one. 

Scripture: Isaiah 9:6

Christmas/Christmas Eve: The white candle in the middle is referred to as the Christ Candle. Unlike the others it is not lit on a Sunday, but Christmas or Christmas eve. My church typically lights it during the Christmas eve service, but since we started advent only this week, I think it will only be four candles this year.

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

There is no consistent or official scripture to go with the days though. As such, here is a site with different scripture references than the ones I provided. The ones I gave are simply the ones in the pamphlet about advent from my church. 

One of my favorite things about advent that it is a great tradition to help return the focus to God and the story of Christ. I have always loved doing it, and even if your church doesn't do it, it is a great tradition to have at home. 

~*Day One*~

For today's subject I will write about one of the few things that can completely define Christmas in of itself.

Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but...

Even if the house isn't decorated and no one puts Christmas lights on their houses in your neighborhood, and even if you don't like Christmas.

...it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride with you...

it is a sure fire thing to get you in the holiday mood.

...where in meadow we can build a snow man...

I think you have guessed it. That's right! It's...

...and go home for Christmas to rock around the Christmas tree.

 CHRISTMAS MUSIC!!!!! Today I will post about four of my favorite Christmas albums. Despite the fact that there are over twenty albums on my MP3 player and several random solo flying Christmas songs, there are very easily four albums I could listen to every Christmas and never get tired of them

The first album is "Garth Books and the magic of Christmas."

Despite the fact that Garth looks like he's trying to mimic a sexy fish while awkwardly holding a big glass ball, this is easily my favorite, (and easily one of the best) country Christmas albums. Garth's smooth, sometimes gritty voice offers itself to several classic Christmas songs. 

The next album is a little less traditional. It's Rockapella's "Comfort and Joy"

With the guy's amazing harmonizing and impressive beat boxing, it's a delight when you're looking for an upbeat and different thing to listen to during the holidays. If features a couple of older songs, but mostly modern ones, which quite frankly go better with the style Rockapella sings in. 

The third album is one that was released only this year, but I have already fallen in love. Yes, it truly is, Michael Bublé "Michael Bublé Christmas." Very original title too.

It features near the perfect amount traditional and modern songs for me. I would have preferred maybe one to two more traditional songs, replacing Santa Baby, which should never, under any circumstances, but sung by a guy. And possible Feliz Navidad, which is an okay song...but kind of annoying after the first minutes. Other than those two songs this my very well be the best album of them all! And not only because of the good song selection, but also because of Michael's voice.

The last but certainly not least is perfect for playing while reading or writing, or as simple background music, as it is all instrumental. It's "The Christmas Box." 

A beautiful album of songs composed by Paul Cardall. Once again there is a mixture of songs you will recognize, and songs that are completely original. Every piece is beautifully played and wonderful to listen to.