November Thanks Day 24 - Holiday Fun

Yesterday the kids, my dad, and I kicked off the holidays by doing a walk through at our local park. Every year they will the entire park with pretty lights and displays, and the Sunday prior to it opening, they open it up to the public to walk, instead of drive, through. The last time I had been was on a date with my husband almost 8 years ago. We drove through, were disappointed, and vowed not to go back as the park charged to see a lit up sign placed maybe every 10 or so feet, nothing fancy or impressive. Last year, my parents took the kids and ooh'ed and awed about it for the entire month of December. I decided that it was time to give the walk through a try.

 For a while, because of how sick my son was, it looked like we may not be able to do it, plus the weather is usually really yucky in Washington State every fall/winter. Scarily, yesterday morning we woke up to a monsoon going on outside, and reports that it would probably rain that evening. By noon, though, the sun was out and the ground began to dry. That evening was perfect, no rain, very little wind, and warm enough that with brisk walking my daughter took her jacket off.

Area sponsored by Clover Park Tech

The lights were pretty, the music was fun, and all of the volunteers were cheery. The kids, my dad, and I had a wonderful time staring at the lights, looking at the different sponsors (his employer had a sponsor/set up there), and being able to spend some quality time together while being mesmerized by everything around us. Don't get me wrong, driving through would be pretty spectacular too, but being able to slowly walk made it feel like we were enveloped in a winter wonderland.

I am very thankful that we were able to go, that the weather held up, that my son was doing alright enough to make the trek, and that I decided to just do it instead of backing out at the last minute. It was fun, and we will definitely be doing it again (although, big regret of the evening is that I left my good camera at home, and had the poor one on my Kindle for the picture perfect moments).

Must See Family Christmas Movies

Though I have been trying to ignore it (where did this year go, after all?), the Christmas season has arrived. With it comes cuddling up to seasonal movies with hot chocolate, and sharing with our kids what some of our favorites were as children (or adults, have to admit some of the new ones have been good, too). Here is a list of the top ten movies that your children must see during the holiday season!

 1. For me, Christmas is not complete until this movie has played at least once, and the songs from it listened to over and over again.  White Christmas is the ultimate family Christmas classic! Yes, it is an old movie, and yes young children (under the age of five) will probably not like it. That being said, both of my children sat down and watched it multiple times at the ages of 5 and 7, and have become obsessed with the movie, forcing all of their friends who came to visit to sit down and watch it. Between Bing Crosby's voice, Vera Ellen's dance moves, the hilarity of Danny Kaye, all of the songs, and the gorgeous Christmas scene at the end... I've had a hard time not watching this already. Give your kids a piece of the past, and have them watch this gem!

Photo courtesy of www.supertran.net

2. Who could let their children grow up without showing them A Charlie Brown Christmas? This is just one of those movies that is a right of passage - all must see it, and know of the sad, pathetic little Christmas tree that Charlie Brown got and couldn't even decorate on his own. Plus, Linus does a great job sharing the Christmas story!

Photo courtesy of www.blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com

3. You either love it, or you hate it, but at least give your kids a chance to decide what they think. Our second must see Christmas movie is A Christmas Story. Our family roars with laughter over the Red Rider BB Gun, and the dad's grief over his lost turkey (which my husband can empathize with, only substituting ham for the turkey).

Photo courtesy of www.achristmasstoryhouse.com

4. A Muppet Christmas Carol is another movie that you simply have to show your kids. It takes a classic, and puts it on a much more understandable and approachable level. Plus, as an adult, the Muppets are great at bringing back childhood memories! Besides, seeing Michael Cain, serious actor extraordinaire, interact with a bunch of Muppets if pretty priceless!

Photo courtesy of www.news.doddleme.com

5. The last on my list is a newer classic. Christmas with the Kranks was released a few years ago, and is absolutely hilarious. Jamie Lee Curtis and Tim Allen are a delight that will leave you, your spouse, and your kids snorting from laughter. And who can forget the cat! My own daughter refers to it as the cat movie, and is requiring I put a picture of said cat in this post. Watch it, you'll never look at Hickory Honeyed Ham the same way again, or Christmas Cruises, or umbrellas for that matter!



Photo courtesy of www.looplr.com

6. Frosty the Snowman is another must see. Adorable cartoon, magical story, and the voice of Jimmy Durante. It is important to note, though, that someone had the bad idea to make a new Frosty cartoon. Do not, I repeat, do not see that one. It is terrible, misleading, and not at all full of the joyous Christmas spirit that fills the original Frosty!

Photo courtesy of www.classicmedia.tv

7. This is a movie from my own childhood, which I used to love. No longer one of my own personal favorites, but it is great for kids. Not only does it cover the interest of two age ranges (a character who is second grade and one in 8th grade. Any kid likes watching another kid near their own age accomplishing something), but it has the elegant Lauren Bacall (who sings, by the way, and it is not to be missed), cute little mice, kids helping each other solve a family problem, an awesome Santa, and references to The Nutcracker.

Photo courtesy of www.opensubtitles.org

8. Two versions of this film, and both are great! Our personal favorite, though, is the Jim Carey version of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. He is the epitome of what a Grinch should be, and all kids (no matter their age), will love watching him terrorize Whoville.

Photo courtesy of www.fanpop.com

9. Tim Allen makes the list again with his film, The Santa Clause. Technically, this is a series as there are parts 1-3, but I am a fan of the original. Scott Calvin (note, initials S.C.) has his son for Christmas Eve, and the two hear Santa fall of the roof. They find his business card, which says to put on the suite. After Scott Calvin does this, he becomes Santa. Permanently. This is a magical, happy movie, complete with some laughs (all I have to say is fire extinguisher and turkey).

Photo courtesy of www.films.mcvane.ge

10. The last movie on our list is a new one. Usually, I am not a fan of the newer Christmas movies (some are cute, don't get me wrong), but this one was watched on repeat after our first time seeing it. The fantastic new Christmas movie is Arthur Christmas. Santa has a son who is kind of clumsy, and not at all as polished as he needs to be to fit in with the family operation. What he does have, though, is heart and plenty of it. Watch the movie, you and your kids will love it!

Photo courtesy of www.aceshowbiz.com

November Thanks Day 15 - Operation Christmas Child

Photo from www.samaritanspurse.ca

Today I am thankful for a wonderful project called Operation Christmas Child. I have learned about this organization through the church my family and I have attended for the last few years. Every year we have seen the mountain of shoe boxes going out to children all over the world, and have wanted to take part, but have always missed the early November deadline.

This year, my parents grabbed two boxes to fill up with the kids. My daughter chose a girl, and my son chose a boy, and off to shop they went. The kids had so much fun trying to figure out what would make another child happy, and learned about being sensitive to worldly situations (such as explaining to my son that no, a toy gun isn't okay. The child who receives this gift may come from a war torn area). Today, the kids completed their letters introducing themselves, wishing the other child a Merry Christmas, and including an address in case that child wishes to write to them in return. We will definitely do this again next year, and may start as early as January in getting something once a month for our box.

Operation Christmas Child provides you with decorative shoe boxes, labels, and the ability to choose the age and gender of child that will receive it. Then, shop away until the box is filled, include a picture and letter so that the child has a connection with who provided them with the box, and return to your church (or send in yourself). It can take weeks for them to reach some of the locations these children are at, so all boxes must be turned in by the middle of November in order to reach these kids by Christmas. When the packages are delivered, so are Bibles for all of the kids, which is truly a blessing! For more information directly from the organization, go here.

For an extra chuckle, here is Uncle Si partnered with Operation Christmas Child!