Oh the Holiday Movies

My all time favorite Christmas movie is Frosty the Snowman. 3 years ago Build a Bear was kind enough to have Frosty available for building - so that year Marlie loved the movie too! And the girls have watched it once or twice this season, but oh there are so many new favorites . . . and thanks to the wonderful invention of DVR, we have a full selection of holiday movies at our fingertips.

First up is, naturally, a princess one - Beauty and the Beast - The Enchanted Christmas

Next would be Tom and Jerry's Nutcracker - an interesting take on the classic ballet - but Samantha's current favorite that we've watched at least 5 times!

Last night we watched a new one for the first time - Polar Express. I know it's been out for a while, but I was stuck on my classic clamation movies :) Geez, at the end when he pulled out the bell I had to leave the room because I was tearing up. Christmas seems to be getting me this year - I think it's seeing so much of the magic being so real for Marlie and Samantha now - and having it be Evan's first Christmas at the same time . . . it's making me a big ball of sentimental mess. Next thing you know I'll be crying at the stinking Hallmark commercials like my Mom used to! But I'm also getting the knot in my stomach by how much the girls are focusing on giving this year. Don't get me wrong, they want a lot on their Christmas lists, but they have also been all about our toy drive, the Salvation army buckets, and saying that the meaning of Christmas is to be with family and give :)

Mickey's Christmas made a triumphant return this year. It includes every Disney character snowed in at the House of Mouse. They show a few short cartoons, and naturally, the Disney version of the classic A Christmas Carol. Grandpa bought this last year and it is still a favorite!

And last . . . but most definitely not least . . . last night Dora's Christmas Carol Adventure came on for the first time this season. This movie has such a weird and huge place in my heart. Before I had kids of tv watching age, Dora was my least favorite. I just felt like we should focus on learning English before we started learning Spanish . . . but as I said at the time, it's an early lesson that you can't pick what your kids like - just like you can't pick their friends when they're older. So the girls have always loved Dora.

Dora's Christmas movie came out in December 2009 - that was one of the scariest, greatest, nervewracking months of my life! You see, Jayson lost his job on the 2nd, got a job offer on the 3rd (but wouldn't start until the 28th), and we put our first house on the market on the 4th (and we know how that turned out!). So we spent the month of December broke but together as a family . . . and I just have the fondest memories of my 6'4" husband running around our home with a blanket tied around his neck saying "shake your travel cape" :) That and we would giggle like 10 year olds when Benny the Bull sings "I've got some tasty nuts for my friend Tico" hahaha It still makes me laugh. We have a Dora ornament of her in her red dress on our tree - it will always bring back the memories of that month - though I don't know that I will ever forget it with or without an ornament!

And because we don't just sit around and watch movies here, it should be noted that there are also some other holiday favorites. We jam out every time we're in the car to our Little People Christmas CD! And the current favorite Christmas story is The Night Before Christmas! We have to alternate between Samantha's copy and Marlie's copy - they each got one from their Grandma and Grandpa on their 1st Christmas. Our musical tree that sings a loud version of Here Comes Santa Clause remains a favorite - the girls got it from Donna in 2009. I swear, I've never changed the batteries on that thing . . . I am in total disbelief at the fact that it is just as loud as ever :) And our Little People Christmas village in the front hallway is still very loved, this year by ALL of the kids that come in our house, not just ours.

Have I mentioned that I seriously love this time of year?!?!