101 of my favorite Christmas things for my 101st post:
1. Snow on Christmas
2. Christmas eve service
3. Eggnog (mom's pineapple is great)
4. Bob's mint candycanes (especially the mini ones)
5. Watching people open their presents
6. Packing up pretty gifts in a box with nice wrapping to mail in a plain brown box. It's fun to open basic boxes to see pretty wrapping inside!
7. Finding the perfect gift for someone.
8. Finding the perfect Christmas card (Matt's card is that one this year)
9. Making our holiday photo card and seeing how it turns out
10. Writing the holiday letter
11. Stuffing Christmas cards! (Yes, I am a freak)
12. Getting mail in December. I love getting Christmas cards.
13. Putting out the Christmas tree with all the old ornaments and new ones as well.
14. Using the same stocking I used as a kid for Maddy.
15. Watching her learn that paper is meant for tearing off gifts.
16. Drinking hot chocolate with coffee
17. Holiday creamers!
18. Mom's snow white sugar cookies (OK, Great-aunt Mable's recipe, but there are great)
19. Watching Maddy drink eggnog from a cup! (That kid can down some eggnog!)
20. Hearing from people you only hear from once a year.
21. Pictures in cards. I love getting pictures.
22. Buying gifts for Maddy. It's fun to anticipate how she'll like them.
23. Taking Maddy to see Santa. What a tradition!
24. Opening presents Christmas eve
25. Using decorations that my great-grandmother used.
26. Santa magnet on the fridge. It's as old as I am.
27. Sleeping Santa bank from 1949 (there are imitations, do not be fooled)
28. Hearing Christmas bells outside of stores.
29. Christmas candles
30. Christmas dress for Maddy
31. Christmas shoes for Maddy--love the patent leather!
32. Having a big breakfast Christmas morning.
33. Driving around with hot chocolate looking at Christmas lights
34. Mall decorations at Christmas
35. The hustle and bussle of a mall at Christmas (as long as I'm done with my shopping)
36. Starbucks Christmas Blend and other drinks.
37. How festive the house looks all decked out.
38. Christmas dinner.
39. Watching Maddy assume every box in the mail is for her (and normally they are!)
40. Wrapping Christmas gifts (ok the first 2 or 3)
41. Christmas Carollers although it's been a long time since I've heard one!
42. Bath and Body Works Holiday Scents (Yes, that's the girlie part in me)
43. Christmas socks--the more outrageous the better!
44. Red! It's my favorite color anyway, so to see more of it is nice.
45. Christmas cookies-cherry winks/blinks are great!
46. Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer
48. The Night Before Christmas clay animation movie
49. Snow Globes
50. Garland
51. Mistle toe
52. All I want is a Hippo for Christmas
53. Santa Baby
54. Santa Hats!
55. Christmas Towels
56. Watching Maddy figure out a new Christmas toy
57. Turkey with stuffing
58. Sweet Potato Casserole
59. Stars on Christmas eve
60. Finding a parking space at the front of the mall
61. Listening to people say, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays
62. Snuggling in a blanket on Christmas eve
63. Hot Christmas Tea (Constant Comment is one of my favorites)
64. Celestial Seasons Sugar Plum Spice Herbal Tea
65. Using the good china for tea or dinner
66. Christmas mugs
67. Feeling a little less guilty for eating sweets.
68. Giving
69. Brisk cold air
70. Watching little kids talk about Jesus
71. Watching little kids talk about Santa
72. Reading the Christmas story
73. Baby Jesus in a nutshell orament
74. Maddy's first oraments
75. Our first home ornament
76. Matt's and my first ornaments
77. Christmas bells on the tree from Great Grandma
78. Gift Certificates--not very thoughtful, but a nice gift to give.
79. Taking walks midday all bundled up in the brisk air
80. Gabbing with friends about Christmas toys!
81. Hiding the glass pickle ornament on in the tree. First one to find it gets a present!
82. Watching Maddy point to Christmas lights out of the car
83. Finding a great deal on a wonderful gift.
84. Pretty wrapping paper and bows
85. Pretty Christmas bags and tissue paper (even easier!)
86. Candy canes dipped in hot chocolate
87. Apple cider
88. Dark night and beautiful Christmas tree lights
89. Watching the Santa at the mall interact with all the kids (most of the time)
90. Watching the kids interact with Santa!
91. Watching kids give out presents to others
92. Watching kids share new gifts with each other without prompting
93. Hearing people say 'Thank you'
94. Hearing people say 'It's nice to see you'
95. Memories of Christmas past
96. Hopes for Christmas future
97. Enjoying Christmas present
98. Christmas with loved ones
99. Remembering why we do all this!
100. Seeing how simple it should be on Christmas eve (nothing needs to be this complicated or materialistic)
101. Jesus is the Reason for the Season