Magnolia Mom

Lights
Our house decorated for Christmas

The most lights we’ve ever put up!

Christmas morning
Stocking Treasures

The boys in front of all the gifts…waiting patiently

I love taking this picture of them in their PJ’s every year.

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Every year I try to write up what we got just to have it to look at years from now.

Rob
navy blue jogging suit
pocket knife
socks
Panini Press

Me
black jogging suit
Victoria Secret secrets – nothing exciting, I promise
Gravy Boat
Kitchen Spritzer

TV Boy
wallet
Auburn hat
pocket knife
Under Armor Auburn jersey
Silly Bandz
Champion Double Dry Compression T-shirt
Rawlings Baseball Glove
The O’Reilly Factor for Kids

Monkey Boy
Cars & Trucks
Fisher-Price Doodle Pro
Silly Bandz
Underwear
LEGO Camper, MiniFigure Collection, Police Car, Classic Car
Bendaroos Set
I Spy Christmas: A Book of Picture Riddles
Disney Bedtime Favorites (Disney Storybook Collections)
Webkinz

Family
Double DVD with Mr. Mom & Mrs. Doubtfire
Triple DVD with I, Robot, The Day After Tomorrow, & Independence Day
The Karate Kid
Grease
Wii
Backyard Baseball 2010
Wii Remote Controller (x2)
New Super Mario Bros
Wii Nunchuk Controller
Wii Play with Wii Remote

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Yesterday I was able to sit back (for the most part) and enjoy the day. Being observant of my surroundings, I became mindful of how thankful I am for a few things, like:

• great in-laws that I get along with
• a brother-in-law that is quite helpful and enjoys being with his nephews
• making it a family tradition to have homemade pasta every Christmas
• Rob’s Italian heritage, which enables us to have that homemade pasta
• a nice home to be able to host holidays
• 2 healthy boys that have such a sweet heart and I really appreciate when they “show” it

I know there are many other blessings in my life, but those are the ones that came to mind tonight.

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Today I spent nearly the entire day making everything for tomorrow:
Oreo balls
Banana Nut Bread Muffins
Spinach Artichoke Dip
Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Cookies
Sausage Balls
Sausage-Cheese English muffins (make-ahead snack or breakfast)

After all that cooking, I was exhausted! I relaxed while watching White Christmas, which is not one of my favorite Christmas movies! I need to go adjust my top 10 Christmas movies again. I was dreading cooking dinner after being in the kitchen practically all day, so I was very happy when Rob reminded me that a friend of ours was bringing over some homemade lasagna. Lasagna is one dish that I just can’t get to “work”. So it’s been a tradition for Rob’s coworker to make him lasagna for his birthday, but this year she never did do it with summer being so busy. It worked out great. We popped it in the oven and “wolfed” it down before having to head out the door. It was just SOOO yummy!!!

While we were waiting on the lasagna to cook we got dressed up and went to the Christmas Eve service at our church. Beautiful service as always. Our preacher’s brother, John Ed, preached. He started by talking about instant replay in football and how a coach can throw a red flag to have a play reviewed. His sermon was based on the idea that the devil threw the red flag to have the events of Christmas reversed. He discussed the events of that miracle and nativity scene. I loved the way he did this, because I think it really got TV Boy’s attention right off the bat, being how he loves football. I love Christmas Eve services; communion, singing Christmas hymns, hearing “O Holy Night”, and my favorite part; singing “Silent Night” with only candles to light the room. Just awesome!

We came home and the boys opened their Christmas Eve present, PJs, put those on, and then picked out a couple cookies to leave for Santa along with some milk. TV Boy asked if she should leave Santa a Coke instead in case he’s “lactose intolerant”. Made me laugh!

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Starting right after Thanksgiving, I really enjoy watching Christmas Movies. Thought I would share them with you. [Edited Post parts in GREEN.]

10. Jack Frost (1998)
This heart-warming movie with Michael Keaton and Kelly Preston is one that you just can’t go wrong with.

Favorite Quote
Jack: My balls are freezin! I never thought I’d say THAT with a smile on my face.

9. Deck the Halls (2006)
Just watched this movie and I was really excited because Ferris Bueller (my fav movie) aka Matthew Broderick is in the movie as Steve Finch along side Danny Devito. Devito, who plays Buddy Hall, moves in across the street from Finch and causes quite a hoopla. Funny!

8. Surviving Christmas (2004)
Ben Affleck enthusiam and love for Christmas just reminds me of how my Granddad adored this time of year. Although Granddad wasn’t quite as over the top as Ben’s character, Drew is in this hilarious movie.

Favorite Quote
Drew Latham: Please! Please, let me stay here!
Tom Valco: No!
Drew Latham: I’ll pay you.
Tom Valco: My family’s not for sale, pal.
Drew Latham: I’ll pay you $250,000!
Tom Valco: Welcome home, son.

7. Christmas with the Kranks (2004)
There’s something about the Kranks and I think it’s the fact that it’s since they have no kids at home they decide to have a year of no lights, no tree, not presents, and just go on a cruise.

Favorite Quote
Spike Frohmeyer: You’re skipping Christmas! Isn’t that against the law?

6. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
Great remake. I think the “Whos” are so cute.

Favorite Quote
The Grinch: I’m all toasty inside. And I’m leaking.

5. The Santa Clause (1994)
Tim Allen is one of my favorite actors and this just awesome. The little boy is also great. The adventure that Tim goes on in being Santa is classic.

Favorite Quote
Mr. Whittle: I don’t know what’s happening to you. You’re starting to look like the Pillsbury Doughboy.

4. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966 animated)
This is just a great kid movie all around.

Favorite Quote
Grinch: All I need is a reindeer!
Narrator: The Grinch looked around, but since reindeer are scarce, there was none to be found. Did that stop the Grinch? Ha! He simply said:
Grinch: If I can’t *find* a reindeer, I’ll *make* one instead.
Narrator: So he took his dog Max, and he took some black thread, and he tied a big horn on the top of his head.

3.White Christmas (1954)
I watched this movie and absolutely adored it! I’m just mad I waited this long to watch it. Loved the dancing and singing. Just awesome!

Favorite Quote (you just have to watch this to see why it’s hilarious)
Bob Wallace: How do you do?
Doris: Mutual, I’m sure.
….later in the movie….
Mr. Herring, General’s Party Guest: How do you do?
Doris: Mutual, I’m sure.

2. Polar Express (2004)
The year this movie came out I took TV Boy to see it. Just he and I. It was a really special Mom-son day. That Christmas Santa brought him the Polar Express book and a bell.

Favorite Quote
The Conductor: Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can’t see.

1. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
This is one of the rare movies that I could watch over and over.

This movie is FULL of great quotes, but one that always comes to mind when I think of this movie is:
Ellen: “Audrey’s frozen from the waste down.”
Clark: “Ah, it’s all part of the experience honey.”

So what did I leave out of my top 10? What are your favorites?

Other favorites
Fred Claus (2007)
I had originally had this movie in my top 10, but it got bumped out by another movie.

Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

Miracle on 34th Street (1994)

A Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

Christmas Story (1983)
This is another one that was bumped out of my top 10.

Favorite Quote
Ralphie: Oooh fuuudge!
Ralphie as Adult: [narrating] Only I didn’t say “Fudge.” I said THE word, the big one, the queen-mother of dirty words, the “F-dash-dash-dash” word!

Classic Christmas Cartoon Movies
Frosty the Snowman (1969)
A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town (1970)

Worst Christmas Movie Ever
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Some other Christmas Movies
Elf (2003)
Scrooge (1970)
Prancer (1989)
Scrooged (1988)
The Family Man (2000)
Jingle All the Way (1996)
The Year Without a Santa Claus (1976)

Here’s some other opinions about Christmas Movies:
Top 10 Christmas Movies
All Time Top Christmas Movies
Best Christmas Movies: The Top 25 of All Time
Top 10 Christmas Movies from Family Education
Being Frugal’s 10
Listverse’s 10 Christmas Horror Movies
Top 10 Christmas Movies for Kids

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I had to come up with something to send with Rob the other day and didn’t want to do my Pecan Pie Bars or Peanut Butter Cookie Candy Bars. I absolutely love Take 5 Candy Bars, and this recipe is a little simpler variation of this candy bar. Just yumminess!

Servings: 50 bites
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:
Snyder’s of Hanover Snap Pretzels
5+ rolls of ROLO*
Pecan Halves

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Place the pretzels on a cookie sheet after spraying with non-stick spray.

Put a ROLO on each pretzel.

Top it with a pecan half. Place in the oven for 5 minutes.

Remove from oven and press each pecan down with a fork.

Put on a serving plate, cover with siran wrap, and place in fridge.

Remove from fridge 30 minutes before serving to allow to soften.

*I looked for a larger container of ROLOs. In fact, I had to go to 2 stores to find them, so at the first store I got Milk Duds, just incase I never found ROLOs. I tried making some with them and my recommendation would be to leave off the pecan until after you melt it in the oven. Put the pecan on there immediately and press down. Follow the directions as stated above.

~Adapted from Hershey

Come and share your favorite Christmas recipes over at Simply Sweet Home.

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I love to bake…well sort of. I like to make cookie bars, cookies, sometimes cake. I’m not big on making pies though. So this cookie post was something I was ALL OVER!

Peanut Butter Cookie Candy Bars (click on red titles for recipes.)

Pecan Pie Bars

Chocolate covered Peanut Butter Crackers & Chocolate Covered Pretzels

Here’s a a little different variation I did back in 2006. Here I coated the Chocolate Covered Pretzels with Heath Bar bits. YUM!

Here are my tables of food from last year. Mostly cookies!

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PJ’s
1998

2004

2005

Santas through the years

This isn’t all the Santa photos. I’m missing 1998 and 2002, I think:-( If I find them, I’ll redo it! You’ll notice we’ve seen the same santa every year since 2001!

1. With Santa 1999, 2. With Santa 2000, 3. With Santa 2001, 4. Santa 2003, 5. Baby’s 1st Christmas – 2004, 6. Santa 2005

Kids sitting with their presents
2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

Christmas trees
2000

2004

2005

2006

2009

Christmas Tree Farm
2006

2009

Decorating
2006

2008

Mantle
2008

Old house snow decor

T’s first Christmas (pictured with me)

Portraits
2006

2007

2008

not sure when

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This weekend has been fashioned from traditions that we’ve started, enjoying each others company, searching for a tree, cutting it down at Lakeside Tree Farm. Then, heading to Columbus to eat at Chef Lee’s. Coming home to watch the SEC & ACC Championship games. The next day we finished decorating the tree and putting up the other decorations, enjoyed a warm fire, and watched our favorite Christmas movie of all time, Christmas Vacation! Looking forward to having a wonderful Christmas embraced by love and tradition.

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I wrote three posts last year about my Christmas decorations.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

Christmas trees
2000

2004

2005

2006

2009

Here’s a pic of TV Boy in our other house with the bare tree, waiting to decorate it.

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