Favorite Christmas Memories

Christmas is upon us yet again and it seems like it's come even faster than last year! Seriously where did 2010 go? I can honestly remember last christmas like it was yesterday. I spent the weeks leading up to christmas working full days at target after finals were over..enduring long nights with angry customers that went on til 1am or longer. :( Christmas eve I worked til about 7pm and came home to watch jim carrey's "The Grinch" with my parents and my sister. This Christmas looks to repeat a similar pattern (minus the working at target thank goodness) and I wouldn't have it any other way. I can't help but think back to some of the great christmas traditions/memories my family has had over the years. I thought maybe I'd share some!

1. I remember when i was little my parents bought a train to go around the christmas tree. I LOVED that train! I remember being more excited to play with the train than i was with most of my presents growing up. My mom and dad would get upset sometimes cause they'd given me so many presents yet they all stayed in a pile while i played with my awesome train :)
2. Watching christmas movies like The grinch, muppet christmas carol, elf, and the santa clause. No matter how old i get i can still watch these great shows and somehow feel like a little kid again (not that don't act like one from time to time).

3. Every year my mom's side of the family has a big party at our house where we trade white elephant gifts and have a big family dinner. It's easily one of my favorite things because of some of the stuff my family comes up with for white elephants. This year I got scented candles (which i need to find a place to put :)) 

4. Christmas music! I remember all the way back when I was 4 or 5 listening to two albums in particular during decorating. John Denver and the Muppets Christmas on vinyl, and Merry Christmas from the Beach Boys on tape.  Yep back in my day there were no such thing as cd's (wow I'm starting to feel old) I could sing every line from both albums if I was challenged to do so. Yea I'm just that good. Recently I've found more christmas music to love. From traditional stuff like michael buble (I'm sure i spelled that wrong), and taylor swift to hard rock christmas music like transiberian orchestra. I also stumbled upon a christmas album by the rock band Relient K i absolutely love :). There's so much music to listening to it's impossible to not get into the christmas spirit. 

So these are some of my favorite things about christmas! I hope you all have a safe and fun holiday thats full of family and friends! :)