Ah, Christmas Love...

To quote a troubadour "Christmas just ain't Christmas without the one you love..." All these Christmas songs feature Christmas romance, including one of my all-time favorite Christmas songs, "That's What I Want For Christmas." I couldn't find Nancy Wilson's version, but enjoy SheDaisy's.


All I Want for Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey
Christmas Wrapping by The Waitresses
Blue Christmas by Elvis Presley
You’re My Christmas Present by Jimmy Beaumont & the Skyliners
Christmas Ain’t Christmas (Without the One You Love) by The O’Jays
Please Come Home From Christmas by Jon Bon Jovi
My Only Wish (This Year) by Britney Spears
Merry Christmas Baby by Bruce Springsteen
Pretty Paper by Roy Orbison
Merry Christmas Darling by Carpenters
Santa Bring My Baby Back (to Me) by Elvis Presley
Baby, It’s Cold Outside by Dean Martin
That’s What I Want For Christmas by Nancy Wilson
Hurry Home For the Holidays by Robert Goulet
I’d Like You For Christmas by Julie London
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) by Hanson
Hey Santa! By Carnie and Wendy Wilson
I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm by Dean Martin
It Must Have Been The Mistletoe by Barbara Streisand
Merry Christmas, Baby by Beach Boys
My Christmas Card to You by The Partridge Family
The Christmas Waltz by Nancy Wilson
You’re All I Want For Christmas by Brook Benton
When My Heart Finds Christmas by Harry Connick, Jr.

Christmas Cookie Exchange

I made my cookies today for the annual Christmas Cookie Exchange my sister will be hosting this weekend.

Here is the recipe:

Andes Mint Cookies

3 boxes Andes Mints

3/4 cup butter

1 1/2 cup brown sugar

2 Tbsp. water

2 eggs

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

2 1/2 cups flour

1 1/4 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

Over low heat, melt butter, brown sugar and water until butter is melted. Add chocolate chips. Stir until partially melted. Remove from heat and stir until all chips are melted. Pour into large bowl and cool for 10 minutes.

On high speed beat in eggs, one at a time. Reduce to low and add dry ingredients. Beat until blended. Chill 1 hour--NO LONGER!

Line cookie sheet with foil. Roll 1 Tbsp of dough into ball. Place on sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 12-14 minutes.

As soon as cookies are out of the oven, place a mint on top of each. After about 2 minutes, swirl melted mint with the back of a spoon.

(makes 5-6 dozen)

Remembering the Christ in Christmas

Here is a list of my favorite traditional Christmas recordings that talk about the birth of Christ.

I wish Playlist had renditions of Hangnail's version of O Little Town of Bethlehem and Flight 180's O Come All Ye Faithful, so I can share them with you. Both are contemporary Christian bands that do nontraditional version that, as Nikolas would say offer "hot air guitar" riffs.

O Little Town of Bethlehem by Hangnail
Joy to the World by The OC Supertones
Silent Night by Charlotte Church
Children Go Where I Send Thee by Natalie Merchant
What Child Is This? by Vanessa Williams
O Come All Ye Faithful by Flight 180
Do You Hear What I Hear? by Gladys Knight and the Pips
O Holy Night by Jerry Butler
We Three Kings by Beach Boys
Angles We Have Heard On High by Point of Grace
Away in the Manger by Nat King Cole
Go Tell It on the Mountain by Morris Chapman
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
Hark! The Herald Angles Sing by Jewel
I Wonder as I Wander by Harry Connick, Jr.
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear by Anne Murray
Mary’s Boy Child by Harry Belafonte
Sweet Little Jesus Boy by Anne Murray
The First Noel by FFH

Big Boy Bed

Gary took Thursday and Friday off to repaint Nikolas' room since Nik got a new loft bed from IKEA.
Here is Nik helping paint on Thursday.

And here is Gary putting on the second coat on Friday morning. After the paint dried we started to put up the bed, but had to stop so we could go to Night in Bethlehem.

Gary finished the bed today and Nikolas was so excited to show me his new bed when I got home from work.

As you can tell we are going to have to take down his ceiling fan before summer comes.

A Night in Bethlehem

Tonight, our church hosted "A Night in Bethlehem: A hands-on Holy Land Experience." It was a wonderful, family-friendly event. The church was transformed into the village of Bethlehem, with fun activities to enjoy at the many shops.

Nikolas got to weave a basket. (It was nighttime in the village, so the flash on the camera kind of "bugged" Nik.)

You got to make a harp in the music shop. Nik liked this because when you finished you got to ring the gong.

In the bake shop, you could grind spices.

Dreidel making in the carpenter's shop. Nikolas is wearing the necklace he made in one of the other shops. There was also a candy shop and a shop to paint an nativity ornament.

As we were leaving the village, we came across some shepherds who were so excited because a host of angels had appeared to them proclaiming the savior's birth! They took us to the lowly stable and we got to meet the holy family.

Our very own Joseph, with his young wife and saviour son.

All I Want For Christmas Is to ROCK!

Here are some of the best rockin' Christmas tunes by some of great artists:

Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24 by Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Christmas Vacation by Mavis Staples
Do They Know It’s Christmas by Band Aid
Christmas All Over Again by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Wonderful Christmastime by Paul McCartney
Little St. Nick by Beach Boys
Christmas Song by Dave Matthews
Early Christmas Morning by Cyndi Lauper
You Gotta Get Up by Five Iron Frenzy
Last Christmas by Wham!
Step Into Christmas by Elton John
Run Rudolph Run by Dave Edmunds
Thank God It’s Christmas by Queen
Santa Claus Is Back in Town by Elvis Presley
What Christmas Means to Me by Stevie Wonder
Christmas by Blues Travler
Christmas Time Again by Extreme
Happy Xmas (War is Over) by John Lennon & Yoko Ono
Someday at Christmas by Stevie Wonder
Thanks for Christmas by XTC

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas...

This is what it looked like outside this morning...
and since it's looking more like Christmas, how about 25 Classic Christmas Song. Perfect to wrap presents, bake cookies, or decorate the tree by:

Jingle Bell Rock by Bobby Helms
Silver Bells by Diana Ross & the Supremes
O Christmas Tree by Aretha Franklin
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Andy Williams
Happy Holidays by Manhattan Transfer
Sleigh Ride by Jack Jones
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Judy Garland
If Every Day Was Like Christmas by Elvis Presley
Jingle Bells by Jim Reeves
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee
Ding Dong Merrily on High by Roger Whittaker
Carol of the Bells by Carpenters
Deck the Halls by SheDAISY
Feliz Navidad by Jose Feliciano
The Chirstmas Song by Nat King Cole
Home for the Holidays by Perry Como
White Christmas by Bing Crosby
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! By Dean Martin
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas by Bing Crosby
We Need a Little Christmas by Andy Williams
We Wish You a Merry Christmas by John Denver and the Muppets
I’ll Be Home for Christmas by Bing Crosby
Winter Wonderland by Andrew Sisters
The Holly and the Ivy by Roger Whittaker
There’s No Christmas Like a Home Christmas by Perry Como