The Best Christmas Movies & Specials of All Time

Ok so the title is my opinion but still that is how I feel. This year I have really been enjoying watching the various Christmas specials on TV. I decided to make this weeks Thursday Thirteen my top Thirteen favorite Christmas movies & specials of all time.

First we have animated children’s classics. Most of these are ones that I grew up watching as a child myself. I can remember how excited I would get watching them every year on TV. I love that they are still around today and I hope they are timeless classics that are around for another 100 years for many more generations to enjoy.

1. Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer (1964)
This is one that warms my heart every year. I love watching Rudolf with my kids and they seem to really enjoy it also.

2. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
Charlie Brown is one of my all time favorite cartoon characters. I love the little Christmas tree, the speech given about the true meaning of Christmas. I am so happy that Charlie Brown is still on because so much has been taken away from the real meaning of Christmas. Our kids need more of this. Maybe if we all had more faith our world would not be in the disarray that it is in.

3. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)
Who doesn’t love the Grinch and all the Who’s down in Whoville.

4. Frosty the Snow Man (1969)

5. Mickey’s Christmas Carol (1983)
Watched this one on ABC Family Tuesday night. It isn’t one that runs on the main stream but it is still a great one. It is a great way to tell the Christmas Carol story to the kids.

6. Santa Clause is Comin’ to Town
I love how it tells the tail of how Santa came to be.

7. Polar Express with Tom Hanks (2005)
I will never forget the first time I watched this with my son. He was 3 years old and loved trains. The funny part is he didn’t want to watch it but sat in our bedroom on our bed and every time I looked back he is looking into the living room watching it.

8. The Santa Clause (1994)
Tim Allen makes a wonderful Santa in this movie. My 5 year old has watched this about 4 times this year. It has been on TV a lot. He was reciting lines from it the other day when it was on.

9. Home Alone (1990) with Macaulay Culkin
Not a traditional Christmas movie but who doesn’t love watching Macaulay Culkin standing in front of the mirror singing the Christmas song and dolling himself up. Such a cutie!!!

Now the grown ups have to have their favorites also. It can’t be all about the kids all the time. So here are some of the best grown up Christmas classics.

10. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
I put this one on my list for my husband. He watches it every year and I have only ever watched bits and pieces. I know it is supposed to be great but I somehow miss the entire thing every year.

11. A Christmas Story (1983)
I think I have seen this movie every year for the last 15 years or more. I love this one. The boy and his beebe gun, his father and the sexy leg lamp. Oh how this one just makes me laugh.

12. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) with Chevy Chase
The best Christmas movie ever. All of Chevy’s National Lampoons movies are great but this one is by far the best. We have this on DVD so we sit down and watch this one every year.

13. Scrooged (1988)
Bill Murray made this a great movie. I watched this many times when I was younger but I haven’t seen it in a really long time. Maybe I will catch it on Cable this holiday season, if not I may need to rent it. I loved the song that was sung at the very end and I can’t remember it either or who sang it.

So this is my list of must see Christmas movies and specials. What specials do you and your family love to watch this time of year?

Thursday Thirteen #4

Thirteen things I love about Luke, my 5 year old son.

1. His big beautiful blue eyes. He has eye lashes that any girl would kill for.

2. The wonderful hugs and kisses I get from him all the time.

3. The way he runs to the window each morning at latch-key to give me just one more wave good bye with a big smile.

4. His toothless smile that he currently has.

5. The way he negotiates just one more bite of his food at the diner table each night.

6. His excitement about even the small stuff.

7. The energy he has, the kid could out run the energizer bunny.

8. The affection he shows towards his baby brother just melts my heart.

9. Watching him and his brother play so well together. They are so fun to watch.

10. When he yells at me because he is tired and then he cries when I tell him he is tired and this just upsets him more.

11. How smart he is at everything he does. He is such a bright kid and so far it all comes easy for him.

12. His innocent and pure faith in God. A blessing that I truly appreciate.

13. How he tells me he will stay my little boy forever.

Thursday Thirteen #3

Happy Thanks Giving!!!!

My Thursday Thirteen (little early because we are traveling for the holiday) is 13 great foods I plan to eat. I will cry on Friday when my jeans don't fit but on Thursday I am going to enjoy all the fixings.

1. Ham
2. Turkey
3. Sweet potato's with pecans on top
4. Pumpkin Pie
5. Chocolate Cake
6. Mashed Potato's
7. Deviled Eggs
8. All the fresh veggies and home made dip
9. Broccoli casserole
10. Fruit salad
11. Orange Jello
12. Salad
13. Pumpkin pie slice # 2 LOL...

Everyone enjoy your holiday feast. I will be eating two slices of pumpkin pie in case anyone isn't having any. Oh looking at this list is not good. I think I just gain 5 lbs making this list.

Thursday Thirteen

I had a friend send my an email with questions about the holidays. So I took some of my favorite ones out and made it my list for this weeks Thursday 13.

1. Do you use wrapping paper or gift bags?
I like using paper but more and more I find myself using bags but defiantly paper for the kids.

2. Real tree or Artificial?
We buy a real tree every year. I love the smell but hate the needles everywhere. Of course it makes my vacuum smell nice and pine fresh for a couple months.

3. When do you put up the tree?
Right after Thanksgiving so I can get pictures of the boys in front of the tree for my Christmas cards.

4. When do you take the tree down?
The day after Christmas, by this time I am sick of the needles everywhere so I waist no time getting rid of it.

5. Favorite Christmas gift you ever received?
The beautiful ring I wear on my hand that has both my boys’ birthstones in it.

6. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
The 1970’s ugly Blue Chevy Nova with flowered seats. My parent’s idea of a first car. I was not happy especially since it was the 90’s.

7. Favorite Christmas Movie?
The Christmas Story, “you’ll shoot your eye out” Love that movie and will see it at least three times between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

8. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Sometime in November but this year I am planning to finish in November. I hope…

9. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Fudge, I love making fudge and giving it to everyone and eating lots of it also.

10. Are your Christmas lights clear or colored?
Each year we switch back and forth but the last couple years have been colored lights.

11. Favorite Christmas song?
The Chipmunks Christmas Song “Alvin...” LOL I have the CD….

12. Angel on the tree top or a star?
It changes each year but I think last year was a star

13. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?

Christmas morning has always been the tradition in my house. I have carried this tradition into my house today and my kids open on Christmas morning.

Happy Ho lidays!!!

Thursday Thirteen (Baby toys or so he thinks)

Thirteen things that my 1 year old thinks are toys but mom disagrees.

1. The VCR/DVD player.

This sits low on an open shelf in the play room and I have had to remove blocks and other items from the inside of the VCR part. He thinks it is so fun stuffing things in this door.

2. The Remote Control

This is one that he loves to smash on the floor. It has split apart a few times now but so far we have been lucky and been able to snap it back together.

3. Any Telephone that actually dials.

Rather it is a cell phone or the house phone this is one of his favorites. I am amazed we have not dialed 911 yet.

4. The sock drawers

I have these little drawers that sit on the changing table that I keep all his socks in. Of course the socks are always scattered all over the floor because he thinks it is cute throwing them every where. (His brother did the same thing when he was a baby.)

5. Stair steps are the ultimate jungle gym.

If the gate is open he is climbing the steps. Our gate makes noise any time someone opens it and he get sp excited to here that noise he heads right for the steps.

6. The TV Tray

Another great item for climbing on. After his brother has breakfast he can’t wait to climb on top and play around. I hate when he stands on it the most.

7. Big brothers markers

If he can find even one he is chewing on it and has a fit when it is taken away. He has also recently learned that the caps come off. I didn't take a picture the day his face was all covered in blue.

8. The curio cabinet

In the entry way has this cabinet of nice breakable things and my baby just loves to open it up and play with the things on the bottom shelf. We have had to do some moving around so he can't break anything.

9. The water cooler

It is so much fun pulling the knob and running the water all over the floor. Thank goodness the hot water is child proof.

10. The dogs water bowl

If the water cooler is blocked we will just go around the corner and play in the dog’s water bowl instead. Then when we have finished a few seconds of splashing we will pick it up and dump it all over the floor.

11. The trash can/recyclable bin

Lots of goodies to be found in this cabinet where these dirty things are kept.

12. The toilet paper roll

Isn’t it great unrolling it all over the floor. I have found entire rolls on the floor. You should see how cute it looks after I roll it back up.

13. The volume knob on the stereo

The best toy in the house. We either can’t here the TV because he keeps turning it down or he scares the beegesies out of himself when he turns it up so load the neighbors can hear it. Of course we can't control it from the remote because he has broken it.

I swear I spend all day keeping this boy out of trouble. I can't wait for Christmas, the tree will be another fun one to deal with.

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen toys I will most likely trip on, slip on or step on before the day is over….

1. A Thomas the train or one of his one hundred friends.
2. The endless train track that scales through every room in the down stairs.
3. Some spike tailed dinosaur lying in the middle of the toy room.
4. The Lego’s that are scattered endlessly around the house
5. The magic markers that have rolled off the dining room table and onto the floor.
6. The match box cars that will send me sailing flat on my you know what…
7. The over sized dump truck, digger and bull dozer all made of metal and killer on the toes when you kick them by mistake while walking through the house.
8. The story books scattered around the floor of the couch.
9. The DVD’s and Video games scattered in front of the TV
10. The Play Station game controllers that are hanging out of the entertainment center.
11. The mega blocks that are great for slipping on and forcing you to find your inner balance.
12. The alphabet refrigerator magnets that never stay on the fridge, I swear those things multiply
13. Finally the large tricycle that I will kick and smash my toe on as I make my way to bed in the dark.

So is your house as bad as mine? What toy ticks you off the most when stepping or slipping on it because it was left in the middle of the room.