Movies That Make Christmas

Christmas means something a little different to everyone. There are traditions and norms that people anticipate every year. Setting up the Christmas tree, baking Christmas cookies, selecting the perfect photo for the annual Christmas card...

I've always been kind of a Scrooge when it comes to Christmas trees. Don't get me wrong - they're beautiful; I just have all kinds of anxiety with setting it up. I freak out if the ornaments aren't appropriately spaced. It's a pain in the ass to get out all of the supplies. And frankly, packing it up at the end of the season sucks.

I love Christmas baking. Sadly, I have never been able to perfect my Grandma's cut out cookies. I'm secretly let down every year.

Don't even get me started on Christmas cards... It's not the actual card or the idea of sending them... I just have a very difficult time actually getting them in the mail. (This problem isn't exclusive to Christmas cards. There is a reason my husband and I decided he would be responsible for getting the bills in the mail.)

Movies, however, are a big tradition in our home. The kids and I have always been able to bond over movies. There are a 5 movies that we watch every December, together. As they've gotten older, we appreciate this time and these movies... And I appreciate that they "get it" better every year.

So what are these magical movies that strengthen our family bond?

In no particular order -

A Christmas Story - 1983

Who doesn't love this 40's tale of a little boy who wants a Red Rider BB gun? Not to mention, it's a perfect depiction of the pure dysfunction that has always plagued the American family... Like every American classic, this film is riddled with with quotes that have permeated American culture. My favorite is one that has been tossed around by my brother and me since childhood... "Fra-gee-lay... It must be Italian."

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation - 1989 This is another favorite from childhood. I get great joy from hearing my kids laugh hysterically over something that my brother and I would be in stitches over when we were kids. Clark Griswold is probably the most iconic dad in American film and television history. (Yeah, I said it. Bill Cosby's got nuthin' on Clark!) To this day, I almost pee my pants when Clark says to Eddie, "Can I refill your eggnog for you? Get you something to eat? Drive you out to the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead?" I mean really, who hasn't felt that way about a family member at Christmas?

Elf - 2003 This is one that I hope my kids share with their kids when they're my age. Buddy the Elf. Ridiculous. Foolish. Juvenile. Every year, this movie revives my Christmas cheer. (Obviously because they sing out loud for all to hear.) And, secretly, it has made me suspect my daughter is an elf. "We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns, and syrup."

The Polar Express - 2004 I was skeptical of this one, but in elementary school, my kids would have a Polar Express day right before winter break. I had to know what was so great... I found it mesmerizing and enchanting, and it made me remember what it was like to believe. One of my favorite quotes of all time is from this movie, "Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things are things we can't see."

Love Actually - 2003 This is my very favorite movie of all time, not just Christmas. The love stories are sweet. The relationships are real. And it helped me believe in love again during a very dark time in life. It taught me, "Life is full of interruptions and complications." a lesson I learned over and over again over the last decade. 
What are your traditions? Your norms? What makes Christmas Christmas for you?

**click the image to buy the movie from Amazon.com**

Traditions

****Last week I received one comment asking when Post-It Note Tuesday would be going up. After much deliberation, I decided to put #PINT on a shelf for a while. As always, if you would like to create a post using Post-It Notes, you can do so here.****

Traditional is rarely a word used to describe me.

Holiday season is really no exception.

Over the years, my children and I have attempted to form rituals, traditions, and family customs. All of our attempts have been to no avail.

There have been Christmases spent at home, Christmases in Chicago; we even spent one Christmas in Florida.

The Christmas tree goes up when it goes up. I think last year it finally went up a few days before Christmas. One year, it didn't make it up at all. (Relax! We went out of town, the kids still had a Christmas tree!)

This year, as our family grows from 3 to 4, I decided some new traditions should begin.

But what?

Originally I thought it would be great to set the tree up and decorate it the day after Thanksgiving. But my fiance' had to work, and we recently ordered a new couch, and I still had to paint the living toom...

As I talked myself out of creating this new tradition, I realized, I am really good at talking myself out of things. I am also great at making excuses.

So I ask you, my wise and insightful bloggy friends, what are your holiday traditions? What do you do each year that if you skipped it, your holidays would feel incomplete?

I Went to Navy Pier at Christmastime and Didn't Kill My Family

Travelling with your family at any time of year can prove challenging.

This year, for Christmas, The Man and I decided to travel to Chicago and visit my family for the holidays.

At 11:30 on Wednesday morning, we embarked on a seemily simple adventure downtown Chicago to enjoy the sights and sounds of the Windy City at Christmas.

It never ceases to amaze me how even the best laid plans can go awry.

While logistically sound, our trip into the city was less than a fun and happy family adventure.

I recommend taking the opportunity to visit the Winter Wonderfest at Navy Pier if it were to arrive.

I don't suggest bringing 3 ungrateful preteens.

The train ride in was filled with excitement. The Man's son had never been on a train and my children's memories of train rides weren't too clear. The kids marvelled out the windows for the majority of the hour long commute. Once arriving to Union Station, they were filled with the anticipation of the cab ride across town.

Out the windows of the racing cab, they saw the Chicago River, the El, and other famous Chicago landmarks they recognized from The Blues Brothers. (Yes, I let my kids watch The Blues Brothers, don't judge me.) Upon arriving at Navy Pier, my children were baffeled that the cold and icy channel by the pier was the same channel Grandpa has taken them into in his boat this past summer.

After walking 7000 miles down the pier to the event center, we were ready to take in all Winter Wonderfest had to offer. There were hundreds of beautifully decorated Christmas trees, models and explanations of Christmas traditions around the world, an ice skating rink, and rides galore.

So what could possibly go wrong?

The fighting started in line for the very first ride.

The ride sat three per seat and apparently our children find it impossible to amicably decide who would sit where.

Our solution?

No ride.

We took the kids out of line and made each of them sit in short timeouts until they could agree not to argue with one another. Once they agreed to get along, we tried again. Ultimately, every ride we went to, one of the kids had a complaint.

"It's to babyish."

"The line is too long."

"That looks dumb."

"I'm hungry."

You name it, we heard it.

Needless to say, $75 and three ungrateful children later, The Man and I had had our fill.

Before heading back to the 'burbs for the day, we made a pit stop at Harry Carey's for some grub and beer. (Root beer for the kids, geez! What kind of mother do you think I am!?!)

While the night never really got any better, I can thankfully say the kids went to bed relatively early and I got a bit of quiet time before I hit the sack.

I hope you're all enjoying your winter break.

Wish me luck today as we brave the Streets of Woodfield and

Legoland Discovery Center.

Winter Break Already? Say It Ain't So!

image credit

Ahh, Friday.... So often we hear rejoicing voices for this beloved day of the week. I, on the other hand, have been dreading this particular Friday for weeks.

 Today is the 1st day of winter break for one of my children.

 It marks the beginning of the end of 2010.

Only four days until The Man's son arrives from Colorado Springs.

Just 1 1/2 left of school for The Girl.

Less that 2 weeks until The Boy, my first born, turns 12.

Yikes.

With Christmas just a week away, I am filled with anticipation. I am so excited to travel to Chicago and visit my beloved family. I am not at all looking forward to a long, potential snowy drive with three preadolescent children.

I am giddy with excitement to meet my newest nephew who was born in October. I'm not so sure I am ready for our three kids and my brother's older four kids to be unleashed, together, in one place - indoors...

I am looking forward to seeing Fave Cousin, but I am sad that after a very short visit I will have to say good-bye to her and her rugrats. I wish they were closer. I wish our visits weren't so short. I wish the time between them was shorter.

I had hoped to have a birthday party for The Boy over break. I'm not so sure he followed up on his end of the deal by securing his friends' phone numbers. He started a new school this year, but hasn't spent any time out of school with his new friends. I'd like to see some of them at his party and get to know them.

I am praying The Girl will behave herself over break. Things between us have been tenuous at best and I am not currently her biggest fan. Her bad attitude and lack of respect for the rest of us have left her at the top of all of our Shit Lists recently and I would hate to spend the holiday fighting with her.

I also hope The Man and his son have some time to reconnect while he is here. The Man works so much and while his son was here over the summer, I don't feel like they had much "guy time". While all of the stuff we have planned during his visit is family stuff, I hope the two of them can find some common ground to build on.

What are your hopes for the holidays? Are you looking forward to the last couple of weeks of 2010? Or are you secretly dreading winter break? Do you have any family traditions that don't necessarily revolve around Christmas? Have you made any New Year's Eve plans?

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone survived the the holidays.  I am counting down the days until the kids go back to school...  Monday can't come fast enough.

I want to apologize to everyone for being non-existant the last 2 weeks.  Once the monsters are back in school, I can't get back into my routine and you will be hearing from me a lot more.  Not just with posts, but in comments.  I so miss the witty posts you all put up and that daily dose of humor and reality really make my days! 

To my BB Chat friends - I am so grateful for you.  You ladies (and Travy G) rock my world! 

Damn Surprise Visits

So, my parents are coming this weekend.  (In case you didn't get the memo.)  While I am very excited to see them, I'm kinda panicking.  Why?  It's been since March since I've seen them.  Usually, I go to them, in Chicago.  If I were to venture a guess, I'd say it's been 2 - 3 years since they've been to Minnesota.  And truthfully, it's probably been about 4 - 5 years since they've come to my house.

So why am I panicking, you ask?  Well, let's just say that my home is definitely "lived in".  With 3 cats, 2 kids (with broken arms the inability to pick up after themselves), and a revolving door to all of the neighborhood children (and more than that), my house often looks as though a bomb went off.  Don't get me wrong, we don't live in filth and squalor, we just don't exactly apply the "a place for everything and everything in it's place" philosophy here.  (Much to my dismay.)

My dad and step-mom?  Neat freaks.  Their home?  Museumesque. 

Now, generally speaking, I can find PLENTY to do with my folks that keep them the hell out of my house, but since I was laid off in April of 2008, I have done A LOT of redecorating in my house.  For some reason, my step-mom (who I think is incredible and has spotty memory due to a brain anuerysm 6 years ago) has remembered that she hasn't seen my home in YEARS and would really love to do an early Christmas at my house.  Had they given me a few weeks notice, I could probably have hit up the Flylady and applied some of her super intense "get your shit ready for the holidays" tips, but they didn't.  They told me on Tuesday.  Yep, 2 DAYS AGO!

Guess what!?!?  I don't have my Christmas tree up.  I don't have any Christmas baking done (my dad is a super cookie monster).  I don't have any gifts wrapped.  I don't have any Christmas decorations up.  All in all, I'm really not ready for this.

So?  My plan?  I'm sooo gonna see if they want to meet me at the Science Museum.  If I can occupy them there and wear them out, I can probably wear them out enough to have them suggest dinner out and NEVER make it as far as the suburb where I live!!! (YES!!!)  It's sketchy, but it might work!  And yes, I have a back-up plan...  They aren't planning on seeing us until Sunday.  So everyone is grounded until the house is clean(er) and The Man has been recruited to carrying the Christmas tree in tonight (SURPRISE, babe!). 

Wish me luck!

Meeting the Family?

New relationships are often blissful...

The Man (I know, not a very creative name.  Deal.)  and I have been spending a lot of time together.  I am completely smitten, and he has met my kids.  They are both HUGE fans.

The Man is divorced.  He has a son that lives in Colorado.  The son will be here on Friday.

My dad called yesterday.  He and my step-mom will also be here on Friday. 

I'm super excited to see my parents.  The Man is super excited to see his boy. 

This is where it gets scary.  The Man wants me to meet his son....And he would like to meet my folks.  Eeek!

Why so scary, you ask?  Because his son is only going to be here for 10 days.  I don't want to interupt the short period of time they have together.  The Man is sure he wants to integrate the two fams for the 10 day period as much as possible.  While I don't think it will be disastrous (far from it, actually), I'm just not sure.

As far as the "meeting the parents" thing goes - I'm totally comfortable with it. 

Okay, maybe not TOTALLY... 

We haven't really had any "relationship" talks.  While we did decide we were happy seeing only one another, we haven't really begun planning together.  Do you know what I mean?  Like, when we're making individual plans, we don't really check in with each other.  We just kinda spend time together if we have time or when it works out.  I actually can't think of a single time we've planned to do anything together in advance...

So I guess what I'm saying is, I don't really know that I see us as a couple.  And you don't really introduce your parents to someone you're just dating.  Does that make sense?

Maybe I'm just being paranoid, worrying about a whole lot of nothing.  I do know that I am totally comfortable talking to him about anything, so we will be talking this through.  Any words of wisdom or thoughts are welcome, as always.