Here's part of the spread for our Christmas Open House 2004

 

 

 

 

 

I love Christmas, my favorite time of the year.

Here's our little Gavin by the tree 2004.

Our tree in 2004 and yes that's an antique door hanging sideways behind it.

2004

Goodie Day 2006

Jovan and Tredessa

Stormie and Tara 2006

That's a lot of homemade Peppermint Bark! 2006

more Christmas 2006>>

 

Elf

Will Ferrell, Zooey Deschanel

What a great throwback to my childhood!

In the tradition of such holiday classics like,

A Charlie Brown Christmas, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,

Miracle on 34th Street and Santa Claus Is Coming To Town,

Will Ferrell brings an honest, pure character to life.

Something that the entire family can enjoy without worry.

I love the opening that transports me back to the 1960's when

Rankin and Bass ruled! I realize my view of the 60's is

smeared with the grease of nostalgia but for me it was a

pure time of coming of age, when I only worried about

Lego and G.I. Joes and ten speed bikes with ram's

horn handlebars. Thanks to Will for letting me step back,

if only for a moment.

It's A Wonderful Life

Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed

Another classic that always brings tears at the end...

"...to my big brother George, the richest man in town!"

I choke up even now while writing this.

"...a man who has friends, is never a failure..."

We forget at times to stop and be thankful for the

little things in life. A roof over our head, a loving family,

a newel post that come off in your hand, and ZooZoo's petals.

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without seeing Jimmy and

Donna fall into the swimming pool and seeing what it would

be like if we weren't born...

...everything would be neon lights, bars, prostitutes, Pottersville!

Holiday Movie Favorites

Miracle on 34th St. 1947 vs. 1994

I love both of these movies! Usually

remakes are not as good as the

original but I love both aspects of these two.

John Hughes is a genius when it

comes to capturing the heart of the

American spirit, whether old or young.

Great movies that keep the magical

twinkle in Christmas. I did miss Santa's

cane in the corner on the remake though...

 

 

3 of my favorite oldies.

Holiday Inn 1942

"...Oh, Linda Mason?"

What can you say, what a classic! All around fun.

Christmas in Connecticut 1945

Always a staple in our house growing up.

We watched it every year at Christmas time

and it was in black and white and we

didn't care because all we had was a black and white T V.

White Christmas 1954

Great color and you can't beat Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney,

Danny Kaye and Vera Ellen!

The choreography dance number

was a little bizarre but...

A Charlie Brown Christmas 1965

What would Christmas be without Charlie, Lucy and Linus?

I would submit to you that it just

wouldn't be Christmas!

A timeless classic that reminds

me of lying on a woven rug in the latter 1960's

with my chin in my hands, staring at

a small black and white television

and knowing that Charlie Brown would be my friend forever.

Christmas Vacation 1989

Tagline: Yule crack up!

Ah yes, I, as so many other men have

been accused of being, Clark W. Griswold!

I shall embrace it to my dying day.

A simple man, standing alone

against the mass rabble of nay-sayers

who call themselves neighbors

and attempting to untangle a knot

of Christmas lights the size of a basketball.

I vow that I will discover a way to

run 250,000 twinkle lights and the

hair dryer at the same time without blowing a breaker!

It is our yearly challenge, our quest,

our destiny!

"Don't try this at home kids-- I am a professional."