25 Days of Jubilation

Welcome to my stop on the 25 Days of Jubilation! I am so honored to be be a part of this blog event; many thanks to Cyndi, Jacinda, and Yani for organzing this amazing event.

Christmas is a very special time in our house. I'm very big on creating traditions and special memories for my daughter. Decorating the house and tree is an all-day affair, and I can tell you exactly where each and every ornament came from (and yes, some are from my childhood!). When Best Girl was 4 I was able to get her into dance class, and although that only lasted a year, we've had a Mommy-Best Girl day each Christmas season to see a locally-produced version of The Nutcracker since then. Of course we bake cookies--although I will readily admit to not making ALL of the doughs from scratch! Each year we also decorate a gingerbread house, and I always help Best Girl create a homemade gift to give the relatives as a gift "from her"--usually some kind of ornament for the tree.

I also love that the books, movies and music that were so important to me as a child are now so important to my own child, and that we've got many new favorites, as well. Here are a list of just some of them:

• Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (book and cartoon version, although Best Girl does like the Jim Carrey version)
• The Year Without a Santa Claus (we love the Heat Miser!)
• A Christmas Story (love the 24 hour marathon on TBS! "Daddy's gonna kill Ralphie!")
• The Polar Express (book and movie--is there anything Tom Hanks can't do?)
• National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation ("Fixed the newel post!")
• Elf (a relatively new favorite)
• Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas (we recently purchased this for, like $6. I don't know that Best Girl really loves it--and I'm not sure that I do, either, but it does remind me of a happy time in my childhood, so hopefully it will have the same effect for Best Girl!)
• "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" (we have this in book form, as well!)
• "Dominick the Donkey"
• "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer"
• The entire John Denver & the Muppets Christmas CD

What are some of your holiday traditions?

And now, for the giveaway! One lucky winner will receive a $25 Amazon electronic gift card. This way, you'll be able to treat yourself to something nice that may not have made it under your tree/menorah/kinara/Festivus pole. Simply fill out the Rafflecopter to be entered. You don't have to be a follower, but that will give you an extra entry. Contest closes on Christmas Day and I'll announce the winner shortly after that.







Be sure to stop by In the Closet with a Bibliophile tomorrow, and the rest of the blogs coming up!

Thursday, December 1st: Christian at Goldilox and the Three Weres
Friday, December 2nd: Molly at Surrounded By Words
Saturday, December 3rd: Meridith at Mint Tea and A Good Book
Sunday, December 4th: Sandie at Teen Lit Rocks
Monday, December 5th: Shannon at Books Devoured
Tuesday, December 6th: Bex at Becky’s Barmy Book Blog
Wednesday, December 7th: Christi at Christi the Teen Librarian
Thursday, December 8th: Jen at In the Closet with a Bibliophile
Friday, December 9th: Sara O. at The Librarian Reads
Saturday, December 10th: Ginger at GReads!
Sunday, December 11th: Asheley at Into the Hall of Books
Monday, December 12th: Tina at Tina’s Book Reviews
Tuesday, December 13th: Heidi at YA Bibliophile
Wednesday, December 14th: Jess at Gone with the Words
Thursday, December 15th: Lisa at Lisa Is Busy Nerding
Friday, December 16th: Jen D. at Not now…I’m Reading!
Saturday, December 17th: Jamie at The Perpetual Page-Turner
Sunday, December 18th: Andrea at The Busy Bibliophile
Monday, December 19th: Karis at YA Litwit & Sarah at Workaday Reads
Tuesday, December 20th: Katelyn at Katelyn’s Blog
Wednesday, December 21st: Ruby at Ruby’s Reads
Thursday, December 22nd: Jac at For Love and Books
Friday, December 23rd: Asher at Paranormal Indulgence
Saturday, December 24th: Nikki at Books Most Wanted
Sunday, December 25th:Merry Christmas! 

Enjoy your reading, and happy holidays!

Christi