It's beginning to look a lot like . . .
So it finally started snowing here in L**** yesterday. Which is a good thing because it's been unseasonably dry and we need water, etc. But I was kind of having fun pointing and laughing at all the skiers and snowboarders who've been standing around in clumps looking all forlorn as they gazed up at the dry, brown mountains.
I'm trying to make lists of things I want to do this next month to feel all Christmassy. It always seems to go by so fast and I'd really like to be able to slow down and enjoy the thing, dangit.
So here are some of the things I want to do. Would love to get ideas from anyone else who has some favorite traditions!
1. Go see the King's Singers sing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in a couple of weeks. And I realize that the new random selection thing they're doing with the tickets this year is more fair and stuff, but come on! We almost didn't get any! It would have been tragic!
2. Adopt a Sub for Santa family with my singles ward.
3. Make homemade Christmas gifts to give to coworkers and friends. Can't tell you what the gift is yet, except that it's awesome and you're going to wish you had one.
4. Go see every Christmas concert I possibly can. The Tabernacle here in L**** has a pretty full schedule of free concerts this December.
5. Do something about the dismal, tragic lack of decorations in my apartment and, by extension, my neighborhood. I swear my street looks like it's preparing for the Blitz. Or a drug bust, which is more likely. But someone needs to get some lights up, and if it has to be me then that's fine. Also I quite fancy a berry wreath for my front door.
6. Check out Preston Idaho's annual Festival of Lights. Will be sure to take Chapstick, tater tots, and computer-hacking skills with me.
7. Curl up with Christmas music and hot chocolate while writing Christmas cards.
8. Get Christmas shopping finished as soon as possible so I can avoid the crowds of increasingly nasty people who will only kill my Christmas buzz.
9. Eat chocolate crinkles. Lots and lots of chocolate crinkles. Jen, you gonna hook me up here?
10. Watch the Christmas movies. Must-sees include A Christmas Story, The Muppet Christmas Carol, and It's a Wonderful Life (which must be watched in the original black and white, never in color. Because we were not raised by wolves.) This year I have a new favorite: Joyeux Noel. I want to watch it with my family at Christmas, if we can get my dad past the part where some of the characters may possibly speak the French.
Am I forgetting anything?
I'm Steph, a librarian and mom of 3 (not sure how that happened). Let's chat books, food, Sumptuous Literary Adaptations, poop, knitting and maybe some crazy Mormon Feminism.
25 comments:
I am making chocolate crinkles today. SIX DOZEN OF THEM. MMMMM.
You also need to go bring christmas cookies to people, that is always fun. And you should decorate a gingerbread house and see the creche thing at BYU, because that is the True Meaning and all. And you should probably write a letter to Santa and play in the snow and see the lights at Temple Square.
I am so excited to watch that war Christmas movie again! I've been telling everyone I can think of to go watch it.
I feel so festive just reading your list! I am inspired to make my own list.
This reminds me, not that we actually know each other and whatnot, but I'm going across the pond for Christmas. Want me to pick anything up for you?
I always have to watch The Muppet Christmas Carol every year. It is one of my faves. I have added Elf to my long list of Christmas-must-watch movies. I want to see Joyeux Noel. Wonder if I can convince my hubby to watch it with me. I tried to get him to watch Manon of the Spring...you can all guess how that turned out. :)
If it helps, Nells, a good bit of the dialog is spoken in English as well!
On a winter activity note, rather than a Christmas note, you should have your snowboarding sister give you some lessons. Then you can join the forelorn snow-seeking crowd. You could also get into a the fashion of wearing baggy snowboarding clothes and knit caps with their dangly balls hanging down your back.
You know, I would consider asking Spitfire for lessons, except that I've heard winter sports like snowboarding involve both cold and pain. I'm against both of those things.
And baggy clothes. Also against.
I'm going to the MoTab concert too! Yay for us. What night are you going? I'm going on Saturday. And seriously.....the new ticket distribution thing sucks. I guess we're lucky we got picked.
I'm very excited for the Tabernacle Choir concert--we're going to the dress rehearsal on Thursday night. Should be so fun. My folks are headed there on Saturday night. Do you have the movie Joyeux Noel? Either in your personal collection or at the library? Might be an idea for Monday . . .
This looks like an excellent list of activities, although I think we should make it a tradition to go to the Bluebird for dinner and then over to the Utah Theater for an old movie. What think ye?
I am so excited to know those cookies are called Chocolate Crinkles! I've always loved them when they've shown up on people's Christmas cookie plates.
I think I need to reinvigorate the Christmas cookie exchange around here. I remember when I was little we always had at least 10 plates of cookies from women in the Relief Society and my mom and I would spend hours with the super shooter and the cookie cutters making our own to hand out.
Desmama, that's when we have tickets too! Wanna carpool?
I realize that you are LDS, not Catholic. But I highly reccomend going to the Christmas Eve Mass service at the KCH on campus. (The Kent) the service is BEAUTIFUL! and I always liked giong, because it was interesting to be exposed to other religions.!
Don't forget to watch "White Christmas" with dear ol' Bing and Rosemary. Also, you should listen to Sufjan Stevens Christmas album. And read the Second Shepherds Pageant (Wakefield, preferably), which is a medieval miracle play, but I swear it's funny and sweet and festive.
Oh, The Muppet Christmas Carol. I remember watching it in the great room at the London Centre and realizing for the first time that Beaker flips off Scrooge when he kicks Dr. Honeydew and him out of the office. Good times.
No Charlie Brown Christmas movie? Caroling?
2 of us from "the ward" will be in the Dec 9 concert at the tabernacle.
Also, there's a Presbyterian concert that week that our conductor endorsed. Not sure what they're singing or any details though. Google probably knows. Google knows everything.
AND did you decorate "your" library?
Ooooh, and don't forget giving treats to your neighbors.
And making snow angels.
And... well, you get the point.
EUGENE! Getting into reading blogs now! Anyway, we put up lights... LOTS OF LIGHT! Only 4 or so other people on our street have put lights up, but we are putting them to shame! I will post a pic soon on my blog so you should check out our amazing array or Christmas spirit!
www.la-lifeiswonderful.blogspot.com
Audra
OH you sure got me started now on those chocolate crinkles. I think you have a good plan laid out, but the most important thing is STICK TO IT! It'll do ya good.
I think the cookies are done now...
If anyone is interested, Jordan has put a really great list up at her site--check it out if you want more fun ideas!
Jen, thanks for saving me some cookies. You are the best.
Hass, you should make one! Lists are fun.
Amandastretch, that is the nicest offer! I think I'm actually okay though because I know someone who's coming to L**** from the UK in January. I might hit them up. ;-) I hope you have a fabulous time though, I'm jealous!
No problem! I'm rather excited to go, obviously. On a related note, any suggestions for New Year's Eve happenings if I decide not to make my septuagenarian grandparents stay up with me? I'll be in Surrey (London temple) with them. I was there in the summer last time and have no ideas.
Kristen, yeah. I mean I guess it's good because it means that people who CAN'T spend all day on the phone/computer trying to get tickets will have a chance, but yeah. Cutting it waaaay too close.
Desmama, I think that sounds like a great idea. I'm all for a new Bluebird tradition. And I love the Utah Theater.
Kelly, that's an excellent idea. :-)
Anon, that sounds like a great idea. The only problem is that I won't be in L**** for Christmas Eve--I'll be down in Provo at my sister's. I'll have to keep that in mind, though.
Sakhmet, I must confess to you now that White Christmas does absolutely nothing for me. I think I was exposed to it too late or something. But will definitely check out the play!
Hee. I remember that night too, Scully. We all got pillows and blankets and dragged them into the classroom. I was probably one of the people telling you to watch Beaker's finger, sadly . . .
Amandastretch, the only thing I know about for sure is that they do a huge fireworks display in London, just off the river. And I think there might be a singles dance at the Hyde Park Chapel.
Before, your ideas are good. I didn't know you were going to be in one of the concerts--that'll be fun!
AUDRA! So happy you've joined the blogosphere!
Jimmy, now you are the one taunting me with the cookies. I hope they turned out! And yes. I will be writing these down and sticking to them.
Perfect. I went to a singles dance at that chapel last time I was there. That was, at the very least, entertaining. Thanks for your suggestions!
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