The first is a two-parter with the heat mizer/snow mizer songs from the holiday show, A Year Without A Santa Claus. My brother and I watched that show every year, singing and dancing along to those classics. Hearing them now instantly transports me back to our childhood together
The second is “I’ll be home for Christmas” as it always transports me to the Christmas of 1990 when my then-husband was serving in Operation Desert Shield and I knew we wouldn’t be celebrating our first Christmas together the way we would have liked. It’s a beautiful song and always makes me think of families separated for the holidays.
The third is “Mary Did you Know” as sung by a young man named, Dominic Haygood of the Branson Haygood family. First time I heard him sing this, he was 18 and he had everyone in the entire theater on their feet clapping by the time he was done. I have that version on a CD I play every year and it always brings tears to my eyes.
Favorite holiday movie?
Miracle on 34th Street
Favorite holiday story to read?
I have a holiday collection of stories from the Little House books and my favorite story is in there. It’s when Laura and her sisters go to an event at church and presents (like gloves and candy canes) are tied to the branches of the tree. Her innocent joy gets me every single time.
Snow on holiday eve or just a chill in the air?
Snow…but only after everyone is safely back at home. I don’t like it to hinder a tradition.
Most memorable holiday memory?
If I really have to pick one (or, maybe two), I’d have to say my eldest daughter’s 2nd Christmas and my youngest daughter’s 2nd Christmas as well. Because of their birthdates, my first daughter was nearly 2 for her 2nd Christmas and my youngest was 15 months. Dear Daughter # 1 wanted “an old choo-choo and a hi-hi.” Translation: a wooden toy train (not sure where the “old” came from and a Fisher Price dollhouse for the “hi-hi” because she equated it with the dolls inside who she made say “hi” to each other). The memory with Dear Daughter #2 centers most around the way she looked in her tiny little Elmo Slippers and how excited she was about every toy she unwrapped.
Article comments
1 - Pj Schott
OMG. White Chocolate Mousse Pastry Puff!!
2 - Maura Troy
A holiday dessert party sounds fabulous! And I am with PJ on the White Chocolate Mousse Pastry Puff - wow!
3 - Elizabeth Lynn Casey
PJ and Maura, they are sooooooooooo good. They are my favorite baked dessert and for whatever reason I only make them around the holidays. So yummy!