Nope, I’m not talking about gifts. (Yet.) I’m talking about Christmassy stuff! I had a summer bucket list and list of fall traditions I wanted to do. Now it’s time for the holiday season! (I know, I know, Thanksgiving isn’t here! But I’m not actually doing any of this stuff yet. Just planning for it. I still plan to spend plenty of time running four miles, being thankful, and eating lots of food with my siblings this Thursday. And probably for the entire weekend.)
Our Christmas Bucket List, Baby
- Christmas tree decorating – This means eating pierogis and baking chocolate chip cookies while waving our artificial tree branches at our child to scare him.
- Participate in a cookie exchange brunch (YUM) – Mimosas and cookies. What more could you want?
- See the Gingerbread Display at Glow and ride the train with Gabe – The Cleveland Botanical Gardens has an amazing display of gingerbread houses every winter. It really is magical. Plus, the butterfly house is so warm. And pretty.
- Listen Christmas music constantly – I love She & Him, but I’m looking for other great albums – any suggestions?
- Drink Silk nog as often as possible – I love egg nog, but this stuff tastes even better.
- Go to the Christmas Tree Festival
- Decide if we’re doing Christmas cards this year – And if so, take a picture of ourselves, design a card, order them, etc.
- Partake in several Starbucks holiday drinks – And probably get some gingerbread syrup for my coffee at home.
- Drive around and see Christmas lights – Gabe is going to freak out about all the awesome ‘kites.’
- Christmas presents – get ’em, make ’em, wrap ’em. (This is my weakest area. I am not good at gifts!)
Since we’re leaving December 17th for Puerto Rico (!!!), there will also be a great deal of, you know, rain forest visiting and beach lounging to enjoy the Christmas season. It will be a different sort of Christmas, for sure, and one that I hope we’ll remember for years. (I haven’t stopped being giddy about it since I clicked ‘purchase’ on our flight tickets this weekend. A tropical Christmas – squee!)
My favorite Christmas album of all time is “Behold the Lamb of God” by Andrew Peterson. I also like Sarah McLachlan’s “Wintersong” and Over the Rhine’s “Snow Angels.” If I had access to my iTunes right now I could probably list a bunch more too. :)
I just got Lady Antebellum’s “On This Winter’s Night” as well as Francesca Battistelli’s “Christmas” CD and I really like both of them. This may be a silly question, but what is silk nog? I’ve never heard of it!
Oooo, I loved “discovering” She & Him last year (thank you, Pandora), hoping to get more great suggestions from your comments.
And, congrats on booking your tropical Christmas! We’ve got one in store this year, too, so I’m right there squeeing along with you! :)
Love this idea. I’m going to make a Christmas Bucket List, too. :)
Both of the “Straight No Chaser” Christmas CDs are awesome.