5 After 5, Christmas Traditions Edition

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It's time for another round of 5 After 5!  In case you missed it, last week's list was 5 of your favorite Christmas movies and if you're new to this series, you can read more about it here.


Today I've got my list of 5 to share, as well as next week's topic for you to stew about over the upcoming days.


And if you've posted your own 5 After 5 list on your blog, I've turned this series into a link party - so be sure to get your own 5 things added below (or leave your answers in today's comments if you're not a blogger).  I loved reading everyone's comments from last week and I really can't wait to see what you share today!



List 5 of your favorite Christmas traditions


I love how full of tradition this time of year is.  I definitely enjoy participating in more than five each year, but these are the ones I just can't do without, no matter how busy things get:

1.  Watching Christmas movies



Not only do I have to watch at least my top 5 each year, but this is usually when I get on a kick and re-watch my favorite classic non-holiday movies, as well.  


It probably has to do with the fact that so many of the best Christmas movies are classics themselves.  Which non-holiday classics are at the top of my list?


You'll have to wait for a future 5 After 5 to find out!  {wink, wink}  


2.  Listening to Christmas music



Although I do not play Christmas music until after the turkey and stuffing is gurgling away in my tummy, once that point passes, I am all about the holiday tunes.


Not everyone in the house (ahem, G) enjoys this tradition, but so far, Gv seems to enjoy listening with me, which means he's outnumbered.



3.  The activities & readings of Celebrate the Season



Although the creation of Celebrate the Season is fairly recent, it has become a tradition that I wouldn't ever want to skip.


It's been loads of fun this year, seeing Gv get all excited each night when it's time for her to cut out and add the day's ornament to our trees.  And I love hearing her little voice talking about each one at various times of the day.





4.  Christmas Eve  Routine



Sometimes our Christmas Eve routine changes a bit, but if we manage to fit everything in, it begins with a candlelight church service, followed by a meander home looking at Christmas lights, then fun food for dinner in front of a roaring fire (when the temperature's not nearing 90 degrees, like predicted this year), and concluding with our final Christmas movies (one for the family, one for just me and G).  


Then it's off to bed to await Santa's arrival.

5.  Eating


There is great food, and then there is great food.

And holiday treats definitely fall into the great category.  Who cares that we consume more sugar during these few weeks than we do in probably two or three years' worth of regular days?


Not us.


Nope, bring on the eggnog cheesecake and tarts and cookies and drinks and chocolate-covered everything and bacon-wrapped anything and dips and candied nuts and all sorts of other delicious items I can't even think of right now, since my head is swimming with all that I already listed and I'm about to get up and load myself a plate of awful deliciousness, because the entire list I just spouted off is pretty much all sitting out on the bar counter right now...


Mmmm....


Now I need to spend about 45 minutes brushing my teeth...



For next week:




List 5 goals you have for 2016



So I don't usually go crazy with a whole big list of resolutions for the new year, but I do generally write down a few loose goals that I'd like to work toward.

And, since I have yet to give even one second of thought to these goals, naturally it makes sense for me to go ahead and commit to an entire post about them only six days from today, right?


We'll see how that plan goes.


Goal number one might just be, "think of next year's goals before the night before the post goes live..."



What's your list?  I'd love to hear!  Either leave a comment below or email me at lisahealy (at) outlook (dot) com.


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