a peek inside the fishbowl

The other day we got to talking about Christmas traditions. Emma’s (or was it Sarah’s?) class had been talking about Hanukkah and the lighting of the menorah and what that symbolized. Then Sarah came home from school with a mangled retelling of a biblical story (or several different ones) which included plagues, the Angel of Death (“What’s the Angel of Death mummy?”), and who knows what else. And then the conversation turned to our familiy and our own traditions. We’re not religious people, but  we have many traditions. It’s funny, I guess the girls don’t really recognize them as traditions.

I wasn’t much help either. We have MANY traditions (as some of you can attest) but I drew a blank and couldn’t come up with a SINGLE ONE other than serving fish on Christmas Eve. Later on I recovered and listed a bunch (HELLO, WE’RE DOING ONE RIGHT NOW) and Christmas movies was one of them.

That being said. I thought I’d jot down a list of my personal faves.

The Sound of Music
Not exactly Christmassy, I know, but it is a seasonal favourite nonetheless. I watched this movie every Christmas when I was a kid and for YEARS I didn’t know whether the Von Trapps actually got away because I’d fall asleep at the beginning of their great escape EVERY TIME.

Today, we have the S.o.M. album. The girls like to play it on their old skool record player.

Maybe YOU can tell me. How do you solve a problem like Maria?

White Christmas / Holiday Inn
I can never remember which is which. It doesn’t matter. I love them both.

A Christmas Story
When Ralphie almost shoots his eye out? Classic.

Polar Express
A new one on my list.

The Bishop’s Wife – original version (1947)
David Niven plays a bishop trying to get a new cathedral built. His prayers are answered in the form of an angel (Cary Grant), who offers guidance and rekindles a love for life in everyone he meets.

The Bells of St. Mary’s
Bing Crosby plays a singing Irish pastor. Ingrid Bergman is Sister Mary Benedict, a spirited (no pun intended) nun and teacher in a run-down school. There’s a wonderful scene in which Father O’Malley (Crosby) leads a choir of young boys in song. Oh. It’s a so heart-stabbingly pretty it brings tears to my eyes every year.

It’s a Wonderful Life
Makes me cry Every.Single.Time. And it never fails to remind me, it IS a wonderful life, isn’t it? *sigh*

Miracle on 34th Street – original version
Yet another film that was ruined with a remake. I love the scene when Natalie Wood hears Santa Claus speaking Dutch.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas – original version
 Dr. Seuss was (still is) brilliant, highly relevant and laugh-out loud funny. I love everything about it – the music, the narration, the illustration, and especially the message.

What about you? What are your favourite Christmas movies? What are you looking forward to watching this year?

Sunday (day seven) we picked the girls up from their grandparents. The advent message was about a couple of parties to which we were invited. The first was a birthday party of a little girl on our street. The second party was for all of us – further down the street.

Today, Monday, was Advent day eight. We turned on some music and started writing (and drawing) our Christmas cards. I know, it’s a bit of a chore, but…

… the process is pretty simple, and they seem to enjoy their part. 

I write out the cards and address the envelopes and hand them over to Emma and Sarah for “personalizing.” Most of the time I  *cough*  get a little grumpy during The Writing of the Cards. What can I say? It’s stressfull. Christmas card writing is a one-shot deal. It’s hard to be original, and write neatly, and spell things right on really nice cards while music is playing in the background and people are TALKING TO ME. But I get a kick out of watching what the girls decide to draw on the cards and envelopes. It’s always interesting and inspired. It’s my favourite part of our Christmas card assembly line.

The girls would love nothing more than to cover the envelopes with foam stickers but I had to tell them (twice) that the envelopes have to be perfectly flat in order to fit through the machinery and get delivered.

I hope we get them done in time. At the rate we’re going I have a feeling some of you might not be getting them until 2009.

If I was to find out, this very minute, that I was pregnant, I would …