25 Days of Christmas: Day 25

Mallory--How could you be late on the last day of the 25 Days of Christmas??

The answer? Because I did not touch a computer all day long! But yes, I touched my camera, and there are lots of pictures I need to share!

Christmas Eve night and Christmas morning were pretty funny. My sister and I have this old random tradition. Every Christmas Eve around 2am (we don't intentially wake up then, it just happens!) we wake up, Santa has left us presents under the trees in our rooms, we open them, and then Abby comes and makes a pallatte in my bedroom floor and sleeps there the rest of the night! And then we sleep off and on until like 6:30am when we are just anxious as can be to start Christmas morning!

This year, we decided to make Abby's pallatte ahead of time so there wouldn't be so much to do at 2am. And instead, Abby just slept in my room all night! Funniest part? We both fell asleep before midnight! haha. So much for being too excited to sleep! I woke up around 3:30am, and didn't have enough energy to roll over and put my glasses on to see if Santa had even left something under my tree. So I went back to sleep. Then, around 6:30am, Abby woke me up saying we had presents under our trees, so we got them and opened them. We were still tired, so I told her I was just going to leave the TV on. Afterall, there were lots of Christmas shows on! Fiiiiiiiiinally, a little before 8, we decided to get up. Turns out Mom and Dad had been up for almost 3 hours waiting for us to come get them! hahaha.

After a day filled with lots of Christmas and family, last night, I was too tired. I went to bed before midnight again...something that does not happen often! I had been home to celebrate Christmas, my grandparents' house, and Matt's grandparents' house. So much Christmas! :)


Another Christmas tradition our family has is counting the number of times we hear Sleigh Ride during the whole Christmas season. I don't remember exactly how this game got started, but I do remember the rules we started with:
-at least 2 family members have to be together to hear it
-it doesn't count if it's on a movie; it has to be on the radio
Well, over the years, our lifestyles have changed, so the rules have had to change as well. When Abby and I started driving it decreased the chances of 2 family members in the car together, so if one of us heard the song, it didn't count. Then, when I went away to school, there was even less of a chance of me being with someone to hear it and it count. So, after some changes, here are this years' rules:
-at least 2 family members and/or Matt have to be together to hear it
-it still doesn't count if it's on a movie; it has to be on the radio
-2 people have to hear it at the same time. You don't have to be together, you just have to hear it. (Example: During the last few weeks of school, I barely turned my TV on. Since Lite98 started playing Christmas music 24/7, I basically listened to it 24/7. Well, at work, Mom keeps Lite98 on in her office. If I hear it, I'll call her to see if she's in her office, or if she hears it, she'll call me to see if I'm in my room listening. If not, it doesn't count. If so, it does count.
-Mallory is the official Keeper of the Counting! haha.

We think last year's total was 28 total times hearing the song, which I think is about right.

This year's total?? 42 TIMES!! Matt and I heard #42 when we were on the way back to my house at 10pm last night. So from November 24th (when Lite98 started playing Christmas music), through December 25th, we heard it 42 times! Yay!!!!

So, Sleigh Ride is #25, and the final song, on my 25 Days of Christmas 2010. I hope you have enjoyed hearing some of my favorite songs and a few funny stories the past 25 days. I have lots of Christmas pictures I hope to share on here, too!

Hope you had a wonderful and Merry Christmas!!!

25 Days of Christmas: Day 24

Every Christmas Eve, Dad has read "'Twas the Night Before Christmas." When we were younger, he would start switching up the words and put in crazy things, and Abby and I would get the biggest kick out of it and scream, "NOOOOOOOO! It's....." And then fill in whatever word he messed up! Several years back, I don't know, maybe even like five years ago, Dad just started completely rewriting the whole story! It basically recaps the entire year and funny memories since the last Christmas! Here are a few things this year's story included:
-Abby getting into Longwood
-Our driveway currently housing six vehicles, when there are only four people in my family!
-Matt getting to play in the Sleigh Ride Game (more to come on that tomorrow! song hint? I think so!....)
-The loss of an amazing friend, Casey


And, of course, another great Christmas story is the story of Jesus' birth, and I don't think anyone can tell it quite as good as Linus can. You must view this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pn10FF-FQfs

So, #24 is going to be a double-dose of songs. But they're both related!

#24 part A is the regular Charlie Brown theme song that always makes me dance like the girl characters do. Trust me, I can show you some pretty awesome moves.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0G8XH4WDxP4&feature=related

#24 part B is O Tannenbaum (O Christmas Tree) from Charlie Brown. There's just something that makes you feel good when you hear that one particular version of this song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kw6h4mZO1oU

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE!!!!!

25 Days of Christmas: Day 23

I cannot believe tomorrow is CHRISTMAS EVE!! Where has December gone? Really, where has 2010 gone?! Crazyness!

Our church has been allowing another church to use our sanctuary for their services while they are renovating their building. I've never really met anyone from the other church, but every time I've seen one of them coming in as I've been leaving, they've all seemed so nice!

Well, the two churches got together and put together an event tonight at Fort Lee: A Live Nativity. It was so cool! (and cold!) And they also had singing, and hot apple cider...which I now like ;) They did not use a real baby, but there was a tiny white dog who looked like he could have been playing the part of a sheep! haha. Here is a picture I took with my phone right before we left.......

I thought it would only be appropriate to share my #23 favorite Christmas song: Mary Did You Know.

When I was in the choir at church, we sang this song one year. I had never heard it before then and I immediately loved it. It's a very great song!