Time for a Top Ten...

As Christmas approaches I have decided to throw together a quick Top 10 List of my favorite holiday activities.

Lee's Top 10 Christmas Highlights (with lowlights too)

1. Making treats for holiday gifts. I have no idea why I find such gratification in handing out our little neighborhood treat plates but it is one of my favorite parts of the holidays (but not realizing I forgot someone who I really adore or not finding someone at home in which case we end up eating the leftover plate)

2. Christmas Holiday Tunes! If you have not heard Fiona Apples' Frosty the Snowman you are MISSING out (but not all the various and sundry version of Deck the Halls and Rudolph from my kids incessant singing- will Joy to the World Barney is Dead ever fall off the charts?)

3. Knowing that my kids will get to see snow at least once over Christmas break (but not the looong drive to get to Utah)

4. Shopping for Christmas gifts (but not reporting what I have spent in the family budget discussion- ouch)

5. Online shopping! Paypal! One-step checkout (no downside here)

6. Houses all lit up with holiday decor (but knowing that as long as we spend weeks in Utah every year we don't even get a tree)

7. Sending out Christmas Cards and reflecting on the year in our newsletter (but not affixing stamps one at a time--isn't there a better way? Plus I need to get a return address stamp.)

8. Receiving Christmas Cards (but not cards without pictures! People I have a place in my house for your family pictures and when you don't send them out we have no sign of your friendship anywhere around here. You might feel environmentally friendly for sending out an e-newletter but your family lost its official place on the wall above the table. Award goes to Memzy for not only an adorable Christmas card but for being the first pic up on the wall this year! The kids fought over whether it was to be feet or faces but I won the argument and we put up faces)

9. Holiday performances--last night I was able to take part of an amazing production of Woman at the Well for Enrichment for church and it was sooo beautiful. The singing was incredible and the costumes and props were so authentic it felt really spectacular. (I am sad to report that I missed participating in the Messiah sing-holla Krissie-because I was on the road for work that night. I hope to squeeze it in while in Utah but I highly doubt I will find a sing this late into the month)

10. Holiday goodies. Everywhere you turn there is chocolate, my favorite food group. (This year I am bypassing all chocolate, white sugar, and white flour products. It is very hard but I have goals to make by January and I have stuck with it for two months now so I can't break with momentum. I am making ONE exception on Christmas Day)