These are a few of my favorite things...

Christmas is in the air. It will be here in the blink of an eye. Not to forget Thanksgiving, because who doesn't love to eat all that yummy food? I know I do. So, I'm not sailing over it, forgetting that it's a week away- definitely not. However, I am going to do a post on my favorite things about Christmas. Here we go.

1. Putting up my Christmas tree and then enjoying it throughout December.

2. Collecting Christmas ornaments for said tree. I like ornaments that mean something, and I am working on my collection. Like I said, I'm still working, but I've got one from each year that WEG and I have been together, Clemson & Carolina ones for our house divided, fish to represent his favorite pasttime, ornaments from historical places in Elloree, a few from my childhood, and this year I finally found a chocolate lab one for Abe :-)

3. White chocolate peppermint mocha from Starbucks. I don't drink many of these- maybe one or two over the course of the month, but this is one of the 2 exceptions I make for my anti-hot drinks quirk.

4. The other exception- Williams Sonoma peppermint hot chocolate on Christmas morning while opening presents.

5. Stuffing stockings and also finding out what's in mine. WEG and I do stockings together (mine is a Gamecock stocking, his is Clemson) and I also do stockings at home with my parents.

6. Looking at Christmas decorations and trying to figure out how people are so crafty and creative!

7. Riding around my hometown looking for the blue, red, white & yellow ribbons on the houses that won the decorating contest- such a simple pleasure, I know.

8. Singing "Silent Night" at Christmas Eve service and holding up candles when "darkness flies, all is light" (one of the few times I enjoy Christmas music)

9. Hot dogs and chili on Christmas Eve. Well, really I should say I enjoy dipping chips in a bowl of the chili. Weird, maybe, but it's a cousin tradition.

10. Having a big breakfast on Christmas morning after opening gifts...mmm!

11. White chocolate covered mini ritz bits with peanut butter. My mom makes these only for Christmas and they are SO GOOD.

12. Exchanging presents with family, friends, and WEG. I love to watch people open the gifts I got them!

13. Our friends Christmas party. This year will be the third annual. We rotate houses between 4 couples, have a big dinner, open gifts (just the girls), drink a little bit (okay, a lot), and just have fun.

14. Lights Before Christmas at the Zoo. This will be my second year in a row going with my friends and their son. I love watching him look at the lights!

15. The Nativity Scene. Probably my favorite Christmas decoration. I really want one of my own, but all the nice ones are very expensive.

16. And saving the best for last- Remembering the reason for the season- Jesus's birth. Coupled with this is hearing the Christmas story. It never gets old.

What are some of your favorite Christmas things?