Wrap Up

Grace sporting her new hair clip.

Adelaide on a present frenzy.

Mark secretly putting together Adelaide's kitchen in our room on Christmas Eve.

One delicious meal after another!

Christmas holidays were verging on legendary this year. WOW. Thanks to everyone reading this who sent cards and gifts, or who sat at our table and chit chatted for hours on end or played with Addie until you were worn out, or distracted Mark from his iPod Touch (haha) or just added JOY to our lives in 2009. We have just been overwhelmed - we are so rich in love!
Now, our plan is to count down to New Year on English time tomorrow evening as there is no way Addie will stay up until 11pm even. That means at 7pm our time we'll be singing, jumping, lighting sparklers and clinking glasses. Everyone else will just be late!

Mr.Hardy and I went on a smashing date to see Sherlock Holmes this week. I have been looking forward to this film for quite a while now and have to say I highly recommend paying to see it in theatres. It was a bit dark, quirky, suspenseful, and humorous of course. I particularly liked how Holmes was portrayed as almost mad. You can't expect more from a genius, can you?

On a totally separate note, I have had a number of requests to see Mark's 2009 Christmas Quiz. Here it is, displayed in all of Papyrus' splendour. You can imagine his face upon opening it.
He scored a whopping 60%, and didn't use his lifeline of phone-a-friend (yes, that would have been you, James). How many can you solve?

Moving Pictures

So, I'm not really the best person to write this post. I think my good friend James Bower is actually the expert on the subject. But as he's not posted anything like this yet, and as I guess my opinion is just as valid, if not as informed, as his, then I'll have a go.

What are my top five Christmas movies?

I'm going to say this right off the bat. I've never watched White Christmas or It's a Wonderful Life all the way through before, so they didn't make the list. Maybe one day I'll watch them. Maybe I won't.

I also feel like there should be an honourable mention here for The Snowman. It didn't make my final list, because it's not a movie. But it's excellent, and to my mind the best animated Christmas film. If you haven't seen it (and if you're not from England, the chances are you haven't) then I suggest you find some way of seeing it. Right, on with the list, then.

5. Elf.

Will Ferrel was the perfect choice for the lead role in this movie. Buddy the Elf is so silly and childish, which Ferrel pulls off really well, and it's so different from his usual stuff that I can still watch it without getting bored.
The story, as with most modern American Christmas movies, is generally focused on the importance of Christmas Spirit, without which Santa (the true hero of Christmas) is unable to operate.
That being said, it's not too insipid, and it's all rather light-hearted.
I also love how wholesome it is. There's a love interest. They kiss. There's even a shower scene. but there isn't a hint of sexuality in it. It's about finding love, not sex.
Thoroughly enjoyable.


4. Santa Claus (AKA Santa Claus the Movie)

Dudley Moore. Loop the looping reindeer. Exploding candy canes. Need I say anything more? A favourite from my childhood.

3. Scrooged

A very 1980s take on the classic Dickens story. Bill Murray plays Frank Cross, a hardened, and rather odd television programming executive. His love of money and his career has made him lose sight of what really matters. True to the original, he is visited by three ghosts (four if you count his old boss) who show him the true meaning of Christmas. The whole thing runs alongside the preparations for (and execution of) Cross' own rather selfish televised version of A Christmas Carol, leading to an excellent scene of confusion later in the film.
The movie really plays on the success of Ghostbusters, which had been a smash hit for Murray four years previously. The design of Scrooged is excellent, with very memorable ghosts. I particularly enjoy the Ghost of Christmas Present, who is rather silly, and just a touch violent.

2. The Muppet Christmas Carol

Whenever I watch one of the newer Muppet movies, I'm rather disappointed. I always expect them to be so good, and most of the time they're terrible. Even watching the old Muppet Show episodes is a bit of a let down for me.
But this version of A Christmas Carol is fantastic.
From start to finish, the direction is pretty much flawless. Michael Caine is perfect as old Ebeneezer, and the casting of Waldorf and Stadtler as Marley and Marley is inspired. I even find myself singing the songs in the middle of summer. This movie alone is probably the reason I expect so much from all the other Muppet Movies. Brilliant.

1. Home Alone

This one has everything. Cute kid. Slapstick comedy. Scary old guy. Church scene. John Candy...
For me, it has some of the most memorable scenes of any Christmas movie, and I'm not just talking about the traps Kevin sets for the unfortunate criminals. Remember the movie Kevin watches? What about Beth's favourite, Uncle Frank: "look what you did, you little jerk".
Everything about it works for me. The score (John Williams) is excellent, and the soundtrack works really nicely too. I've probably watched it five times already this year, and I'm not tired of it yet.
The second one wasn't that shabby either. Too bad they had to ruin it with the third. Seriously.

Tis the season to be simple.

Today, in Adelaide's parent/tot group, we had the Christmas party. Ohhhhh yeah... you can imagine it. Lots of glitter, glue, stars, sparkles, songs, giggles, treats and group pictures.
I often wonder, would Christmas even happen without group pictures?
Much to my delight, everyone brought something delicious to add to the mix (one day I shall write about just how much I enjoy a proper potluck). It was super fun.

To be honest, I was going to write about our silly little Hardy Christmas traditions. Like how I draw up a wacky Christmas quiz for Mark every year and present him with it Christmas morn'. Or how we watch a crazy amount of classic holiday movies on Christmas Eve until we fall asleep.

So why am I still thinking about a little boy in the group who said to his mom the other night how he wished Addie was his sister? Not sure, really. It is obvious that this little tyke has seriously taken to our family. One of two twins, the other twin died shortly after birth. He is...well, he is just lovely that's all.

I sometimes think that everyone could really benefit from hanging out with littlies once a week or something. Does that sound ridiculous? Just an hour with some five-year-olds...it does me the world of good and brings me so much life. I wouldn't describe myself as a 'kid' person. I don't enjoy messy rooms or disorganization, I don't find it hilarious when my blouse has been coloured on, I dislike tantrums, and practically curl up in to the fetal position when a child picks their nose and eats it. IT KILLS ME just a little bit each time, I swear.

Check out the book of Matthew and you'll find something like this;
"At about the same time, the disciples came to Jesus asking, "Who gets the highest rank in God's kingdom?" For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, "I'm telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you're not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God's kingdom."

Really? As in SIMPLE, simple?
Not Complicated. Unassuming. Sincere. Unpretentious. Not artificial. Humble. Easy to understand. Mere. Bare. Unmistakable. Guileless.
These words look and sound good for some reason. Now that you mention it, I do kinda like the idea of being that sort of person.
Here's the dilemma: I was that person. I was a kid! Then I put away childish things and I grew up. THAT is a good thing, my friend. It sure is in many ways.
Still, I guess there are ways of being and things on the inside that you just don't have to grow out of. Like being humble, or being sincere. It is so easy to be that person with kids.
Oh, how they see right through you....

Again, in the Amplified Version:

And said, Truly I say to you, unless you repent (change, turn about) and become like little children [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving], you can never enter the kingdom of heaven [at all]. Whoever will humble himself therefore and become like this little child [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving] is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives and accepts and welcomes one little child like this for My sake and in My name receives and accepts and welcomes Me.

Would the world even go round if everyone subscribed to this? Hmm.

Now that Addie is in our lives, I think about verses and ideas like these a lot more.
I think I am starting to understand what Jesus was saying here, still only skimming the surface.
I bet Jesus made the best sandcastles, though...

Adelaide is no perfect little angel. She has grabbed things away from that boy I mentioned, sometimes accidently destroyed his craft or stepped on his foot - collided with him on the way to sit down for snack or outright ignored him...you get the idea. Still, he wants her to be his sister, apparently. She walks in every morning with a clean slate in his books.
Other than what to wear tomorrow, that's what I'm thinking about at the moment ;)

Red and Green

This video was a lot of fun to make. It is remarkable what one can accomplish while little girls sleep, isn't it? So, Mark's birthday and all relating festivities have come and gone. This can only mean one thing - that Christmas is around the corner. I am seeing red and green.

We have almost finished buying pressies. Our trip across the border to Buffalo in a few days will probably be the grand finale, although I am more excited to go ice skating there than to shop!

Today, I made a particularly wonderful purchase for the very occasion of Christmas ... a Christmas Vest. No, I am not kidding. This vest comes fully equipped with realistically-drawn images of Santa, reindeer, a sleigh, poinsettia flowers, red roses, red bows, and a green interior. Ah, tacky delight.
I have owned quite a few Christmas Sweaters, but never a vest. I can only imagine that this means Christmas will be extra special this year. *There was the year we went to a fancy dress party where I went as snow (not the rapper) and Mark was Mr. Tumnus: see below*.

While there are no pictures of said vest at the moment, it shall be on public display this month at a variety of functions. Will you behold it?