Amateur Sister II

November 2010; Annapolis, MD. 

I like to call us the alpha and the omega. We are the beginning and the end of our family.

Is it lame that I got teary-eyed watching my not-so-little, youngest brother rock the house at his last band competition of the season? 

My baby brother is growing up. I moved out when he was six years old, and that is how I will always remember him - as the kid who loved to hang out in a box on Christmas (remember that? It got very sweaty and very smelly very quickly). The kid I took to the pool every day the summer we moved. The kid whom I chased around the house. Now he's the kid that goes to homecoming dances, busts out sweet skateboarding tricks, and totes around an instrument the size of a small refrigerator. 

Seriously, where have I been? When did this happen? Where is that little kid? I suppose while I was busy getting a degree, husband, and job, he decided to grow up. I couldn't be more happy with the person he's decided to become so far. The picture below is from his baptism. I'm was so proud of him then and still feel that same pride when I think of him passing the sacrament on Sundays. Keep it up, Hunt-stud. Before you know it, you'll be going off to college and serving a mission. I can't wait! 

January 2004; Yorktown, VA

Amateur Christmas Movie Watcher

Was Halloween a mere 9 days ago? And you say it still isn't even Thanksgiving yet? Well, I say bah-humbug to you Christmas-celebration haters. Mimicking the great poetry of Emma Lazarus, I say to give me your jazzy holiday tunes, your glittery decor, your over-abundant masses of cards in the mail yearning to be read, the glorious sounds of your choral sing-alongs. Send these, the Christmas spirit, baked cookies to me, I lift my lights to adorn the evergreen tree!

Why not start early this year? We always talk about trying to make the feelings and sentiments of the holiday season last through the year, and I can't think of a better way than to emphasize the upcoming holidays of Thanksgiving (only 14 days away!) and Christmas (44 days!). I'm doing my part by listing out all of the Christmas movies I want to watch. Time well spent, right?

Don't answer that.

So I like lists and I like movies. Sue me.

First, the must-sees:
- Christmas Story (easy - TBS will be playing it non-stop, so I'm bound to catch it)
- Elf (see above)
- Family Stone (one of my favorite movies of all time for some reason. It was the first and only movie I ever went to see by myself)
- A version of the Grinch Who Stole Christmas (I'm partial to the original)
- Home Alone (one of Scott's most favorite movies of all time)
- It's a Wonderful Life (because it most certainly is, isn't it?)
- Miracle on 34th Street
- A version of A Christmas Carol (and perhaps a reread of the literary version as well)
- Nativity Story
- Polar Express (perhaps SIL Julie and I will also learn how to play the theme on the piano, too)
- Holiday Inn (not just because our wedding reception was also at the "holl-a-day eeeeeen" <--- name that terrible rap song!)
- White Christmas (hello, true classic!)

Next, the hopefully-there-is-time after the must-sees (or I will make time):
- Shop Around the Corner (what You've Got Mail, another top 5 for me and Scott, is based on, along with Jimmy Stewart again? Can't say no to that)
- Little Women (another personal all-time favorite)
- The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (because it just feels so Christmas-y and being Mormon, I have to find some way to include C.S. Lewis)
- You've Got Mail (why not? I watch at least a few times a year anyway)

And finally, the if-I'm-really-bored list (because I really like the actors and the settings):
- While You Were Sleeping (gotta love Bill Pullman)
- Preacher's Wife (hello, Denzel! And an awesome soundtrack to boot)
- The American President (great cast and set in DC)

So what are your favorite holiday movies? Anything I'm missing, folks?