Top 10 DeGooyer Tetrad Christmas Traditions

Since Christmas will be later this week, we decided to make the top ten about our Christmas Traditions. Now, if any of you know our family, we are all about traditions. We love them and love how much the girls enjoy them and look forward to them.

1. Christmas Eve Dinner - On Christmas Eve we have a really nice meal with family or friends. It's a tradition Scott had growing up.
2. Watching The Nativity Story on Christmas Eve – Since the movie came out, this has been a tradition to watch this before everyone goes to bed.
3. Something Jets for Christmas - This kind of became a tradition by chance. Scott happened to get the girls something Jets for Christmas to make sure they became "green blooded."
4. Reading Scriptures and Chocolate - Scott's sister Kerri gave us a list of 12 scripture passages about the attributes of Christ which we read the 12 days before Christmas. She also gave us a wall hanging with 12 pockets that hold chocolate to eat after we read. We love it!
5. Pajamas on Christmas Eve - This is another tradition that the girls look forward to. Before they get dressed for bed we let them open one gift that we choose. Of course it is pajamas. They can't wait to see what they are each year.
6. Sweet Rolls before opening presents - Homemade sweet rolls for Christmas morning is another of the traditions that we have carried on from our parents. We can't open presents until everyone has eaten a sweet roll and is ready.
7. Christmas Letters - Sundy loves doing these each year and trying to be the first to mail them out. She mails them the day after Thanksgiving. We have fun being creative each year.
8. A new Nativity each year - This was a tradition that started when we were married. Scott has gotten Sundy a Nativity each year since. It is fun to try and find unique ones.
9. A Family Program on Christmas Eve - We love sharing our talents with family and friends. It is so much fun to see what they come up with. Sometimes we do musical instruments, sing, put on plays, or some other creative thing. We also like to read Luke 2.
10. Decorating with Nativities - We love this tradition because it helps us to focus on the true meaning of Christmas and our Savior.

Top 10 Christmas Nativities We Own

This week's top ten is dedicated to some of the many nativities that Sundy has. She collects nativities and gets a new one or more each year. She loved that Scott's Mom did this and wanted to do the same to help bring the true meaning of Christmas into the home. Here are a few of her favorite ones. She loves them all but these are some that are more meaningful to her.

1. The Blue Nativity - This was Sundy's first nativity. She fell in love with it at a craft fair and her parents surprised her with it on Christmas.

2. Grandma T's White Nativity - Sundy inherited this one from her grandma and always admired it growing up. She was super excited when she received it.

3. The Jerusalem Nativity - This was given to her from Scott's Mom. It came all the way from Jerusalem when his adopted Grandma brought it back for her.

4. The Precious Moments Musical Nativity - This was the first one Scott gave Sundy. It started the tradition.

5. The Nativity Tree - This tree has quite a few nativity ornaments, a nativity tree skirt, and a nativity star. Sundy gets a new ornament each year to add to it.

6. The Indian Nativity - This is a very unique nativity because of all the animals, like the buffalo, rabbits, an eagle, a bear, and a deer.

7. The Cherished Teddies Miniature Nativity - This is a cute little nativity that Sundy fell in love with.

8. The Precious Moment Village Nativity - This is mostly buildings but the lights add to the allure.

9. The Candy Cane Nativity - Another very unique nativity that is cute and fun.

10. The Childlike Nativity - This is another traditional nativity but the faces on them are very child-like and pure.

Kiara's and Katia's Recent Performances

Below is a SmileBox of Kiara's and Katia's recent performances. They participated in a recital with most of Sundy's piano students. Kiara had a fall concert for orchestra. They also did a skit in Anthem's talent show. Only ten acts made it through to the final show and they were one of the ten. They performed a chin puppet skit. It was quite funny. They love to perform and have been blessed with the talents of being good at it. They also just tried out for Anthem's Spring musical, The Jungle Book last week. Kiara will be playing Shanti, and Katia will be Kaa. They are so excited and we will keep you updated on that as it draws closer to opening night. Hope you enjoy their performances in this post.

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Top 10 Christmas Songs with Lyrics

A few weeks back we did a top ten of our favorite Christmas albums but not all of our favorite songs with lyrics are on those albums. So we thought we would dedicate this week's top ten to them. Christmas music has a powerful effect on making people smile and feel happy. We love listening to it year-round because it does. Here are a few of our favorites.

1. Believe by Josh Groban

2. Last Christmas by Wham

3. Mary’s Boy Child by Boney M

4. The Christmas Shoes by NewSong
5. Emanuel, God With Us by Amy Grant
6. The Christmas Conga by Cyndi Lauper
7. Where Are You Christmas by Faith Hill

8. I’m Gonna E-mail Santa by Billy Gilman
9. The Magic of Christmas Day by Celine Dion
10. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) by Cher and Rosie

Top 10 Christmas Movies

Today is the first day of December which means Christmas season is in full swing. This weeks top ten is about Christmas movies. We love watching feel good movies during Christmas. Here are a few that we watch every year. There are so many good one's that it was very hard to narrow it down.

1. The Nativity Story - The story of Christ's birth is what Christmas is all about. This movie is absolutely awesome at telling the story. This has been a favorite since it came out a few years ago.

2. A Christmas Carol with George C. Scott - Christmas just isn't Christmas unless you watch at least one version of A Christmas Carol, and this is by far our favorite. George C. Scott gives one of the greatest performances we have ever seen an actor give; he truly becomes Ebenezer Scrooge to the fullest degree possible.
3. The Santa Claus with Tim Allen - If you are looking for a great, feel-good holiday movie that everyone can enjoy, this is your movie. There is a nice mix of comedy, drama, and great holiday fun to turn this into the next holiday classic.
4. Elf with Will Farrell - We loved this movie. It was absolutely delightful and we recommend it to viewers of all ages. If you want a Christmas feel-good movie, this is it.
5. Christmas Claymation - From the Carol of the Bells to the California Raisins doing Rudolph, it is a very creative look at various Christmas songs all done in claymation! And watching Scott enjoy the ice-skating hippos makes us all laugh!
6. It’s a Wonderful Life with Jimmy Stewart - A beautifully crafted film! And James Stewart is superb as George. I've loved to watch "It's A Wonderful Life" for as long as I can remember - and, no matter how many times I've seen it, it always leaves me pondering my own life - wondering what I've contributed to this world & to my loved ones just by the simple fact that I am "here"...
7. How The Grinch Stole Christmas – animated - When we find ourselves starting to hate the the crowded stores, combat drivers, and the noise, noise, noise.... We take the time to watch this show. Then we feel we have the strength of ten Grinch's plus two and the true meaning of Christmas comes shining through!
8. The Muppet Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens' classic tale "A Christmas Carol" has probably been adapted for stage, screen, and TV more than any other story in the history of literature. Many have been really great -- But one of the best is definitely "The Muppet Christmas Carol."
9. White Christmas - This movie is simply wonderful! It's romantic, funny and highly entertaining!
10. Mr. Krueger’s Christmas - We have seen this movie every year for the past 15 years and I still get very emotional when I see it. It helps me and my family remember what the true meaning of Christmas is all about. Jimmy Stewart does such a good job in this movie. This movie truly radiates the love of Christ.