Christmas is here.
Mistletoe and laughter.
Carols and bells.
Ringing to the rafters.
Lights on the tree.
Candles all aglow.
And all who pass by say hello!
Keep Christmas here,
In your HEART.
Ahhh. Sweet, sweet Christmastime. I keep it in my heart all year long. It is my very favorite holiday! Jesus’s birthday just makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. It really is the most wonderful time of the year. It’s Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air, and I am so grateful for a heart that is filled with Christmas joy.
Nostalgia is all over this time of year. Things that just take you back to Christmas when you were younger. It could be watching the claymation “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” The distinctive smell of Dad’s train running on the track. The sound of Bing Crosby’s voice singing “White Christmas” crackling through an old radio. The glistening of tinsel hanging from a Christmas tree. The taste of Grandma’s homemade eggnog or the smell of Mom’s peanut butter blossoms baking in the oven. Ribbon candy in a fancy glass dish — no one actually ate them, but they sure looked beautiful! The glow from your Grammy’s snow village on a winter’s night.
Dad hears Santa’s sleigh bells on Christmas Eve. Mom is helping you get cookies and milk for Santa. Big festive tins of three different popcorns. What about the lifesaver books or flipping through the big ole Sears catalog, circling something on every page, thinking Santa will bring you whatever you circle? Oh man. It just all comes flowing back, doesn’t it? And my favorite nostalgia? Christmas lights. How I love Christmas lights. They just make me so happy. White lights, colored lights, just blue lights, red and green lights, or LED, I love them all as I am driving around admiring each and every house that took the time to light up their home for Christmas. I especially love the C7 and C9 bulbs. Man, does that really take me back to Christmas as a little girl. Another one of my favorites is lights on trees. Trees, bushes, pines, whatever. I’m obsessed. Then, when it snows on the trees, the lights turn on. GASP!! There is nothing more magical. Oh my goodness. I smile just thinking about it.
My Uncle Mark even put a little something special out on his front porch for me this year! I always teased him, “Uncle Mark! You need to put some Christmas lights or something outside so when I drive by, I’ll see it!” I tease him about this every year. Well, guess what? This year, it finally happened! He put the sweetest little penguin named “Perry Penguin” on his front porch, lit up just for his Christmas-loving niece! It made my whole Christmas season! Perry Penguin is already for Christmas with his Santa hat. My Aunt and Uncle live a mile from us, so I drive by their house almost every day. Perry Penguin will make me smile every time I drive by. Thank you, Uncle Mark! I love youuuuu!!
If you didn’t know I loved Christmas lights and that Candy Cane Lane is my happy place, then you do now. I love Christmas lights so much that my husband proposed to me on Candy Cane Lane twenty-one years ago. This is the week he did it. December 19. Each year, I do a Candy Cane Lane Scavenger Hunt to get people excited to go over and walk/drive up that beautiful street. It’s nostalgic. Candy Cane Lane gives me all the Christmas nostalgic feels. I feel like a kid again, which is why I visit so many times. We are so blessed to have such a magical place to see this time of year. Thank you to everyone on Candy Cane Lane who works so hard to put this all together each year. You make a lot of people very happy. I genuinely believe I am one of your biggest fans! I was over there five times before everything was even fully lit. Haha! But hey, can I please, PLEASE request one thing!? One of my favorites is Santa with his hiney on fire and a reindeer blowing it out with a fire extinguisher. I haven’t seen it in two years. *enter sad face here.*
My daughter and I look for it every single year. There’s something about them that I just love — hoping to see them back next year! Thanks again for the nostalgia, Candy Cane Lane!
Happy Hunting, everyone!
Candy Cane Lane Scavenger Hunt!
– Santa yawning, holding a clock
– Three penguins singing carols
– He is the reason for the season “sign.”
– “Support our troop” flag
– Five teddy bears in red stockings
– Snowman made out of real wood
– The biggest light bulbs you’ll ever see!
– Southside snowmen
– A small, medium, and LARGE Bumbles!
– Yukon Cornelius
– Lounging Gingerbread man
– Santa with a skateboard
– Two matching dogs with backpacks
– Santa climbing up a ladder
– Huge lighted candle
– Whoville sign
Bonus finds:
– How many toy soldiers can you find?
– How many angels can you find?
– How many elves can you find?
– Did you find the “Thank you for visiting Candy Cane Lane” sign?
Christmas Light Sugar Cookies
Ingredients:
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 cup margarine
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 6 cups flour
Directions:
Mix it up, then roll it out onto a floured countertop. Cut out with Christmas cookie cutters. Bake at 350°F for 8 minutes. Decorate with your favorite icing and mini M&M’s!
*Now, not going to lie. I made these particular cookies in the picture with, believe it or not, BETTY CROCKER bagged Sugar Cookie Mix and Betty Crocker canned icing. My first time trying it, but they were awesome and a total time saver for those of you on a time crunch! I then used the Icing Writer Decorating Tube by Wilton for the black cord. You can find these with the sprinkles! If you have more time, my Nanny’s homemade Sugar Cookie recipe is amazing.
It’s a busy time, use the shortcut if you need to!!
