my countdown to christmas | my top 10 christmas movies

i don't watch a whole lot of movies or tv throughout the year, but at christmas time, i try to pack in enough for the whole year with these great movies i will over and over, year after year.

1. national lampoon's christmas vacation - this one is a given for a lot of people. i have been watching this movie every year since i was a little girl. who doesn't love to hate cousin eddie?

2. little women (the 1994 version)-

i don't know if this is an actual christmas movie, but i remember going with my mom to see this movie at the theater the day after christmas. i love this movie. i loved the book too. such a great classic story.

3. elf - this movie has quickly become a classic in our home.  although the movie hasn't been out for too long, my kids can not pass up a christmas without seeing this movie.

4. the polar express - i actually didn't see this movie for the first time until last year. we own it and my kids had seen it so many times already, but i just never found my way in front of the tv to watch it.  i remember reading the book when i was younger. it was that one christmas book we always read every year. the book set came with a bell and my family always read that book with our neighbors, my mom's best friend. when i finally watched the movie, i fell in love with it. it brought back so many memories of reading the book throughout childhood.

5. a christmas story - i have loved this movie even before they decided it was a good idea to play it for 24 hours straight on tbs every christmas day. i don't ever watch it on that channel because i seriously think that it would make me hate this movie if i saw it on repeat like that. once is enough each year. i don't remember the first time i saw this movie but i am pretty sure it was one of the first christmas movies i ever remember seeing.

6. the santa clause - i remember when my dad was so excited for me to see this movie. he and my step mom had just purchased this movie and it was the first thing we watched that weekend.  we all laughed and it was just a great moment that i remember with them.

7. silver bells - i saw this made for tv movie just a few years ago on abc or cbs or nbc, one of those channels and something about it just made me love it so much that i look for it every year now.  it can usually be found on the hallmark channel now.

8. christmas do over - this is another made for tv movie that i saw when it came out in 2006. i saw this movie while in the hospital with tyler when she was just 3 1/2 months old and she had rsv.  they had her on so much medicine that all she did was sleep, so i would lay in the hospital bed and hold her and watch tv.  as worried as i was about my little one, this movie brought a smile to my face.

phoenix and elijah snuggling

9. home alone - only the first one! i just introduced this movie to phoenix and tyler this year and i hope it becomes a classic with them too. it was the first time they have actually sat down and watched an entire movie and laughed.  it was so sweet to hear their little giggles.

10. the holiday - the one time i ever thought jack black was more than just funny. definitely a feel good movie. check out the trailer below.

so those are my favorites, but be sure to check out amc, the hallmark channel, lifetime, and abc family for a ton of great family christmas movies. i have at least 20 on the dvr right now!

REMINDER:  don't forget to enter my new giveaway. 16 photo new year's cards from pear tree greetings.