Christmas in july!


As the calendar rolls over to July, we in the Santa Family are reminded of why we love Christmas.  Everything about it.  The traditions.  The history.  The memories.  The way it makes you feel inside.  The smells.  The tastes.  The opportunity to not need a reason to help someone else.  The joy.  The innocence of the season, especially now that I get to see it reflected back at me in the faces of my two young daughters.  The magic.  The fun! 

 

Part of that fun is celebrating Christmas in July!  Here in the south it’s another sweltering summer, but there’s still plenty of room to celebrate the ‘most wonderful time of the year’ . . . adjusted for summer, of course! 

 

We’ve got big plans, including a party, and we wanted to share them with you.  So just in case you’re celebrating and you aren’t already motivated enough, here are a few ideas. 

 

Here’s what we’ve got planned! 

frozen hot chocolate bar

We couldn’t think of a better way to beat the heat at Christmas in July than with a frozen hot chocolate bar set up with all the fixins.  Marshmallows, whipped cream, and of course it’s the chocolate for me!  This DIY treat station is sure to be a hit with all of our guests, especially the littles! 

Marshmallow polar bears

Around here we’re all about family, food and fun, not to mention the occasional craft project, especially when we’re talking Christmas.  That’s where these cute-as-a-button marshmallow polar bears come in.  Not only will they be a blast to make the littles, they’ll be absolutely delicious too!

tommy’s famous sausage balls

If the Santa Family is getting together to celebrate the holidays . . . any holiday . . . well anything, really . . . the one thing that absolutely must be on the party table is Tommy’s Famous Sausage Balls.   

Tommy is my father-in-law, but these sausage balls were the stuff of legend before I ever officially joined the family.  Needless to say, I couldn’t wait to try them out and well . . . it goes without saying that they lived up to the hype.  So, if it’s Christmas or the Fourth of July, this legendary treat always delivers the deliciousness.

watermelon christmas cookies

Nothing really says summer in the south like a sweet and juicy watermelon, so it’s only natural that the Christmas colored star of the season would have a prime place on our Christmas in July table.  There are plenty of variations on festive and yummy ways to enjoy any number of delicious fruits as a healthy snack and this one is a winner.

santa shakes 

There is nothing more Christmas than Santa and there is absolutely nothing more Christmas in July than Santa shakes.  A quick search of the interwebs will show you that there is no shortage of recipes for this summer treat, be we keep things simple.  A heap of frozen strawberries, our favorite vanilla ice cream, a little milk or half-and-half, and extra ice if you need it.  Spin it all up, top with whipped cream and goodies to suit your taste and you’ve pulled it off.  You really can’t go wrong with this one, so have some fun.

santa face pancakes 

Our daughters love pancakes, but they also enjoy eating healthy.  And we all love to have fun.  That’s why this idea is a home run, whether we’re talking Christmas in July in the middle of baseball season or Christmas Eve when the big man is on his way!

Keep ChristmasChristmas treewell all year ‘round, friends! From Bethlehem to wherever you are in this old, wide world and from our home to yours, Merry Christmas in July from the Santa Dad! 

 

Christmas has come to bethlehem


I’ve written those words and shared a new version of Christmas in our home each holiday season for the past two decades.  I do that because I love Christmas.  Everything about it.  The traditions.  The history.  The memories.  The way it makes you feel inside.  The smells.  The tastes.  The opportunity to not need a reason to help someone else.  The joy.  The innocence of the season, especially now that I get to see it reflected back at me in the faces of my two young daughters.  The magic.  The fun! 

 

This Christmas season is different for all of us for so many reasons.  Many things are uncertain as 2020 comes to a close and that can lead to unease, anxiety, and even fear for any of us, but especially our children. Even so, there is still much for us to celebrate and be grateful for this holiday season.

 

In our home, that has meant that we will continue to do what we’ve done all year and lean into the one thing that 2020 has offered us in spades.  Time.  We’ve fully embraced this opportunity to spend more time together, just ejoying one another’s company, truly seeing and appreciating everyone and everything in our little world with genuinely grateful and open hearts.

 

And that brings me to why we’re all here.  I created because I love Christmas so much and I see the wonder it brings to our lives every day, I decided to share as much of the experience with you as possible.  It is my goal to give the gift of sharing our Christmas lives with you here, along with lots of other surprises like traditions, recipes, crafting ideas, and much more, even the occasional product review to keep your stockings full all year ’round.  I hope you’ll visit often! 

 

In keeping with my annual Christmas tradition, I’ll leave you with a look at some of our Christmas decorations this year.  I hope seeing them brings you as much as joy as putting them up brought us.  

 

From Bethlehem to wherever you are in this old, wide world and from our home to yours, Merry Christmas from the Santa Dad!

  KEEP CHRISTMAS WELL MY FRIENDS