Now that Thanksgiving is over, the focus at Wigglesworth Manor has turned to Christmas! Our goal today is to put up our tree and maybe watch one of our favorite movies of the season. While there are channels that dedicate programming blocks to Christmas movies, we have our own list of movies that have become part of our holiday tradition over the years. You know, the ones that if you don't watch, you begin to wonder...."was it even really Christmas?". 

1. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)- Even though this movie came out quite some time before I was born (heck, it came out quite some time before my mother was born), I have been watching it during the holidays for as long as I can remember. There have been remakes over the years, but this one is our most favorite. The 1994 version is pretty great too! 

2. Home Alone- I've probably seen this movie at least once a year since it was released back in 1990. I even remember getting the little handheld game one year for Christmas. The girls really enjoy the shenanigans of " Kevin" and Matt and I love the laughter that ensues.   

3. A Christmas Story- I've been watching this one probably almost as long as I've been watching "Miracle on 34th Street". There is one channel that plays it for 24 hours straight every Christmas Eve and I'm still not sick of it. Fun fact: Peter Billingsley ("Ralphie") is a pretty good looking grown up. 

4. The Polar Express- Because who doesn't love Tom Hanks? I'd blame it on the kids if asked, but this is one movie we might watch more than once or twice during the holiday season. It's such a magical story and we just think it's great. I also love that Steven Tyler plays one of the elves!

5. Elf- I love love love this movie. I know it's a comedy, but there are such great heart warming parts throughout the story line that I sometimes get a little choked up watching. 

6- White Christmas- This is one that Matt introduced me to. He grew up watching this one with his family and now we watch it with our own. The girls love it just as much as we do! 

7- The Santa Clause- I love this movie and the sequels. Again, another movie that is a comedy, but has parts that get me choked up. 

8. Fred Claus- I wasn't too sure what to think about this movie when it first came out, but we wanted to watch it because we think Vince Vaughn is pretty great. I'm glad we did end up watching it because it's absolutely hilarious. 

9. Frosty the Snowman (1969)- Another movie with quite a few different versions. I think everyone has seen this one, probably more times than they can count, but it's still pretty fantastic. Every year we watch Frosty, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, and The Year Without a Santa Claus all in one night. 

10. A Christmas Carol (1951)- So many different versions of this movie are available, this one is our favorite, followed closely by both the 2009 Version with Jim Carrey and the 1992 Version with The Muppets!

11. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)- I remember watching this version in school before the break for the holiday. The Grinch always kind of creeped me out, but I was comforted by the fact that he ends up not being such a....well, Grinch, at the end. 

12. A Charlie Brown Christmas- Our list ends with a classic that both Matt and I grew up watching with our families. The girls love Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the gang and we love enjoying this movie with them. 

Did your favorite Christmas movies make our list? Leave a comment with your favorites and we'll be sure to check them out this year!