My List of the Top Ten Best Christmas Movies to Watch This Year

The leaves have all fallen, the night air is cool and the days are getting shorter and shorter. For me, this signals the beginning of the Christmas season: Baking, shopping and watching all those holiday classics that bring it all together year after year.

It's about now that I start digging out my DVD's and VHS tapes and scrolling through all the upcoming listings on DirecTV to make sure me and my TIVO (THE greatest invention since Satellite TV!) are both on the same page.

Below is my "must watch" list - pretty much every year. Share yours!

1 One Magic Christmas

I really enjoy this 1985' movie staring Mary Steenburgen. It's the story of a house wife and mom who is so caught up in everyday life and problems that she's forgotten what's truly important to her and has lost all of her Christmas spirit. An angel Named Gideon steps in to try and turn her bah humbug look on life into a magical one. This is great movie for the whole family. It's Wholesome, warmhearted and thought provoking.

2 Santa and the 3 bears

"Nakomi and Chinook" are two rambunctious little bear cubs, who accidentally learn about Christmas from "Mr. Ranger"and end up pestering their tired mom about the arrival of Santa and getting a Christmas tree, when all poor mama wants to do is to "settle down for a long winters nap"

This is a cute animated film that's been out longer than me! (1970 I believe), It's always the first one I look for. However, it's REALLY hard to catch on TV. I find it usually only plays once if at all, so if ya miss it - it's another 12 month wait!

This might be one of those you'll have to grab the DVD at Wal-Mart or Best Buy to see!

3 Miracle on 34^th street - The Original B/W Version

Not much needs to be said about this well known 1947 traditional classic story about a "nice old man" claiming to be Santa Clause and a young ambitious lawyer who sets out to prove to the world that it's true! Staring Natalie Wood, Maureen O'Hara and Edmund Gwenn. If you haven't seen it yet, make sure this is the year you check it out! It's one of those warm hearted, feel good movies you and your loved ones will want to return to again and again.

4 Comfort and joy

Lifetime TV and LMN on Cable usually air this a few times each year. I always enjoy this film about a single woman (played by Nancy McKeon) living the fast paced - executive lifestyle, who suddenly finds herself living the life of a simple stay at home wife and mom. - Only, it IS her life! Sometimes you don't know what you want, until you have it! Or, almost.....

Family friendly.

5 The Christmas Shoes

A young boy and a lawyer's paths cross on Christmas Eve at a local store when the boy comes up short trying to buy special shoes for his dying mother. The lawyer helps the young boy buy the shoes but in return also learns a valuable lesson about his own life, his mother and personal relationship - that is on unsteady ground. Family friendly but best for those old enough to follow the story line.

Bring facial tissue! This one - like the song - is a tear jerker. Stars Rob Lowe.

6 The Santa Clause

A must see Christmas Comedy. Staring Tim Allen as Scott Calvin (S.C for short!) a toy company executive who frazzles Santa off the roof and to his demise on Christmas Eve. Santa vanished leaving Scott to fulfill the "Santa Clause" - which to his dismay, is turning him into the next Santa Clause - whether he likes it or not!

Funny & light movie. Good for the whole family.

7 National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

In this hilarious 1989 film about yet another vacation gone wrong. Clark Griswold (played by Chevy Chase) is determined to give his family the best Christmas ever! He's put a deposit down on the new a pool, covered the house with lights and bought the tree! Unfortunately the power company, His employer, the cat and some unexpected relatives turn it upside down and backwards making it everything but what he had hoped.

Not recommended for all ages, but definitely will keep you up and laughing on Christmas Eve while you're assembling the Barbie house and putting training wheels on the new bike.

8 Home Alone

Who doesn't remember this fun flick from 1990, where 8 yr old Kevin McAllister goes to bed wishing his family would disappear and wakes the next morning to find that they actually had!

Accidentally left "Home Alone" during the Christmas holiday;

Kevin originally thinks he just scored the best day of his life - until a couple of local burglars who had cased out his neighborhood begin to target HIS house! But there's no way this kid is going to cower down and let them succeed - It's GAME ON! As he gives the crooks an unforgettable run for their money!

9 It's a Wonderful Life.

Probably the most played movie of the entire season is this 1946 heart warmer about a frustrated young business man who, after years of sacrificing his dreams, education and happiness so others could pursue theirs, decides that the world would be better if he just didn't exist anymore. Desperate to end it all, an angel jumps in at the last moment and shows him just exactly HOW the world he knows would be today if he had never existed. An eye opening reminder of how we touch others lives and they touch ours, even when we don't think so. Stars Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed.

10 Yogi's 1^st Christmas.

Maybe not on every adults list, but I'm a little kid in an adult body and these Christmas cartoon classics really bring back the good old days and some of that childhood giddiness.

Yogi, booboo and the rest of the Jelly Stone gang all get to experience their first real Christmas. Meanwhile Cindy bear (who has an unwavering crush on Yogi), discovers Mistletoe and a few ill hearted, hermit-ish bah humbugs realize that maybe there is more to life than being mean and grumpy. Lots of music and feel good adventures in this cartoon Christmas classic. Check your local listings. It runs a few times each season.

~ Have a very Merry Christmas everyone! And remember, it's not the PRESENTS that make the holiday times special - it's YOUR presence! ~