Blogmas December 5th

Advent Activities - Watch a Christmas Movie

This activity was intentionally planned for a Friday, as it is our official family movie night, complete with popcorn and all the little perks that come with it. It’s one of the traditions that excites the girls the most, and today was absolutely no exception.

For the first Friday of December, the plan was to choose a Christmas movie — and they were in charge. Since they loved Home Alone 1 so much, they unanimously voted for the second one. And honestly, who was I to say no? For many people, watching Home Alone 2 is a Christmas tradition, but for me it had been so long that it truly felt like a special treat. The only downside? I had to watch it in French. And the title still gets me every time: “Maman, j’ai encore raté l’avion.” No comment.

Watching childhood movies as an adult is such a different experience. A few years ago in New York, a friend who is a die-hard fan of the movie dragged me inside the Plaza Hotel. I remember finding it surprisingly shabby — without the chic — a slightly chaotic version of French elegance, crowded with decorative details that made little sense. Well, they do if you think who the owner is. I hadn’t noticed any of that as a child, but seeing it again in the movie brought back those exact impressions from my trip.

On the other hand, I completely fell in love with Kevin’s uncle’s house — that classic New York townhouse architecture that I adore. Even under construction, it looked absolutely stunning.

Meanwhile, the girls laughed just as hard as they did with the first movie. I, however, found myself reacting very differently this time around — mostly wincing at every painful prank and seriously wondering how the burglars survived at all. Parenthood definitely changes your perspective on slapstick humor.

In the end, these simple family traditions are often the ones that create the strongest memories, and this movie night is already marked as a favorite in our December moments.