Merry Christmas Advent…ure (December 24th & 25th)

‘Cause when we’re together (when we’re together)
I’ll forever feel at home
And when we’re together (when we’re together)
We’ll be safe and warm
Doesn’t matter where we are
If you’re there with me
‘Cause when we’re together
That’s my favorite place to be

Anna & Elsa

Took a day off the focus on the family so this is a double up as we close out the Christmas weekend. For any and everyone who has followed along on this little musical journey, all I can say is thanks. The feedback has been wonderful and sincerely appreciated.

So as we all decompress from the dishes. As we all start shopping for off-house storage. As the kiddos bounce around fueled with brownies, and as the Elves are removed from shelves, I will share the last four songs of the 2023 Christmas mix.

When We’re Together by Idian Menzel(Elsa), Kristen Bell(Anna), Josh Gad(Olaf), Jonathan Groff(Kristoff)

What would a list be on a blog titled “ThisDadsLife” without some Disney/Pixar magic on the list? Don’t think for one-second ThisDad stays silent during the Frozen/Frozen II kiddo karaoke jams!

When this particular song comes on Chloe screams “THIS IS MY SONG”!

I pick her up and we dance.

From a holiday special and not the movies, still a Christmas favorite in our house. So Anna and Elsa make song 47 on the list.

Place In Your Heart (Lucy O’Connell, Brendan Mullins)

In between the nauseating hours of PJ Masks or Paw Patrol, there are occasionally rare gems that parents can enjoy along with the kiddos. While Bluey takes the gold, silver, and bronze in this category there is no song from that show to add to the list.

The two Angela’s Wish specials on Netflix are really solid and song 48 comes from the second installment.

Chose the video over Spotify for some context. The kids, Angeal, and her siblings are trying to get money to help their dad come home for Christmas. Set in 1913 Ireland the special hits several notes previously covered by ThisDad on the list.

Angela first tries a happy tune as that is her frame of reference for trying to cheer everyone up and get them to give her a donation for her dad to come home. The patrons are not having any of it.

Her brother, slightly older, starts a tune he knows from the town, but he probably still does not know the import.

This is not Pixar-level animation, but watch the older bearded gentleman mid-song as his lip wavers and the tear rolls down. As the children finish the song the older bearded patron says in a broken voice: “Dig deep boys. Dig deep”.

So good

It’s in Every One of Us (Terry Wetton Version)

This is a song that I first and only encountered as part of the Christmas Carol medley at the end of the Muppet Family Christmas special referenced on December 7. Watched that special tonight with the girls. When this song came up, just like I did nine years ago holding two-month-old Kate, I sang along with happy tears.

Took me several years to find a version of this song to really stand by and the above version is it. This is a 365 song for me. Not just Christmas, but it certainly means more this time of year. 

This song is the glowing embers of gratitude, the air in my lungs, the sunrise tomorrow.

My worst dad joke is maybe my favorite dad philosophy.

Kate & Chloe: “Dad, it’s present time”! (a.k.a. Time for PRESENTS)

Dad: “Girls, technically each moment we are in is (the) present time”.

Kate & Chloe: Tandem disappointed head shake. : )

This song reminds me to Be here. Be now. Be present. Everything I need is right in front of me if I just take the time to be in front of them.

Yesterday is history,

tomorrow is a mystery,

but today is a gift.

That is why it is called the present.

Oogway  (kung fu panda)

Auld Lang Syne (Andre Bird Version)

Maybe more to say about this tune at a later date but for tonight we will leave song 50 as the final song in my favorite movie.

“To my big brother George, the richest man in town”!

Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas!

Thank you so much for reading!

Main Photo by Emin B on Unsplash