but the nostalgia and smiles did as they do every year. I think our favorite moment of It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown is when Charlie Brown is just finishing up raking leaves into a pile. Snoopy encounters a leaf falling to the ground, but keeps it in the air by blowing on it. He blows that leave over to the pile and Charlie Brown says, "Thanks old pal." Then Linus with let sucker in hand, runs and jumps into the pile. Leave go everywhere and Linus is left there with a leaf covered sucker and leaves stuck around his sucker-sticky mouth. Linus gives the sage advice, "Never jump into a pile of leaves with a wet sucker."
The Thanksgiving DVD is up next in our house. There are so many enjoyable moments in the Thanksgiving program. One of these moments is when Snoopy and Woodstock are tasked with getting the chairs and table set up in the yard. Snoopy ends up in a scuffle with one the lawn chairs. This is very relatable if you have ever had to mess around getting the old lawn chairs unfolded, but when the chair takes on human characteristics and boxes with Snoopy, that is when things become quite 
humorous. I think my favorite moment is when Snoopy and Woodstock are dressed in traditional pilgrim outfits and report for cooking duty in the house. When Charlie Brown opens the door, and Snoopy leads the march into the house, Snoopy is carrying a pop gun rifle as part of his costume. This pop gun has a cork with string attached to the gun. Snoopy and Woodstock come to a halt in the kitchen and Snoopy takes the pop gun off his shoulder and places the stock on the ground setting off the pop gun and sending the cork into the air. The string keeps the cork from getting too far and causing it to bounce about eventually knocking Snoopy silly when it smacks him on top of the head. Charlie Brown remarks that this is no time to be messing around. I just find that moment to have lots of character and the slapstick humor just hits home for me.
humorous. I think my favorite moment is when Snoopy and Woodstock are dressed in traditional pilgrim outfits and report for cooking duty in the house. When Charlie Brown opens the door, and Snoopy leads the march into the house, Snoopy is carrying a pop gun rifle as part of his costume. This pop gun has a cork with string attached to the gun. Snoopy and Woodstock come to a halt in the kitchen and Snoopy takes the pop gun off his shoulder and places the stock on the ground setting off the pop gun and sending the cork into the air. The string keeps the cork from getting too far and causing it to bounce about eventually knocking Snoopy silly when it smacks him on top of the head. Charlie Brown remarks that this is no time to be messing around. I just find that moment to have lots of character and the slapstick humor just hits home for me.
When Thanksgiving wraps up, it is time for the final DVD to rise to the top, A Charlie Brown Christmas. While there are some humorous moments in this program, to me this program is all about the nostalgia
of Christmastime and the message that Linus delivers at the end. "That is what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown," Linus explains at the end of this speech to the cast of characters. Charlie Brown is inspired by Linus's speech and takes his weepy little tree home with the thought that no one will ruin the spirit of Christmas for him. When he decorates his tree with one single ornament, the tree droops over which is the final straw of disappointment for Charlie Brown. He walks into his house when all of his friends show up to see the droopy tree. Regardless of all the criticizing the cast has done to Charlie Brown, they build the tree up with decorations. Charlie Brown comes out and to his astonishment, his little tree is standing proud with Christmas decorations. Then Charlie Brown and the cast break out into song with Hark the Herald Angels Sing. It is an amazing display of Christmas and the Christmas Spirit. While it takes second in my ranking of the shows, A Charlie Brown Christmas definietly does what it sets out to do.
of Christmastime and the message that Linus delivers at the end. "That is what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown," Linus explains at the end of this speech to the cast of characters. Charlie Brown is inspired by Linus's speech and takes his weepy little tree home with the thought that no one will ruin the spirit of Christmas for him. When he decorates his tree with one single ornament, the tree droops over which is the final straw of disappointment for Charlie Brown. He walks into his house when all of his friends show up to see the droopy tree. Regardless of all the criticizing the cast has done to Charlie Brown, they build the tree up with decorations. Charlie Brown comes out and to his astonishment, his little tree is standing proud with Christmas decorations. Then Charlie Brown and the cast break out into song with Hark the Herald Angels Sing. It is an amazing display of Christmas and the Christmas Spirit. While it takes second in my ranking of the shows, A Charlie Brown Christmas definietly does what it sets out to do.
I know there are many other Peanuts holiday programs, but these original three from the 1960's are by far the best in my mind. I hope they are a part of your family's tradition, but if they aren't, it is never too late to begin a new tradition. My kids are both teenagers now, but it is a tradtion still going strong and I have no doubt when they, someday, have families of their own, they will continue the tradition. I know my wife and I will continue to watch even when my kids are gone from our home.
