Christmas Questions

I got tagged by my friend Sherry...read to the end to see if you've been tagged by me!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper… but I go for the cheap kind.

2. Real tree or Artificial? Growing up, we had an artificial tree until High school, when we switched (probably at the suggestion of my littlest sister, Michele). I have been a die hard Real tree person ever since. The kids each have their own little artificial trees for their rooms, but the main tree is real. I love the smell.

3. When do you put up the tree? The day after Thanksgiving.

4. When do you take the tree down? New Year’s day, or shortly after.

5. Do you like eggnog? Yum! It can be with or without alcohol. I just don’t like it to be super sweet. When I was a child, we made our own eggnog, before the recommendations around consuming raw eggs came out. [never got sick, ever!].

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Hmmm, I really don’t remember.

7. Hardest person to buy for? Usually my parents.

8. Easiest person to buy for? The kids – they start hinting at what they want early on.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, we stage it on the piano.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail, and this reminds me that I need to create our Christmas card like now!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Again, I really don’t remember.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? I find myself more drawn to “It’s a Wonderful Life" these days. Scott would say "Jingle All the Way" because he loves those types of movies.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Right after Thanksgiving. I take a day off from work early in December and get most of it done then.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Sure – sometimes we receive duplicates, which we can regift – easier than returning.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Lots – special cookies, treats from friends, Hickory Farms treats, homemade chex mix, etc. I am getting hungry thinking about it all.

16. Lights on the tree? We use small white and some colored lights. Some flash, some don’t – no fancy timed / strobe lights.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Traditional – O Holy Night. Non traditional – Breath of Heaven (Mary’s Song) by Amy Grant.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay at home? We stay at home now. Before we had kids, we would travel. Just not worth it.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeers? Yes, but I have to sing through them to remember!

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? We have an Angel, she was a gift from my mother.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? We choose a gift for the kids to open on Christmas Eve (it might be a family board game). The kids open their stockings the first thing Christmas morning (usually pre-7am), and then we hit the gifts under the tree.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? The long lines at all of the stores. Probably why I do most of my shopping on-line now. I also don’t like the commercialization of Christmas, how the “Christ” part of “Christ”mas is being replaced.

23. What theme or color are you using? Pretty traditional red and green, although the hues might be considered more burgundy and evergreen.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? I purchase a honey glazed ham, but my personal favorite is the homemade macaroni and cheese – three types of cheeses, very creamy and fattening.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? I always struggle with this, because I really don’t need anything and I don’t like for folks to spend lots of money on me. I have been eyeing a nice fountain pen and moleskine notebook. Yeah, I want more camera equipment, but I don’t expect that for Christmas.

I am going to tag…… Lee, Lisa and Cathy!