Christmas Fun

I was tagged.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper

2. Real or artificial tree? I think I have had one real tree in my life. John's allergic, so pre-lit is it!

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

4. When do you take the tree down? When we feel like it. I like it down before New Year's, but it will be later this year.

5. Do you like eggnog? No

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Probably the best was Mitzi, the was our Sheltie. She definitely was the gift that was played with for years after Christmas. Gifts that were eventually put away, to name a few, were a bike, She-Ra Princess of Power Castle, Teddy Ruxpin, and a Cabbage Patch Doll or two.

7. Do you have a nativity scene? I have a small collection, but my favorite, by far, is the Willow Tree. Unfortunately, since I have received it I have not put it out because we haven't been at home for Christmas.

8. Hardest person to buy for? Probably my mom. I always want to get it all for her, but I have to limit myself!

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? House shoes instead of pajamas one year! (hee hee)

11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? The Nativity Story

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually after Thanksgiving because I am slack, but NEVER the day after Thanksgiving! I am putting up the tree.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Not that I am aware of.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Growing up on Christmas Eve we would have appetizers instead of a big meal. It's yummy party food!

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? clear

17. Favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night. My favorite Christmas CD is Selah's Rose of Bethlehem

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? We usually travel home to see family, unless I was 8 months pregnant with Little E.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Rudolph, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, and Vixen--I think that's right. I just read the story the other day to Little E.

20. What's on the tree top? An angel ornament.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning? We get to open one on Christmas Eve and everything else Christmas morning (which this year is Christmas Eve--it's all a day early this year!)

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Traffic and number of people shopping.

23. Do you decorate your tree in any specific theme or color? "Traditional" is that a type? I have an assortment of ornaments that I have had since I was born. Each year I got one ornament and when Daddy and I got married those ornaments were given to me to decorate our first tree.

24. What do/did you leave for Santa? Cookies and milk. Or a Little Debbie Christmas Tree cake

25. What were any traditions you had growing up? Any that you do as an adult now? Christmas Eve is spent with Mimi's family. Dinner, reading of Luke 2, and presents. Later that evening we open one present--pajamas. When we were little we would stay up and watch the news to see Santa flying over on the radar! Then off to bed because he was in the area!
Christmas morning Mimi always had a game for us to play. It slows down the morning (it takes over 3 hours to open gifts!) so we can all enjoy it and see what everyone gets. In years past we have then headed up to Grandma's for Christmas lunch and then gifts and stockings. This year will be hard...(I can't even type). We are going to my aunts house this year. My grandma had already purchased all the Christmas gifts, but none are labeled. We will be playing a Chinese type gift exchange with those gifts--as least that is last I heard. I am sure there will be stories to tell.
Christmas evening, at least the last few years, we have had such a long game on Christmas morning we have saved the stockings until that night.
This year things all around will be different. Brother is now married and in order to spend time with him, we are having Christmas on Christmas Eve.
Daddy's family is super flexible! I cannot tell you how blessed I am to have married into this family! (and not just for Christmas). This year we picked the one day we could all be together to eat and let the kids open their gifts. Bec and fam have "Christmas at the Stable." We were able to go last year and it was so neat. We went out to their barn--with donkeys, chickens, goats, cows, a horse, and lots of hay. It's dark and the twinkle lights are on. Jess recited Luke 2 and then we sang and celebrated His birth! It was humbling to know that that was were our Savior was born! (Especially when I was holding my baby.) I am bummed we will not be able to go this year.
As for what to do now...that is an ongoing topic and we never answer. Too hard to consider not doing what we have been doing for the past 7 years.

For other questions you can see another questionnaire that I did last year. And consider yourself tagged!