Get in the Christmas Spirit!
Allison at A Slice of Heaven had this cute meme up last week and I made a mental note to play along later. Since I am now sick and not at all creative, this is the perfect fodder for easy blogging. And it’s fun!
So without further ado, here are our holiday traditions (I know you’ve been dying to know):
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper hands down. I get an abnormal amount of satisfaction from selecting just the right one and carefully wrapping every package. Coordinating wrap every year, double faced tape to ensure the perfect finish, and handmade to/from cards to match. In recent years I’ve abandoned the too-expensive custom of using fancy wired ribbon as well. Three kids to buy for now, so something’s gotta give.
2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial. No way I’d deal with the mess of a real tree.
3. When do you put up the tree? As soon as possible! It used to always be the day after Thanksgiving, but lately I’ve been moving it up a week or two.
4. When do you take the tree down? After New Year’s and before Lilly’s bday on January 7th.
5. Do you like eggnog? Never tried it – the name sounds gross.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Mickey Mouse rollercoaster.
7. Hardest person to buy for? Pretty much all the men on our shopping list, but my husband’s uncle is probably the worst.
8. Easiest person to buy for? Annie
9. Do you have a nativity scene? We have two – a ceramic grown-up one, and a plastic Little People one. I confess to preferring the Little People version.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? People email cards, seriously? I mail a photo card with the kids pictures – never ours. I love to receive pictures of my friends though, so I probably should do better about that myself. Maybe next year.
11.Worst Christmas gift you ever received? ha! Hard to narrow down just one, but it would definitely be the clearance Christmas ‘snubs’ that are the worst. Not because of their price tag of course, but because of the not-too-subtle “You are not part of this family” message that they convey.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? It’s a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Story, depending on my mood.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Um…the day after Christmas? Seriously I shop all year, and am always completely done before Thanksgiving. I don’t like battling the crowds.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Absolutely! Glitter sweaters are sure to be sent straight to Goodwill, FYI. Don’t even bother sending me one, just send the $ straight to charity please. (Oh wait, regifting? No, I don’t think I’ve done that. If I don’t like it, I doubt anyone else I know would. But I just might sell it!)
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Stuffed mushrooms
16. Lights on the tree? Yes – but only white ones. And never flashing. Never.
17. Favorite Christmas song? That’s harder than I would have thought, since I love them all…and listen to Christmas music year-round. A few non-traditionals that come to mind are James Penguin by Brad Paisley, I Pray on Christmas and What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve by Harry Connick, Jr, Emanuel, God With Us by Amy Grant, and Jesus What A Wonderful Child by Mariah Carey.
19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer’s? Yes…but more than anything, I’m troubled by the grammar here. “reindeer’s,” really? That stings.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Neither – we have a bow. Not too fond of it really, but I’ve never found just the right topper, so this remains for now.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning of course. Christmas Eve is just wrong. How would Santa even pull that off?
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? The attitude of people in stores doing their Christmas shopping. It seems a few people have forgotten that Jesus is the Reason for the Season. Jingle, Jingle, Jingle Ka-Ching!
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Our tree has copper, burgundy, plum and gold elements on it. I’m big on coordination, so again this is an area where I’m probably too picky to buy for. Unless you’ve seen my tree, please don’t buy me an ornament. I have so many beautiful ones that I don’t know what to do with, because they don’t match my trees. I can’t take that guilt.
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Christmas day dinner is really not a big deal to me. Christmas Eve appetizers and Christmas morning breakfast both far outshine the day meal.
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Nothing. Sounds strange I’m sure, but I really don’t want much, and when I do I just buy it. I’m not into jewelry or purses or clothes, shoes I’d have to try on, and cool stuff like a new embroidery machine is too pricey. Photography books might be nice, but I have no time to read them anyway.
Tag you’re it! Go ahead, copy the questions, answer them on your blog and give me the link in the comments section and I will come and visit and read about your holiday faves!
By Allison, December 2, 2008 @ 7:09 am
Thanks for the shout out! I had fun reading your list! I hope you had fun answering (oh, and btw, I just copied and pasted the questions…it was not me that did the grammar error, even though I would have to say, I didn’t catch it)
I hope you are feeling better.
By Darcie, December 2, 2008 @ 1:03 pm
You just confirmed again that we really were meant to be sisters.
I’m right there with you on most of what you said (minus the Harry Connick Jr. part of course!).
#11. AMEN!
By Threeundertwo, December 3, 2008 @ 11:48 am
Ohmigosh – are we twins? Except for the mushroom thing, I don’t care for mushrooms.
I love this meme! I’m going to do it this week I think.
By Julie From Inmates, December 7, 2008 @ 9:40 pm
Cute list… I’ve got to say that you had me right with you until the no purses, shoes thing. I’ve added you to my blogroll. =)