Christmas Traditions

For all of the tags I have failed to respond to, I respond to THIS one, and invite anyone else to tag themselves for Christmas Traditions as well.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I love bags with colorful tissue paper, but am resigned to paper for now so the kids won’t peek.

2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial—my hubby isn’t home enough to depend on for help

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

4. When do you take the tree down? After New Years

5. Do you like eggnog? Yep, but in very small quantities

6. Favorite gift received as a child? I just remember I loved clothes-- I guess I do remember a homemade Barbie house my mom made when I was young as well.

7. Hardest person to buy for? My mom ( I actually love shopping for my Dad)

8. Easiest person to buy for? The kids, they tell me exactly what they want.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, I got one from my Grandma for my wedding (married on December 21) so it is really special.

10. Mail or email Christmas Cards? Snail mail for sure--one of the few things technology can't better is the old-fashioned Christmas card.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Strange sweaters from my mom (sorry mom)

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? It’s a Wonderful Life (my Dad watches it every Christmas, and when I was younger I didn’t understand why—now I totally relate to it)

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually in October

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No, but I’ve D.I.’d them before

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Reese’s peanut butter cups

16. Lights on tree? Yes, white ones.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Angels We Have Heard on High

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? After a now infamous blow-up (by me, in which I woke up the entire house--what can I say? I have a temper) on Christmas morning at my parent's house (early, early A.M. with a toddler who wouldn’t sleep well in the same room as me, well wouldn't sleep all night, to be frank), I would have to say I enjoy the comfort of my own bed, though we have hit St. George before without serious incident (not that D’s schedule ever accommodates that anymore).

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? OF COURSE!

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel

21. Open presents on Christmas Eve or morning? Morning, one on Christmas Eve

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Some of the sappy Christmas songs on the radio

23. Favorite Ornament theme or color? Every year I slowly add to my red, green and gold tree—it’s starting to look pretty fancy (dare I say I have a REALLY hard time putting those homemade ornaments from the kids on my tree)

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Spiral-sliced Ham

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? laser hair removal (hint, hint to the person who never reads this blog) and a new wallet

26. Favorite Christmas memory? Cousin gift exchange where we all wrote poems to go with our presents—very cute and fun—and then running around the house with cousins all night after that. I also LOVE singing with my Dad, Mom, and siblings (my brother has a voice like an angel—and I’m not kidding!)

27. Favorite Christmas cookie? sugar

28. Are you going to make any gifts this year? Just my Christmas Card--if I ever get it done. . . .

29. Newest Christmas tradition for your family? Caroling at the Hospital on Christmas Eve