Christmas Question & Answer

I thought about doing a Christmas Confessional, where I admit that I'm already over the scheduling Christmas entails and that I'm wishing I was going to get Jesus's birthday cake from Walmart instead of making the one I'm attempting.  But, I thought this would be a little more fun.

1. Eggnog or hot chocolate?
Hot chocolate...though I rarely fix it.  I did pick up some mix so that I could introduce Avery to it.  I liked eggnog as a child, I just haven't had it in forever and don't have a taste for it.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree?
Santa does not wrap.  At some point when everyone is older, he may start.  My parents did this for me, because when the days of cool toys are over, if it's not wrapped, the excitement comes and goes pretty quickly.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?
Our tree is pre-lit white.  When we've done outside lights on bushes, they've been white as well.  Avery will probably have a tree in her room next year, and I'll let her decide.

4. Do you hang mistletoe?
Nope.

5. When do you put decorations up?
We decorate the weekend after Thanksgiving.  It was a drawn-out process this year, though.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish?
I love dressing.  It's not necessarily my favorite, but it's something I only have at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child?
I have a ton.  Santa left a note on wrapping paper one year telling me he thought I was too young for a Nintendo, so he had chosen a special surprise for me.  It even had soot fingerprints on it.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
I don't remember.  I also don't remember telling my parents I didn't believe.  They were not the ones who broke the news.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
I did a few years, but it was not a tradition.  We haven't done that with Avery and probably won't.  I had thought about doing pajamas, but the Elf on the Shelf will be bringing those each year.

10. How do you decorate your tree?
I have a large collection of Hallmark ornanments along with ones we've picked up as we've travelled and ones we've been given.  On top of the tree, I have a tatted(?) angel that was my grandmother's and is the same that my parents have used since before I was born.

11. Snow! Love it or dread it?
I like the idea of snow, and I like when it results in snow days.  I dislike making the days up, and I don't drive in it, so after a day or so I'm ready for it to go.

12. Can you ice skate?
I've never tried.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
Again, there were, and still will be, many.  As a child, I wanted Barbie's motor home, which was evidently a hit that year.  My parents could not find one, and it was the only thing I asked for.  Our neighbor's daughter finally found one on Christmas Eve that someone had not picked up from layaway.

14. What's the most important thing about the holidays for you?
Remembering the reason for the day and spending time with family.

15.What is your favorite holiday dessert?
I am a fan of most desserts, and we usually change it up each year.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
All of our traditions are favorites.

17. What tops your tree?
See above.

18. Which do you prefer: giving or receiving?
These days, giving.  My list for myself was so boring this year that Ned refused to use it.  The gifts are not what makes the holidays or the reason for them, but I'm thankful that we are able to give special gifts to our friends and family.  I am most excited about this Christmas with Avery.  She is not getting a ton, but she will be thrilled with what she does receive.

19. Candy canes: yuck or yum?
I'm not a mint person so they've never been something I ate a lot of .

20. Favorite Christmas show?
I love Christmas Vacation, Home Alone 1 & 2, both Miracle on 34th Street movies, Elf, It's a Wonderful Life, and for TV I love Charlie Brown, The Grinch, and Frosty the Snowman.

21. Saddest Christmas song?
I think an instrumental version of The First Noel sounds so sad.  Really beautiful, but sad.



Jingle Bells could be sad this year, and I'm slightly worried that I could cry right through Christmas.

22. What's your favorite Christmas song?
This is an all-time favorite.



And this became a favorite 3 Christmas ago when it took Avery a week to decide to make an appearance on our 2nd ultrasound.  I know it's not about my children, but I'm good for tears at least the first ten times I listen to it each year.