Christmas Edition

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Depends on the shape of the gift and (don't laugh) what I've done with already wrapped gifts. I like a balance of boxes with bows and gift bags under my tree

2. Real tree or Artificial? I prefer real; the tradition of picking out that perfect one, getting it home, needles EVERYWHERE, that glorious smell.....sadly I was out-voted and we currently use an artificial tree. Hopefully when Gavin and any subsequent kids are old enough we'll have a few Christmases with a real one.

3. When do you put up the tree? As soon as Thanksgiving is over

4. When do you take the tree down? Usually around New Year's

5. Do you like eggnog? Nope

6. Favorite gift received as a child? What age range? 2 things: My Santa Bear when I was around 8 or so, who is sadly packed away because I have no where to put him and my Care Bear Kitchen set (4 years old I think??)

7. Hardest person to buy for? That person who already has everything (you know who you are!) ;)

8. Do you have a nativity scene? I do not and it PAINS me that I don't. I'm super picky though and decided I want the Willow Tree version which of course is not cheap. I'll probably start picking up a few pieces at a time though and spread out the buying process.

9. Mail or email Christmas cards? Snail mail, with pictures if I can

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Oooo. That's hard because I don't really dwell on any bad gifts (don't think I get that many). And if any were really that horrid I'd have returned them and forgotten about it

11. Favorite Christmas Movie? DUH!!!!! I'm not even going to respond to this question because anyone reading this should know and if not, well, suffice it to say I'm coming after you with a Red Ryder Carbine-Action 200 Shot Range Model Air Rifle.

12. When do you start shopping for Christmas? My goal is always year round but it doesn't work as well in action as it does in my head. So I usually try to focus on it about September/October

13. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Re-gifting is fabulous. If you don't like or use it, why keep it? Give it to someone else who would enjoy it!

14. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Those Christmas goodies that we only ever make once a year at this time

15. Lights on the tree? Of course!

16. Favorite Christmas song? That's a tough one....O Holy Night and O Come O Come Emmanuel

17. Travel at Christmas or stay home? I'm apparently in the minority here. I see no problem with traveling at Christmas because I want to be with my family. Sure I'd like to be in my home but I can't have the world and given the choice, I want to be surrounded by my family no matter where we are. Alas, I'm over-ruled for the moment here as well. We stay home for Christmas Eve/Day and then travel afterwards; family is more than welcome to come to our house if they like for the Eve/Day time.

18. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? Yes

19. Angel on the tree top or a star? I like stars...never found an angel I like but if I do I might get one and then switch it up each year

20. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas day? DAY

21. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? The stupid, mean mob mentality when it comes to gift shopping. Can you tell I despise Black Friday?

22. Favorite ornament theme or color? I like all manner of ornaments. Best ones have meaning....my first one which is a doll baby on a block or Gavin's hand print from last year, my blue car from the year I turned 16, my cats, the angel from the first girls I ever babysat.....they all have meaning

23. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Not too picky. Traditionally I've had ham but this year I'm doing beef tenderloin with a chocolate/rosemary rub.

24. What do you want for Christmas this year? Oh, all kinds of things...

25. What is your favorite Christmas memory? Honestly I can't really think of just one. I have that warm fuzzy glow when I think of all the Christmas' past. Discovering that kitchen set and realizing it was mine, seeing Santa Bear on the sled, Seth camped out by "his" wingback chair (now it really is his chair), waking up at 2 or 3 Christmas morning and sneaking out to raid our stockings, the one Christmas when Emma and I slept underneath my bed after eating waaaaay too much candy (yes, we're dorks), Uncle Rick, hobbling down my grandparents hallway Christmas morning on crutches cuz I broke my foot and finding the Jesus Freak cassette in my stocking, making Pigs in a Blanket in that awful old wall stove in Bowie.......memories are so rich. :)