Christmas Meme

The last few days have been a blur as we said our final goodbyes to my grandfather....hard times. )-:

But as we start getting in the swing of things again, I figured I would start with a Christmas Meme. Something easy.... I really should be christmas shopping or christmas decorating, but a meme just requires a whole lot less energy, and that suits me just about now.

So here we go....

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Wrapping paper. I prefer wrapping paper, and I always make sure all kids that I give to have wrapping paper. Some adults I cheat and use gift bags though. There are a lot of cute ones out there, and it does make things easier!

2. Real tree or Artificial?
Definately a real tree...I love the whole experience of getting a tree with my family, and I also love the smell of a freshly cut tree. We always got real trees growing up so I guess it makes me partial to it.

3. When do you put up the tree?
Since we get a live tree, we wait till mid December usually. We'll probably get our tree this weekend since all the family will be together. When we go, my parents, and my brother with his family usually all go at once and make it a "family" event. It is always a lot of fun. This year we might try Lowes instead of the tree farm we usually go to, but trust me, I am sure it will still be an adventure no matter where we go. LOL

4. When do you take the tree down?
We wait till New Years Day unless the tree becomes a fire hazard. I always was told that it is bad luck to put your tree up before Thanksgiving or take it down before New Years....I don't need to tempt fate.

5. Do you like Eggnog?
Not so much, but Fred and the boys love it! The boys like to make it with my mom...well, I am sure they like drinking it much more than they like making it. I should try it again this year cause I honestly haven't tasted it since I was a kid.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
Hmmm...I have a couple. I guess the best gift was the year that my dad got me and my brother each a go-cart. We had opened all our gifts, and I kept wandering to the door not even seeing the go-carts out on the lawn. My brother and I were shocked. I hear that is one of my dad's favorite christmases too. We had so much fun with those go-carts.

7. Hardest person to buy for?
My mom is extremely hard to buy for....she buys whatever she needs and she never wants us to get her anything so we have to really work hard to figure out something for her.

8. Easiest person to buy for?
My daughter is probably the easiest cause she is only 2, and she is pretty happy with whatever she gets. I can't wait to see her face this christmas, she is so excited already!

9. Do you have a nativity scene?
No, I don't have one, but I want one. I have a couple ideas floating in my head to make one, but I doubt I will ever get the time. )-:

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Mail...I find it to be more personable. I am not into email cards, but if I wait till last minute, I might have to be. LOL

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
This is a good one. My grandmom-in-law gave me the most ridiculous looking ghetto reindeer. It is really scary looking and I am usually good at hiding my disappointment in a gift, but I didn't do so well with that one. But I have to say that it turned into one of the best gifts. We have had such a good time with that reindeer, he has often been the life of the party. My brother in law named him Willy, and he is truly a gift that keeps on giving. We tried to seatbelt him in my mother in law's car when she went back to Virginia, but he keeps finding his way home again.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
Hmmm. I love the Santa Clause movies with Tim Allen. I love Miracle on 34th street and It's a Wonderful life. I also love to see Frosty and Rudolph every year!

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
This year I started when I was yardsaling which was probably late summer...sometimes I have found brand new things to put away for my daughters presents. Money is tight people! But honestly I am not as far done as I would like to be, but I am getting close to be done.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Yes.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
My paternal grandmom's snowball cookies, I'll post her recipe if I find it. My maternal grandmom's donuts...they are so freaking good and she only makes them at Christmas! Rum cake that I make every year in my Williams and Sonoma snowflake pan...it is so rich and yummy! Fondue - we always try to have a little fondue gathering with our kids and their cousin. Creme puffs...the list just goes on and on, and as you can tell, I am all about the sweet stuff.

16. Lights on the tree?
Yes...doesn't everybody? I just went to a yuletide tour and one of the houses had candles on their tree. They only light them the one time, I thought it was pretty neat, but I can't chance that my tree and house would burn down...plus I have a two year old. Just thought it was neat, the guy was from Denmark and it was interesting to hear his customs...plus they served cookies that tasted like my pie tarts, and I am a sucker for sweet things.

17. Favorite Christmas song?
I love the classics. I guess I would be partial to "I'm dreaming of a White Christmas", "O, Holy Night", Silver Bells, and "I'll be home for Christmas". My mom's family always sings christmas carols, and it is one of my favorite childhood memories. My grandfather would play the organ, and we would all sing. My grandfather had a stroke last year so he doesn't really play the organ anymore, but I am sure there will still be a lot of singing. It is just what we do. (-:

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
STAY HOME. However, I do have a dream of being in the mountains in a little cabin tucked away for Christmas. I think it would be a lot of fun, but as long as my grandparents are around, we'll definately be home for the holidays....plus I get to see a lot of relatives from all around, and I love that!

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer?
Well, I was just reading a book to my daughter about them so I think I can right now...but probably not without singing the song.

20. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
We open presents the weekend before, christmas eve, christmas day and usually even the weekend after christmas. That's what happens when you come from two large families - both my mom and dad's families are large, have a stepson who also has other places to go, and in laws to visit. It becomes less about Christmas Day and more about Christmas week because our week is pretty much visiting people and celebrating.

21. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
The top of my list is getting bad news, I know for the last three years, we have gotten bad news. The year my daughter was born, my dear aunt passed away from Mutiple Melomna Dec. 23rd.... my daughter's second christmas, my grandfather had a stroke, and I became devoted to taking care of my grandmom..... and this Christmas my other beloved grandfather passed away from Multiple Melomna. Oh, and did I mention that one Christmas Eve I found out my grandmom had breast cancer? That was shocking, but she beat it!

22. Favorite ornament theme or color?
I love simple homemade ornaments...things my kids made or even things I have made. I used to do a lot of crafts with my grandmom and so I have a few of those homemade ornaments on the tree along with my kids stuff. I would love to have a couple trees, but my house is a little small for that. My daughter wants a small tree in her room so I think I am going to put one up in her room and make it horse themed with a bandana garland.

23. What do you want for Christmas this year?
I really don't want anything but to spend it with my family and that everybody is happy and healthy...it is going to be hard to be happy with my grandfather being gone...but I'll try to do my best for the kids.

24. Angel on the tree top or a star?
Homemade star. I cut a very simple star out of a cereal box, and cover it with aluminum foil as our tree topper. When my hubby and I first got together, we didn't have money for a tree topper so I made that, and I have been doing it ever since. I think it drives my mom crazy that I don't have an angel, but I am perfectly content with my silver star.

25. Favorite Christmas dinner?
Turkey with stuffing, mashed potatos, ham with tomato gravy, coleslaw, rolls, corn, lima beans and peas...we do a breakfast smorgasboard at my brothers house christmas morning, and that is always yummy too!

So there is my first meme.....