1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
I've always used paper… putting it off til Christmas Eve night to do it, then hating that I have to do it by myself because I waited so long. This year, since the kids are halfway through their teen years, whatever they don’t wrap will get put in gift bags or left out if it’s too big.
2. Real tree or Artificial?
Real! However, we’ve had some years where wer just couln’t afford a tree. Last year, the kids decorated the floor lamp for our tree, and about 4 years ago I used wooden crates (which turned out to be the prettiest ‘non-tree’ Christmas tree I’ve ever had).
3. When do you put up the tree decorations?
Growing up, it was always the day after Thanksgiving (which was NOT Black Friday back then!) And I’ve always tried to do the same since I started my own family. But it seems like every year I’m late for various reasons. Either we couln’t afford a tree yet, or because of moving, the decorations got lost… etc.
4. When do you take the tree down?
As late as I can get away with it! LOL I think the longest I think I’ve waited was til about the 3rd week of January.
5. Do you like eggnog?
Not really… that’s more my hubby and my brother’s thing.
6. Favorite gift received as a child?
”The Sunshine Family” dolls that my brother got me when I was about 7 or 8. I carried the baby around everywhere and even slept with it in my hand.
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child?
The only thing that stands out in my mind as a child was when I was really little, maybe between 4 and 6, we went to my cousin’s church for the Christmas Pageant and their ‘Mary’, for whatever reason, wasn’t there. I suddenly found myself standing in the basement of the church, wearing a little light blue dress with a white veil, and waiting in line to follow all the other kids upstairs to sit and hold the little baby doll Jesus in front of a crowd of people.. I remember that they were playing Christmas Carols, and our cue was “O, Little Town of Bethlehem” which (to my knowledge)I had never heard before that night. I felt so special to be Mary, but I was so scared because I was in front of so many people and din’t know what was going on.
8. Easiest person to buy for?
Both of the kids…. and neither of them! LOL While it’s hard to figure out what Jessi really wants, she appreciates anything I get her, even if it’s just a notebook and cute pen. And with Drew, all he wants are video games… which is an addiction I don’t like to feed, but it’s hard to find non-game things for him.
9. Do you have a nativity scene?
Yes, a small one. I cain’t find the really cute little “Precious Moments” type one I used to have.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Neither. I don’t do Christmas cards.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
I don’t remember any bad gifts.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
I don’t have a favorite Christmas movie. I pretty much like to watch new Christmas movies… anything I haven’t seen yet (or don’t remember), not the traditional stuff.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Until recently, I’d wait til the last week before Christmas. The last few years I’ve tried to hit a few places for Black Friday sales.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Not that I can remember… I’m always afraid that the person who gave it to me would expect to see it when they come to my house or say something about it months later.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
No favorite foods… I just really hate a big traditional dinner. I much prefer cold cuts and finger foods.
16. Lights on the tree?
I’ve always used colored lights. This year I used 300 colored and 200 white just to lighten it a little.
17. Favorite Christmas song?
Blue Christmas by Elvis
18. Travel for Christmas or stay home?
Christmas morning at our house with the kids, then across town to mom & dad’s in the early afternoon.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolph.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
I always use the angel that I crafted years ago… but this year she got ruined, so I had to remake her. Here’s the newest version.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Carrying on a tradition from my childhood, We let the kids open one on Christmas Eve then the rest Christmas morning.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
The attitudes people carry. We have lost sight of the true meaning of Christmas and the joy and happiness of the season.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color?
I really like Light Blue & White… and snowflake/snowmen for a theme.
24. Favorite Christmas dinner?
A few years ago when my sister came up from NM… we mostly had cold cuts and finger foods. That was the first (and only) time we could get mom to not make a big dinner.
25. What do you want for Christmas this year?
A 10” Galaxy Tab or a Kindle Fire, Silhouette Cameo, gift cards from Hobby Lobby, Sims 3 Pets (got it), and Michigan Wolverines Stuff.
A few extra traditions that we have….
On the night that we decorate the tree, I always put the Christmas music on and we all have hot chocolate and popcorn while I put the lights on, and then the kids help with the ornaments.
When the kids were really little, I started our own tradition quite by accident. One year I bought them each a fleece blanket, and the next year they wanted another one. Since then, I have bought them one every year, usually designed according to what they liked that year. They now have a whole stash of their own blanket throws!
Christmas Eve has a tradition that I have carried over from my childhood,. We have a really old record… the Little Golden Library story of the Birth of Christ. (For a few years now it has had a crack in it from the outside all the way in to the middle, but it still plays!)
So just about bedtime, we turn all the lights off, get cups of hot chocolate, get comfy and listen to the record. After it’s done, we flip the lights back on and the kids get to open one Christmas present. At first, it was whatever gift they could have that wouln’t keep them up another couple hours… then it kinda ended up that we’d give them their Christmas blanket.
