Christmas Traditions

I've filled out these email questions before, but saw them again on this blog this morning and thought it would be fun to put it out there and see what others might have to say...

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I've done both, but prefer wrapping paper because something is missing if you can't rip open a present

2. Real tree or Artificial? Probably artificial... you pay once and you have it for countless years and nowadays it's difficult to tell the difference between the two (with the exception of the pine smell). Plus my artificial one is pre-lit- wonderful!

3. When do you put up the tree? Typically within two weekends after Thanksgiving... mine went up this past Weds.

4. When do you take the tree down? Few days after New Years

5. Do you like eggnog? I'll have a couple of sips, but I'm not really into thick drinks. But, Eggnog Latte's from Peet's are my favorite!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? That's really hard...I have so many... probably Big Wheels and definitely when my parents bought a swingset for me.

7. Hardest person to buy for? Grandpa...always tells me not to buy him anything, but I can't do that :-)

9. Do you have a nativity scene? We have one in our home, but it's my sister's, so I guess, no, I don't have one.

10. Mail or email Christmas card? Mail...I prefer things being a little more personalized, but any Christmas wishes are appreciated

11.Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Never rec'd a bad gift. Unless you count those 'white elephant' games at Christmas parties, and in that case, I rec'd a CASSETTE tape of someone I've never heard of, playing songs I've never heard of on a piano

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Can't chose just one..."It's a Wonderful Life","A Christmas Story", "Nat'l Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" and all of the old school clay-mation movies (Rudolph, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, etc.)

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Beginning of November

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes, one time. I prefer not to because I'm always worried that I'll give it back to the person who gave it to me in the first place. I typically will donate them vs. re-gift.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Grandma's Sugar Cookies

16. Lights on the tree? Are you kidding me? Of course!

17. Favorite Christmas song? Can never pick just one... O Holy Night, All I Want for Christmas is You, I Wanna Hippopatamus for Christmas (I know- random, but it always puts a smile on my face)

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Depends on where my family is each Christmas

19. Can you name all 9 of Santa's reindeer's? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen & Rudolph... as long as you know the 'Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer' song, you're set

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

21. Open the presents Christmas eve or Christmas day? Both... it used to be that we'd go over to my Grandparents house and open all of their gifts to us on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning would be stockings, Santa's big gift and all of my parents presents

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? People caring more about a great deal than the person they are trampling over, in a rush, to get that great deal.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Santa, Reindeer, Snowman

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Prime rib, yorkshire pudding and all the fixin's

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Not a whole heck of a lot- I don't need anything... I always like receiving books.

Your turn!