I've Been Tagged!

I was so excited when Kristen from Over the Backyard Fence tagged me for this meme, because I LOVE Christmas!

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
For me…definitely Hot Chocolate or better still…I’ll venture into Starbucks for a Caramel Apple Spice! What a treat! (To coin a phrase from my hubby..."It’s Christmas in your mouth!")

2.Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
Definitely wrapped under the tree. Trying to guess the gift is always part of the fun.

3. Colored lights on house/tree or white?
Both. We have little trees all throughout our house with white lights, but our main tree has colored lights. Outside, we also have both…white icicle lights along the roofline, colored lights almost everywhere else.

4. Do you hang mistletoe?
Haven’t yet…thanks for the reminder!

5.When do you put your decorations up?
Many years ago, I was selling baskets and pottery, so I decorated my house in October for a Christmas open house. That was the same year we started hosting Thanksgiving for Tom’s family. They enjoyed it so much (especially the older relatives) that we've been decorating early ever since. We usually start the first weekend of November so that we finish by Thanksgiving. I know some cringe at the thought, but for us it works and in no way minimizes our emphasis on Thanksgiving. In addition, because the house is ready, it allows for a much calmer, quieter Christmas season, too.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
I would have to say probably my Mom’s warm potato salad or her homemade macaroni and cheese.

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child?
Going to church and returning home on Christmas Eve to find our gifts already under the tree. We opened our gifts that night, because the following day was always spent at my grandparents house about an hour away. We always got to stay up late playing with our new toys and games. Christmas Day was so much fun, so many people packed into my grandparents little house. It was one of the few times each year I got to see my extended family.

8.When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
I think it was 3rd grade. We were roller skating in our basement and I rolled into something unfamiliar covered with a blanket. It was sometime in the fall. I thought, hmmm…what’s this? I peeked under the blanket and saw new toys and games. I instantly realized what I had found. I think I probably suspected it before, but didn’t want to believe it. Of course, I kept mum so I didn’t ruin it for my siblings.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
Yes. After Christmas Eve service, we celebrate with Tom’s family at his sister Nancy’s house. It’s a beautiful log cabin with a stone fireplace. Perfect and homey.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
Traditional Hodge Podge. Each one is precious and represents a memory or story. Everything from very old antique ornaments that belonged to Tom’s grandparents, to those Tom and I had growing up, hand-made creations by Brennan and those collected every year since we were married in '84. We also use berry pics throughout. Sometimes, Tom even carefully “dusts” it with snowflakes. Gorgeous.

11. Snow. Love it or dread it?
I love, love, love the way it looks, but I really don’t like driving in it.

12. Can you ice skate?
Definitely not.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
Wow, it’s very hard to pinpoint one thing. I have several that stand out…my Chrissy doll, my doll bed (hand-made by my Dad), my Barbie townhouse or my Hollie Hobbie purse.

14. What is the most important thing about the holidays to you?
Time spend together as a family, reliving old memories and making new ones. Getting together with friends. The quiet reflection of our Savior’s birth amidst the busy-ness.

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?
This is a three way tie…pumpkin bread, pumpkin roll and baklava.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
Cannot possibly choose only one. Decorating the house, writing out Christmas cards, Christmas music, spending time with family, baking, singing Christmas carols at church, watching Christmas movies, attending Christmas Eve service…

17. What tops your Christmas tree?
We actually have nothing on the tippy top. That’s where the oldest, tiny ornaments hang from Tom’s grandparents.

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving?
Both are fun, but I especially enjoy giving. I love the thought that goes into choosing a gift, then the excitement of getting the gift, and the absolute best…seeing the joy of the recipient.

19. What is your favorite Christmas song?
SO many…I could go on for days on this one. How about my top 5? First is undoubtedly O Holy Night, then O Come O Come Emmanuel, Carol of the Bells, Christmas is all in the Heart, a little known song by Avalon called We are the Reason, It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, The Christmas Song, oops, that’s more than 5… = )

20. Candy Canes. Yum or Yuck?
Yum!

21. What do you want for Christmas?
Having my son home for college...that's the best gift of all!

22. Do you attend an annual Christmas party?
Not usually. Our firm holds their holiday party in early November (before the rush), but we truly aren’t party people. We do love open house parties with friends.

23. Do you dress up for Christmas Eve or wear PJ's?
Usually a Christmas sweater and dress pants.

24. Do you own a Santa hat.
Hmmmm…I don’t, but my hubby does. ; )

25. Who do you normally spend Christmas with?
Christmas Eve w/Tom’s side of the family... Christmas morning w/Brennan at our house, Christmas Day w/my family at my parents, then Christmas night (after dinner), we go back to Tom’s parent’s house.


Now I get to tag 5 people:
Cheryl at Hope for Each Day
Cindy at 12 Arrows
Lynn at Somewhere in the Middle
Natalie at Married to the Preacher
Tiffany at Tea with Tiffany


Here are the rules:
1. Post the rules on your blog.
2. Fill out the questions.
3. Tag 5-7 people at the end of your post.
4. Pass on the tag!