I got tagged by Sara Walker Howe! And it's a good one for getting into the Christmas spirit (which I need a little of--it's frigging -15 F here this morning!!!
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Eggnog. Used to be hot chocolate all the way, but lately it's been too...sweet for me. Actually I really like eggnog lattes.
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree? Almost everything is wrapped, unless it's a huge unwrappable present, like a playhouse. Only a few things are actually marked from Santa, though. The rest are from Mommy, Daddy, Mommy & Daddy, Mommy Cat...
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? No lights on the house, but colored twinkly lights on the tree. I have fond memories of the big ones, but we use the little mini-bulbs.
4. Do you hang mistletoe? Nope. Does anybody? :)
5. When do you put your decorations up? It has to be after Thanksgiving. Usually sometime around the first of December so Child can start the advent calendar/tree on time. But this year she really really wanted them up last weekend, so up they went.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish? English toffee. It's something my mom made every year, only at Christmas, and I do the same. Now I have to make two batches because people like it so well they want more every year.
7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child: Stockings. I LOVE stockings; they're my favorite part. When I was 10 or so my brother and I decided to give stockings to our parents too, and that tradition has stuck. So everybody gets stockings Christmas morning, and we all open them up together.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I was 5, and the neighbor across the street--Sally Civitanich, told me. I was standing in front of our fireplace; I remember the moment. I was heartbroken.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? No. We hoard everything until Christmas morning.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? Eclectic. Lights go on first, then a few beads and paper chains, and the star on top. Then we hang the zillions of ornaments. Hubby and I used to collect funky ones from CostPlus and such, so we have chili peppers, tigers, chickens, cats, santas shaped like moons...you name it. Plus a bunch from my childhood and his, and quite a few that we all made together.
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? I'll echo Sara here. I love it for the first 2 months or so, and then I'm done. Sadly we have snow for at least 5 months.
12. Can you ice skate? Not yet. I'm still working on skiing. (Hey, I'm a California girl, transplanted.)
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? Not really. I remember the process more than the presents.
14. What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Family time, relaxing together. The songs, the candles, the food, the atmosphere. Holidays make me happy.
15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? English toffee, above. Also Holiday fudge and my new addition, sugared pecans.
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Opening our stockings together, while listening to Christmas music and drinking coffee. Watching Child enjoy Christmas.
17. What tops your tree? A frosted star.
18. Which do you prefer: giving or receiving? Giving. I love to see Hubby and Child's reactions.
19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? O Holy Night. Just like Sara, I actually get chills with this one! Always.
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? Eh. I like 'em better for hanging on the tree.
I tag...let's see...Cindy and Diana Peterfreund. Have at it, and Happy Holidays!
Five? Ouch! I mean geez... ouch.
ReplyDeleteMy eldest has been asking, but I keep telling him if he doesn't believe, don't put out the stocking and see what happens. Learned this trick from Pam. Worked great. Right up until the neighbour's kid told him there was no Santa, and my husband backed him up. So now we've recruited eldest for our little elf.
No lights on the house? Sup with that?
This is good fun! Thanks for playing! Usually this time of year overwhelms me with stress and I want it to all go away, but now I'm getting excited.
Sara:
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry that you usually feel stressed! This is my absolute favorite time of year.
This year, after finals are over. {g}
Found your blog when looking for English toffee - something MY grandmother also made every Christmas . . . I miss it! Do you have a recipe you could post, or is that secret?
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