(pilfered from
Kristy)
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Usually wrapping paper. I prefer to open wrapping paper and enjoy the art of making a present look pretty. There are some items that are oddly shaped that go in to sacks.
2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial and pre-lit
3. When do you put up the tree? Usually sometime soon after Thanksgiving. This year, the house was decorated the weekend before, except for the tree, which I think we did the week of Thanksgiving.
4. When do you take the tree down? usually after New Years. I think we did it earlier last year because we had the time due to the snow/ice. We usually enjoy the decorations for as long as possible!
5. Do you like eggnog? I really don't know if I have ever had it...if I have, it's been 15+ years ago.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? my hand-crafted dollhouse from my grandfather/mother. The gymnastics balance beam and mat. Trampoline.
7. Hardest person to buy for? Mom
8. Easiest person to buy for? usually the boys are easy at this stage. It's just limiting what we buy! This year I set a budget and did extremely well on everyone.
9. Do you have a nativity scene? just added them up in my head - we have four! Two are more for the kids, and then I have two beautiful, keepsake ones that are on display. Anna Lee and With Joy.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? I LOVE getting cards in the mail!
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? probably not going to put that on the blog.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? National Lampoon's just because I laugh at Jason laughing at the TV. I love most of the ABC Family and Hallmark ones each year.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I started probably early/mid November this year. Everything is wrapped below the tree now!
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? yes.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? seasonal sweets (fudge, sugar cookies, etc)
16. Lights on the tree (colored or clear)? I grew up with colored lights but the lights on our tree are clear.
17. Favorite Christmas song? anything Amy Grant
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? We take day trips during the season but because parents are close, we don't spend the night anywhere. 24th with entire maternal side of my family, and then the 25th with Jason's family. My immediate family is celebrating a week early; otherwise, there isn't a time we can all get together!
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Yep. Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder, Blitzen.
20. Angel, star or ribbon on top of tree? we have a star that is always crooked. I believe a star is important at the top - the Star of Bethlehem announcing His birth.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Santa is Christmas morning; everything else is at the time of the celebration with family.
22. Favorite children's Christmas song? Jingle Bells
23. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Xmas instead of Christmas. at least do Cmas. don't take the Christ out.
24. Favorite ornament theme or color? our tree has a variety of ornaments - those given as presents, those collected from trips, child-made treasures, and store-bought balls in colors of blue, red and purple.
25. Turkey or ham on Christmas day? Ham. but I'm not in charge of the menu on Christmas day.
26. What do you want for Christmas this year? I have no real wants this year.
27. Does anyone in your family dress up as Santa? No but when I was little, one of my grandparents' friends would dress up and come over every 24th to say hi to all the grandkids.
28. Age you discovered who Santa was? I think kindergarten. too early. I spent the whole day in my parents' room crying.
29. Eggnog, hot chocolate, or apple cider? Hot chocolate
30. Traditional colors (red and green) or other colors? Red, blue and green
31. Do you have any Christmas decorations on your roof? Christmas lights and then a white star
32. What is your favorite holiday treat? Everything. I'm not picky. :)
33. How does Santa get into your house? Chimney or magic key? Chimney
34. Do you prefer gifts or gift cards? depends on the giver, and the alternative gift.
35. Favorite children's Christmas Cartoon? we haven't watched many - even Rudolph is scary. I guess Polar Express is animated!
We had Hall family Christmas over the weekend since everyone has different plans for the actual holiday. Here's Grant trying out one of his new favorite toys - Marble Run (it appears that Jason is building it, but really, I am the one that got it working and his side... well, it kinda collapsed! :) ha. and he's reading this over my shoulder as I type which makes it even more fun to do so!).
The boys got matching OSU warm-ups! Grant was happy!
Kyle is ALL CARS! Wes got him a ferrari car. I don't think it has been out of his hands longer than 10 minutes since he got it. He also has two smaller Porsches which are right up there on his happiness scale.
As homeroom mom, I got to put together the gift baskets for the teachers. Here they are! Full of stuff the teachers like and gift cards to their favorite places. I think they liked them! It was hard to part with the Santa basket!
Both boys had a chance to shine on stage singing Christmas carols. Here is Grant at our church! Mr. Cool was all about dressing up for this one! He is a mini-Jason standing there with his hands in his pants.
Kyle at the preschool show. All of my pictures of this event just have him glowing with happiness. No nose-picking or loud singing this year - just smiles and singing normally.
Checking out the Chesapeake lights! Some nice man took our family photo!
Merry Christmas to you!!!!
Merry Christmas to you!!!!
