It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year!

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

1.Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Egg Nog. I buy the creamer, I go to Braum's for the ice cream, McD's has the best shakes - well, they're tied with Sonic - can't get enough. Hot chocolate? You can have that anytime.

2.Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Under another tree - "Oh! Look what I just found in the basement!! Santa must have dropped this on his way out!"

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? Hey, I'd take either. But I think we're gonna look for some green ones on clearance after Christmas this year. J and I both agree that they are our favorite.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? Nope. It's hard enough to keep up with all the invisible mistletoe J seems to see everywhere.

5. When do you put your decorations up? The week of Thanksgiving...usually the Monday or Tuesday before Thanksgiving. It was challenging this year, though. I don't know where anything goes. So I actually (almost) finished today - a week after Thanksgiving.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Probably Granny Fancy's perfect mashed potatoes smothered in big, fat Reames noodles accompanied by homemade bread. Go carbs!

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child: Too many to list, but playing Christmas music duets - particularly "Here Comes Santa Claus" - with my Granny Fancy on her piano. Still doing that one.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I'm always the skeptic, so I honestly can't remember actually believing the whole Santa bit. I remember questioning my skepticism though when my sister swore, at a very young age, that she saw the shadow of Santa's sleigh on the wall of the bedroom. She's never been one to exaggerate.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Yes. In fact Christmas Eve is our Christmas with my Mom, Dad, Sister, and her boyfriend. We begin the 23rd with a trip to SDC together, come back to the lake house for the annual treats and viewing of "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation", which we know verbatim, and then "A Christmas Story", of course.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? Two trees: upstairs tree is a larger, prelit tree loaded with whites and golds from Mom's old front window tree I used to admire in her home so much. The downstairs tree is decidely the family favorite, with all of the 'meaningful', crafty, nostalgic ornaments of a variety of colors.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Love it, love it, love it. Teachers and snow go hand in hand.

12. Can you ice skate? No. In fact I found out last spring at a birthday party that I can barely even roller skate anymore.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? Yup. Engagement ring. Still have the little Charlie Brown Christmas tree he propsed in front of - and the ring, of course.

14. What is the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Sharing traditions and making new ones with my children. Experiencing the daily excitement of the activities we enjoy just at this time of year.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? ENGLISH TOFFEE, 'nuf said.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Since C was 1 year old (almost 2), we have never missed the annual Nutcracker ballet performance. I think I would rather eat Ramen Noodles for a month than not scrounge up the $$ for this special, special night we share. We get dolled up, go to dinner downtown, lately she takes along her special American Girl Doll who matches her, and enjoy a magical night at the ballet. It truly is just that, magical.

17. What tops your tree? A fiberoptic angel that moves - but lost her fiberoptic-ness this year :(

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? Giving! The thrill and excitement of anticipating the reaction of the receiver after all the thought, bargaining, hunting, wrapping, etc. that has gone into the gift is a complete Christmas 'high'. Although, I do try and make it easy on family and have a (small) list. It's the thoughtful thing to do.

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Still can't sing verse three without choking up. What a man - wrote my favorite song, AND my favorite poem ('Midnight Ride of Paul Revere').


20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? Kind of one of those that until 2 years ago, I'd have said 'yuck', but something happened when I had that first Peppermint Mocha at Starbucks and now I seek out peppermint/chocolate blended recipes this time of year. Love to stir them in my coffee, and also pop a piece in my mouth along with a Hershey's chocolate kiss.

21. What do you want for Christmas? I want a Christmas like Sara Groves sings about in track #5 on her new Christmas album: "To Be With You."

22. Do you attend an annual Christmas Party? Isn't everyday a party around Christmas? I guess that's a no.

23. Do you dress up on Christmas or wear PJs? PJ's! In fact, I don't even shop for Christmas 'outfits' anymore for us, it's all about the new PJ's.

24. Do you own a santa hat? No, but I have floppy reindeer headbands I'll be wearing this weekend at the Reindeer Cheer competition!

25. Who do you normally spend Christmas with? My family, His family, Our family.

I Tag: Angie & Becky - & anyone else reading this blog! You could just email it to me, ya know. :)