I haven't posted in a while, and this Christmas questionnaire has been going around my friends' blogs (Patchie and Marizabeth to be exact), and I thought I would throw my blogger hat into the ring and talk about CHRISTMAS!!!
I love, love, LOVE Christmas! It is, by far, my favorite time of year! I love the lights, I love the presents, I love Santa, I love the tree, the music, the specials, all of it! So, without further ado, here we go:
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
Egg Nog, for sure! Especially good out of the little German(?) footed glass that my parents had. I always used that for my egg nog when I lived at home.
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
Santa always wraps presents. With the rare exception of an unwrappable gift like a bicycle or scooter.
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?
I always liked colored lights on the tree, but the Big Man hates them, so we have white at our house.
4. Do you hang mistletoe?
We have a Kissing Ball like this one, with mistletoe printed on it. I figured it was safer than real mistletoe, and it looks better than my parents 1970s(?) plastic mistletoe ball.
5. When do you put your decorations up?
Usually, the weekend following Thanksgiving, to be ready for the big party we have every year.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish?
There are so many to choose from! I love pumpkin bread, especially with cream cheese on it! Also, Pilsbury cinnamon buns for breakfast on Christmas morning, and stuffed shells for dinner!
7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child?
I think my favorite holiday memories are the traditions we had every year. I loved decorating the tree, my mom would hand us an ornament, and would direct where to put it on the tree, one of my favorites was a little carousel with a family of snowmen on it. I liked looking for crumbs in the bottom of the milk glass that we left for Santa (it was proof that he had been there).
Going to the Christmas tree farm to cut down a live tree was always fun, too. My dad used to bring his electrical marking tape, that non-sticky plastic tape that comes in neon colors. We would always mark the trees we liked, so we could find them again, but we never could find them. I like to think that we saved a few Christmas trees everytime we went to the farm. I also loved watching the guys put the tree through the tying-up machine, and the hayride out to the tree fields!
Going to the Christmas tree farm to cut down a live tree was always fun, too. My dad used to bring his electrical marking tape, that non-sticky plastic tape that comes in neon colors. We would always mark the trees we liked, so we could find them again, but we never could find them. I like to think that we saved a few Christmas trees everytime we went to the farm. I also loved watching the guys put the tree through the tying-up machine, and the hayride out to the tree fields!
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
I don't really know. I distinctly remember a cafeteria conversation where one kid I knew insisted that the way to find out was to compare Santa's handwriting to your parents'. If it was the same, you knew he wasn't real.
I know that I went through a period of peeking at the presents, though, at about middle school age. And, based on what my friends have posted, I was a terrible big sister. My little sis caught me peeking at the presents one year, and asked what they were. I told her that they were our Christmas presents, and then my mom caught us. She told my sister that they were presents for the little girl next door, and told me that I had ruined Christmas. I don't remember if I peeked after that year, but it was around that time that I stopped, because I was tired of pretending to be surprised on Christmas morning.
I know that I went through a period of peeking at the presents, though, at about middle school age. And, based on what my friends have posted, I was a terrible big sister. My little sis caught me peeking at the presents one year, and asked what they were. I told her that they were our Christmas presents, and then my mom caught us. She told my sister that they were presents for the little girl next door, and told me that I had ruined Christmas. I don't remember if I peeked after that year, but it was around that time that I stopped, because I was tired of pretending to be surprised on Christmas morning.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
My sister and brother and I used to open our gifts from one another on Christmas Eve, but I don't do it any more.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
By hand? (weird phrasing on this question). We have red cranberry-colored beads instead of garland or tinsel, and white lights. Tons of ornaments collected since the Big Man and I have been living together, as well as a few from each of our childhoods. We still keep several of the clay ornaments that we bought our first Christmas together. They were only $1 each! They remind me of our first house together. I also have several that my mom sent me on our first Christmas in our own house. Some of them had been hanging on my parents' tree since they were first together, so they are really special to me, too.
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?
Love, love, LOVE IT!!! It just makes it winter like nothing else can!
12. Can you ice skate?
I can, but haven't in a while. During my high school years, nearly every weekend was spent at Twin Ponds ice rink! I used to be able to do crossovers going backward. I rocked the rink!
13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
In 10th grade (I think, maybe 9th), I was taking flute playing really seriously. I had started private lessons and both my private teacher and band director were encouraging me to buy a better flute than the 6-year-old beginner model that I had. My mom had taken me to the instrument store and I found a $1200 flute that I totally fell in love with! But, I knew that was WAY too much money and there was no way I was going to get it. For the next few months, I constantly joked with my parents that if they found an extra $1200 lying around, they should get it for me.
Well, on Christmas morning, we always opened our one "big present" last of all. My sister handed me a shirt box, and I opened it. As soon as I opened the box, I saw the flute case. I looked at my mom and said, "No way!" I just kept asking, "Really? Really?! NO way!" I had to open the whole case and see the actual flute before I was convinced. My mom asked if I thought they had filled it with bricks!
That flute served me all through high school, and is still one of my most prized possessions. Definitely the best Christmas present of all time.
14. What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you?
It's hard to decide. Of course, I love seeing friends and family, but I also like the ceremony and traditions. I love to see all of our ornaments and remember why they are special, I love watching all the same movies year after year, and I love Christmas music!
15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?
I love Toll House chocolate chip cookies! Also, homemade fudge is always part of our family's Christmas spread. And, kiffles and raspberry almond cookies from The Kiffle Kitchen!
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
I don't know if I can pick a favorite. I love doing the tree every year with Mitch Miller's "Holiday Sing-Along with Mitch" playing on the radio, and I love to watch all of our Christmas movies. When I was little, it was my job to put the topper on the tree, since I was the oldest child. That was always one of my favorite traditions.
17. What tops your tree?
Now, we have a ribbon. My parents had an angel for a long time. We are thinking of changing to an angel or star, so that the Little Man can start putting the topper on the tree, since it is his job as the oldest kid!
18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving?
I love getting presents!! I like getting presents, but I always stress myself out trying to come up with good ideas for everyone. Although, my mom says I give great gifts, so I guess I end up doing alright in the end!
19. Candy Canes: Yuck or Yum?
Peppermint flavor? Yuck. But the rainbow cherry-flavored ones? Yum-o!
20. Favorite Christmas show? Show or movie?
Oh, there are WAY too many to choose from. Love A Muppet Chirstmas Carol, my favorite Christmas Carol ever! And the only one that makes me cry when Tiny Tim dies, every time. Of course, the old claymation Rudolph. And, How the Grinch Stole Christmas - but the old, animated one, not the Jim Carrey movie. I love the lesser-known A Christmas Toy ("You are thrilling, Meteora!!"), as well as A Muppet Family Christmas. And, Christmas Eve on Sesame Street! I love Bert and Ernie doing the gift of the Magi, and the song A True Blue Miracle.
21. Saddest Christmas Song?
There is a song on my Rockapella Christmas album called "Christmas Without You" which is so sad!
22. What is your favorite Christmas song?
There are WAY too many for me to pick just one! I love the Muppet Christmas songs - Keep Christmas With You, True Blue Miracle, Together at Christmas, One More Sleep 'til Christmas. I love, of course, Must Be Santa from the Mitch Miller album. I love my Jethro Tull Christmas album, with Birthday Card at Christmas, and A Christmas Song. Too many to choose from!!!
What is special about your Christmas?
