The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Wow December 1st ... that means Christmas is 25 days away. Yikes, it seems every year it gets here faster and faster once Thanksgiving is over! There is so much left to do ... today I start .. lol.

I found this questionnaire over at Lindsay blog and its cute so maybe you all can do it also ...

Wrapping paper of gift bags? Most assuredly wrapping paper. What would Christmas morning be without the mess of paper all over the place? I mean that is all part of the Christmas tradition. Gift bags go so fast, wrapping paper lasts .. its the anticipation of unwrapping and getting the first glimpse of what is inside of this beautiful paper! I love it. At our house we unwrap one gift at ta time to make it last even that much longer and then besides every gets to see what you get! We have so much fun doing it that way!

When do you put up a tree? Usually we put the tree up about two weeks before Christmas. It seems they die off so fast so we wait a bit before we get it. I see people getting trees the day after Thanksgiving and they have to be crispy by the time Christmas gets here. When the kids were little we use to go cut down our tree, and it was so much fun. Not sure where they do it here in Texas??

Real or Artificial? How can one even ask that question ... real of course. The smell of a Christmas tree is like no other smell. How can yo get that with an artificial tree. Its family tradition to all go out and pick out and agree upon a tree! I remember one Christmas in California it was raining and cold out and we took the girls and just went down to Target and the first tree Lindsay saw she said that's it and we got it! It was a pretty tree but took all of 5 minutes.

Do you like egg nog? Oh no, not at all. My one daughter like it and my husband likes it. Erich use to like it also! I remember growing up my mom and dad had a tradition that after the tree was decorated we would sit and admire our tree while drinking egg nog ... homemeade egg nog, and back them I had to drink it (dad made us!) Now we have diet coke, dr. pepper and water! That's been our tradition with drinks.

Favorite gift received as a child? Wow now that's been awhile ago, not sure I can remember. I can remember through pictures and because I had that doll until just this past summer. It was a big plastic doll, seemed big at the time with the cutest red dress and I hung on to this doll until this past summer when we had our garage sale. My girls didn't want her so I let her go. (was hard to do)

Do you have a nativity scene? Well I use to, again, until this past summer when I sold it at a garage sale. I hadn't put it out in awhile. There was nothing special about it so off it went to another family. I remember though when we first got it my daughter was real little and took baby Jesus and she broke it so we had to use a little plastic baby of hers to be baby Jesus. Probably will not get another one, they don't do much for me.

Hardest person to buy for? Hands down my daughter Lindsay. she is so picky about clothes and that's mostly what she wants. She usually has to take about 1/2 the items back after Christmas! She needs to make it easier on this ol' Santa!

Easiest person to buy for? My other daughter Aarika. She loves everything. Jewelry, clothes, nik naks, baking things. Anything I buy her she loves! (well mostly)

Mail or email Christmas cards? Neither. I don't give out Christmas cards but I will email letters to those who are close to me.

Favorite Christmas Movie? Miracle on 34th Street. Great family tradition of watching it two or three times during the holidays! Know the movie by heart.

When do you start shopping for Christmas? After Thanksgiving. can't really get into the mood of doing it before. Seasons need to be in order and so can't do shopping before Thanksgiving! But once turkey day is over...watch out, here I come!

Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? My sisters shortbread cookies. Oh my they are so good. She isn't here in Texas this year so am not going to get them, but they are yummy!

Clear lights or colored lights? I switch off. I like them both. Clear makes the tree more beautiful, and colored lights more Christmasy!

Favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night. I love that song and about cry every time I hear it. Celine Dion does a beautiful rendition of this song; however many years ago I went to my kids Christmas recital and one of their fellow students sang that son, and oh it was the most beautiful sound I have ever heard. I hope she went on to pursue her singing. I will never forget her singing that song.

Travel or stay at home? travel, or at least for the past five years. this Christmas will be our first at home since my son Erich died. Not sure how I am feeling about that. So many traditions and quirky things ended when he died and I know my girls miss them also. No matter where we are I love watching the girls open presents and watching how excited they get.

Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, Rudolph and three more and my mind just went blank!! (old age!)

Angel on tree or star? Neither. I put anything from a bow, to a snowman to Santa Claus. I never have had a traditional tree topper. never have really liked the star bit...angels, may be one day I will get one of thoe to top it!

Open presents Xmas eve or Xmas morning? Definitely Christmas morning. NO doubt. Everyone waits till I get up and ready. have to put fireplace on, Christmas music going, use to gt Erich up and dressed all the while the girls are just waiting ... must I say impatiently for me to finish everything. even as they get older they still are little girls at Christmas and I love it!

The most annoying thing about Christmas? Traffic. Crazy drivers at this time of year!

What I love most about Christmas? Family. Getting together with the ones I love and just sharing the day with them. Also watching my girls open their presents, and my son-in law ...he says he has never had a Christmas like ours before and that makes me feel so good!

I would love to hear everybody else's replies so chime on in and answer the questions!

Merry Christmas!