Christmas Questions

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I use both but I tend to use wrapping paper more. I definitely can't use gift bags for the kids' presents for fear that they'll "peek"!

2. Real tree or artificial? Growing up we almost always had an artificial one. Since I've been married we've had a real tree a couple times but we've been using an artificial one for the last several years. The one we have now is actually a hand-me-down from my brother and I LOVE it. He only got rid of it because he bought a new pre-lit tree.

3. When do you put up the tree? Almost always Thanksgiving weekend. This year we were early and got it up the weekend before Thanksgiving.

4. When do you take the tree down? Whenever we get home from visiting family. Usually around New Years.

5. Do you like eggnog? LOVE it...but I can't drink too much of it. Kyler really loves it too but I don't think anyone else in my family really cares for it.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? They were all good. :) BUT one year my dad made me a kitchen set. My mom saved it and I re-vamped it for Kierstyn and gave it to her for her birthday one year. Now mom has it at her house for my niece to play with.

7. Do you have a nativity set? I have 2 and I'm in the process of making another set for myself this year.

8. Hardest person to buy for? Definitely my dad. (Suggestions are welcome, Dad.) Kelly is pretty hard to buy for too but I don't usually buy him anything anyways.

9. Easiest person to buy for? My kids and my mom are all pretty easy.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail. I start thinking about Christmas cards in October. If I start then, I can usually ensure getting a decent picture by the time I need to send out my cards.
11. Worst Christmas present ever received? Can't think of one I didn't like!

12. Favorite Christmas Movies? Luke 2

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I usually start thinking about buying Christmas presents in the summer when we have the kids draw names with their cousins....but I don't actually buy anything until mid-November.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Don't think so but I would.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Grandma Dirks' caramel corn and Mama Mary's breakfast sausage casserole

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Definitely clear lights but my kids prefer colored

17. Favorite Christmas song? Amy Grant's Joy to the World/For Unto Us a Child is Born

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Growing up we almost always traveled to Iowa to spend Christmas with my grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles, and cousins so I was pretty used to not being "home" for Christmas. 3 years ago we decided to stay home for Christmas Eve and then travel to M'boro on Christmas Day.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Nope

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? I finally got a star just last year. It's red and I think Kyler picked it out.

21. Most annoying thing about this time of year? So many cars at the mall/shopping area.

22. Favorite ornament theme or color? My tree seems to have red accents and almost all my ornaments are homemade.

23. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Gotta have Mom's mashed potatoes!

24. What do you want for Christmas this year? I already got it....my Vita-Mix blender!

25. A favorite Christmas Tradition? We do the pjs on Christmas Eve for the kids. We also watch the Luke 2 video.