*UPDATE*
Both Mom and Melissa’s answers are below mine!!!!
Hey Siestas! I was just thinking about doing a Christmas questionnaire on the blog when, about a minute ago, I got a request to do this one through a comment from Kim Safina. This will be perfect! Thanks, Kim!
1. Fresh Tree or Fake Tree
Fresh
2. Favorite Ornament
This horse I got in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It has little bells on its feet.
3. Favorite Christmas Song
“Jesus Born on This Day” on Mariah Carey’s “Merry Christmas” CD.
4. Favorite Tradition
Picking out a tree. Driving around to look at lights. Seeing my family open the gifts I’ve bought them. Mom and Dad cooking a big breakfast after we’ve read the Christmas story and opened presents.
5. Favorite Gift Ever Received
Last year Mom gave me a huge box of all the clothes she had saved from when I was a baby. I had no idea she still had them, so it was a very big surprise. It’s so fun to have those now since we’re having a baby girl in just two months!
6. Favorite Christmas Meal
Turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, rolls, and chocolate cake.
7. Favorite Christmas Cookie
Paulie’s beautifully decorated and equally delicious shortbread cookies!
8. Favorite Place To Be
Wherever Curtis and Jackson are! If we can celebrate Christmas with both of our families in the same year, that is very special.
9. Favorite Memory
When Melissa and I were very little girls, Santa came to visit us on Christmas Eve at our grandparents’ house. It was so magical. Then about four years ago, when we were again at my grandparents’ house on Christmas Eve, Santa came to visit my two youngest cousins. It was so fun to see their faces. It also SNOWED that night. In Houston! It was truly a Christmas miracle. You cannot imagine how special it was for all of us.
This is a picture of Melissa and me and our cousins that year.
Hannah, Joe, John, Ben, Melissa, and me in front.
10. Favorite Christmas Movie
“Elf.” I really enjoy watching this with my sister because she laughs so hard!
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
Siesta Mama’s:
1. Fresh and the fatter the better
2. Felt ornaments with my girls’ pictures on them that were made in their classes when they were little; add to that my ornaments with Jackson’s pictures
3. 4Him – A Strange Way to Save the World; Travis – In the First Light
4. Reading the Christmas story as a family first thing that morning and holding hands and each praying; On the superficial side, taking as long as possible to open the presents then Amanda, Melissa and I, all in my bedroom putting on and taking off every single new garment and gushing, “Oh, that is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen on you!” “No, YOU!!!”
5. I’d always driven a heap. I do mean A HEAP. Most of my years it was my parents’ old yellow and black Dodge Dart. I never left the house without jumper cables and a jug of water for when – not IF – the radiator overheated. I didn’t even know to feel cheated. One Christmas at Keith’s parents, I opened my present from him and it was a set of keys. A used but totally spotless Champagne colored Cadillac (a block and a half long) was sitting in his parents’ garage for me. I couldn’t even get in it. I buried my head in Keith’s chest and sobbed my eyes out right in front of everybody.
6. Major Dad always fixed Reuben Sandwiches on Christmas Eve in my house growing up and I miss them so badly. Nobody has ever been able to make Reubens like him. My first Christmas Eve in Heaven I plan to run to his mansion and stand there and squeal while he flips them on the griddle. Then I want to hear him tell the same old jokes and we’ll laugh like we’ve never heard them. On Christmas Day, I love the traditional meal. Especially the dressing because my beloved Mom fixed it so well and loved it like nobody I’ve ever known. I never miss my parents more than on Christmas. They were simple people who never made an extra dime and threw a very modest celebration but somehow, no matter how problems had filled the rest of the year, Christmas time was magical.
7. Pillsbury Slice and Bake Sugar Cookies with colored Betty Crocker Butter Cream icing and sprinkles. I’m not kidding.
8. In my same den of 24 years, up while it’s still dark, presents all in place, and on my knees all alone in front of the fire place.
9. Christmas 1981 at my parents with my huge family of origin in a very tiny den. My little brother read the Christmas story that year with us all gathered around and no sooner than he read, “And it came to pass in those days…”, Amanda, just two and a half, crawled out of the chair and went to her knees, cupped her little hands like she was praying and kept her eyes shut through the whole reading – but changing expressions with every scene. Not a dry eye in the house. Then, to top it off, a little while later we opened presents and I got to surprise Keith with blue baby booties and announce that our second child was on the way. He’d been begging for a second child since the day our first was born. That second baby would never wear those blue booties…and not once would I ever regret that God gave me another girl. I would not trade that little wild ride for anything in this world.
10. Elf, hands down. And for exactly the same reason Amanda said. Melissa laughs so hard that we nearly…we nearly…well, you know what we nearly do.
PS. IT’S SNOWING IN HOUSTON TEXAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NEVER IN YOUR LIFE HAVE YOU SEEN A STAFF OF SELF-RESPECTING ADULTS ACT LIKE BIGGER FOOLS THAN WE HAVE JUST ACTED OUT ON THE FRONT LAWN OF LPM. THANK YOU, LORD! (But stick with the post theme or AJ might snatch me baldheaded for adding that little addendum. Shoot fire, it’s already stopped but, boy, was it exciting while it lasted!)
Melissa’s Christmas Favorites
1. Fresh Tree/Fake Tree? Fresh! Who doesn’t love a little pine allergy once a year?
2. Favorite Ornament- My favorite ornament is the angel tree topper (I think it counts as an ornament) that Amanda and I fought over every year. Dad usually chose who it was going to be and lifted us up to place it high up on the tree. Don’t ask me how we found a way to fight over that?!?
3. Favorite Christmas Song- Hands down, O Holy Night, preferably by Mariah Carey. Mariah Carey’s Merry Christmas is seriously musically authoritative. And how cute was she in that little Santa outfit on the cover?
4. Favorite Tradition- My Mom usually procrastinates wrapping all the presents until Christmas Eve. So she bans us to come downstairs after like 8:30 pm. Well, don’t tell her, but my favorite thing to do is to sneak down around midnight and look at all the Christmas presents in the living room. I still do and I’ll do it again this year. I can never sleep on Christmas Eve.
5. Favorite Gift Ever Received- The gift I remember being most excited about was a pair of Nike Air Jordan basketball shoes in fifth or sixth grade. I shook the box for months and months and months. In those days, my Dad refused to spend over $30 for a pair of shoes and he would make a really big deal even spending that. To get a pair of Air Jordan’s was like wearing a Cartier watch in sixth grade. I was all class, tomboy class.
6. Favorite Christmas Meal- The typical meal, nobody better mess with me and try to change it up. Turkey, Dressing, Mashed Potatoes, Cranberry (the fake kind from the can NOT real cranberry), Green-Bean casserole/Broccoli-Rice casserole. Then wait a few hours and do it all over again.
7. Favorite Christmas Cookie- Amanda has made these butterscotch haystacks the past few years that I think about all year long. They are so smooth and crunchy all at the same time, and for some reason they remind me of my Nanny. I think it is because she made chocolate & butterscotch Rice Krispy treats with peanut-butter when she was still alive.
8. Favorite Place to be- Houston, no matter how nasty/hot the weather, with Keith, Beth, Amanda, Curtis, Jackson, and Colin Fitzpatrick.
9. Favorite Memory- A couple of years ago on Christmas Eve Colin and I were in the beginning phase of dating. We went to the Christmas Eve candlelight service at First Baptist and then we drove around looking at Christmas lights. He kept saying, “Are you for real?” “Are you for real?” “You really like me!?!” Anyway, I knew who the joke was really on and that I was really the lucky one in the relationship, but I’ll never forget him saying that and the look on his face.
10. Favorite Christmas Movie- Well, Mom and Amanda stole my thunder. Elf is absolutely my favorite. In fact, it is on our TV as we speak…or as I type, rather. I will say though that Home Alone comes in a close second, though it is not technically a Christmas Movie. It is hilarious and it has special family significance to me that I keep pondered in my heart. Always.
1. Fresh
2. A cross-stitched nativity (tiny) made by a college friend
3. The First Noel
4. Attending the St. Olaf College Christmas Festival (singing in it was awesome, too!)
5. Norwegian sweater from my husband
6. Meatballs, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, lefse and plum pudding.
7. Mounds Balls
8. Singing with the worship team for Christmas Eve service
9. Christmas Eve in Aspen, CO — snow, tiny artificial tree in the hotel room, one present each.
10. Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer
You very well informed ladies may already know this, but just in case, I thought you might enjoy Elf even more knowing that the producer, Todd Komarnicki, is a believer and graduated from Melissa’s alma mater, Wheaton! He was in my class and, as I remember, a real sweetheart. I love pointing out his name to our kids in the opening credits; they’re always very impressed. 🙂 http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/novemberweb-only/11-10-42.0.html?start=1
1) We have both a fresh and fake tree.
2) Hmmm. It’s my Happy Birthday Jesus one. I’ll post it on Sophie’s Christmas tour soon.
3)Today my favorite song is “A Strange Way to Save the World” by 4Him–it changes from day to day
4)Our tradition that I love the most is making and decorating cookies.
5)Favorite gift: Engagement ring from my Chris
6) Favorite meal for Christmas? Ham, twice baked potatoes, fresh and swishy rolls with butter, and cherry pie
7) Gingerbread cookies–bears are my favorite shapes for these
8) Home with my family is my most favorite place to be–company is always welcome!
9) Our first Christmas with just our kids here in Colorado–no running from place to place and keeping schedules. Just us–it was so nice.
10) I love Elf, too! I wanna watch it with you and Melissa and hear her laugh…someday.
Lovin’ this post – and yep dear Beth – took a picture of the white stuff – thrilling for we Big H folks —- will hopefully get some frozen leaf shots in the morning —- and our dog will so not go out!!!!! But her new sweater is on for when she does!!!!!!!!
No tree for us this year – and artificial is what is in the attic . . . allergic to the real – go figure . . . the 9 month old grand is just way into everything – despite learning “no”.
1. Fake Tree…I miss the sent of the pine but I sure don’t miss the pine needles :-)!
2. All of my Hallmark Nostalgic Houses and Shoppes ornaments that I have been collecting for 25 years. Of those the most special one is the 1986 Candy Shoppe…that year my mom was going through a hard time in her life and because the series was so new she forgot to get it for me. I just figured that I would never have that one but 20 years later I found it on ebay. It completed my collection and reminded me of all that my mom went through and how wonderfully she handle her hurts and pains way back then! She is such a faithful follower of Chirst!
3. Silent Night
4. Watching the kids open up there gifts.
5. My cabbage patch kids when I was little were always such a big deal to me! I personally like giving gifts more than getting them!
6. Sweet Potatoes
7. Those one with the Hershy kiss in the center!
8. Anywhere with my family!
9. Last year was so much fun watching my 2 year old and my then 10 year old open their gifts!
Another memory I will always cherish is the Christmas play that we used to have every year at my church…I still remember the smell of the make up that they used! Funny!
10. A Wonderful Life and While You Were Sleeping
1. Fake tree, but have done fresh as well
2. Favorite ornament is a family one – Christmas tree with 4 heads in santa hats on it (mom, dad, 2 girls)
3. "Silent Night" or "Still, Still, Still"
4. Fav. Tradition – reading Luke 2 on Christmas Eve with only the tree lights on & then placing Jesus in manger Christmas morning
5. Fav. Gift Received – hubby gave me Willow Tree Nativity Set one year
6. Fav Christmas Meal – sausage balls before presents, Ham & all fixins at lunch
7. Oatmeal Lace Cookies
8. Fav Place to Be – with my hubby & 2 girls on Christmas night after all the craziness passes
9. Fav. memory – being with our whole big family (my Mom is one of six) at Grandmama's growing up. I miss that big time!
10. Fav Movie – Preacher's Wife or Frosty
1. Fresh
2. I loved the old ornaments that my mom would bring out. There were so many shapes and colors, gold with a mirror on it, red silk ones and others. I can’t think of just one.
3. I wonder as I wonder, O Holy Night
4. When my Dad, sisters and brother went across the bayou to cut down a tree. That was very cool. Did that for several years. And everyone would come to Mom’s house Christmas day. Night before I would help my Mom with the stuffing. Looking at the lights with my Mom and Dad and sisters and brother. Hanging ornaments on the tree and opening presents and watching others open theirs and see the expression on their faces.
5. When my mom gave me the album, “The Nutcraker”.
6. Turkey and oyster dressing. Lamb, scalloped potatoes, and yams. Cucumbers sliced in water and vinegar with onions. Greens. Pecan pie.
7. divinity, chess nut cakes
8. Lake Tahoe! I went skying there but not during Christmas. It snowed the day
we arrived. But, there are many other favorite places. McMinville, Oregon too.
9. When I went to Athens, Ohio where my Grandmother lived for Christmas one year. It snowed and my sisters and I made snow ice cream. We put brown sugar on it and ate it. It was good. And my brother and I made a snowman.
10. It’s a Wonderful Life.
1. Fake (fresh makes me sneeze)
2. The one I made for my mom when I was 6. I have big bottle glasses in the picture!
3. Christmastime by Michael W. Smith or O Holy Night off the new Shane & Shane Christmas album
4. Breakfast on Christmas morning. It's the one time of year my dad will make egg's benedict for my brothers and I. So good!
5. After my mom passed away, my dad and aunt gave me her "Whispers of Hope" prayer journal that she had kept while battling cancer. The resilience of her faith and her vulnerability expressed in the pages has been instrumental in teaching me in my own walk with the Lord.
6. As mentioned above, my dad's egg's benedict. So yummy!
7. My mom's pumpkin cookies. She taught me how to make them and now I have to make dozens to mail to family all over the country.
8. Sitting on the dock by the lake in my dad's house in the country. Some many sweet times of fellowship and study with the Lord have happened here.
9. All the Christmas's I was able to have with my mom.
10. Christmas Vacation
1. Fake – Son has allergies
2. Any that my kids have made
3. Oh so many songs…
Peace On Earth by Casting Crowns
Ring the Bells by Travis Cottrell
Not So Silent Night by Ty Herndon
4. My favorite tradition is going to Christmas Eve Candlelight Services with my Family
5. My best gift as a mom has been a cloth with my kids handprints in the form of a wreath, both of my kids made them at their school! As a kid, I loved my Krissy doll who had the hair that grew from the top of her head…I’m showing my age!
6. My favorite meal is…we shake things up at Christmas from the traditional turkey or ham. We do Italian or Mexican or something. I love when we make chicken enchiladas with mexican cream corn and guac!
7. My favorite cookie is a gingerbread man from Moellers in Houston!!
8. My favorite place to be is anywhere my family is!
9. My favorite Christmas memory is when my little boy was 2 years old, we were at the Galleria on a weekday afternoon and he was just knowing who Santa was…he saw Santa in his big chair across the mall as we were on the second floor. He stopped and screamed very loud “Hi Ho Ho!!!” He called Santa Ho Ho…too cute!
10. My favorite movie is ELF…I laugh so hard every time I see it!!
Merry Christmas!
Dana J
1. Fresh
2. The ones my kids make!
3. Silent Night
4. Having a birthday cake for Jesus on Christmas morning.
5. My Gone with the Wind DVD! I love this movie!
6. A roast, potatoes, corn pudding, and ice cream!
7. ANY
8. With my family at home.
9. My children’s faces when the get up in the morning. It’s priceless every year.
10. Smokey Mountain Christmas (yes, really)
a real tree, in fact getting it is one of our children’s favorite traditions
i love the ornaments my children have made or that have their pictures
mary did you know?
my first little Singer sewing machine when i was 6.
ham, deviled eggs, sweet potatoes, rolls, green bean casserole
pastel mint cremes-a chocolate cookie topped with a pastel mint from hickory farms melted and used as frosting
at home with family in the dark with the lights on the tree
getting a tree with my daddy in a deep snow
the christmas story (red rider bb gun movie) and i love the cartoon version of The Grinch who stole Christmas
We always pick a fresh tree still wrapped up and when we get home we unwrap it and it has ALWAYS been beautiful!
Ornament: My kids
Song: Oh Holy Night
Tradition: I always use codes for my kids – this year it’s drinks – one word drinks for my daughter, two for my son – the gifts say, Merry Christmas to Dr. Pepper – Love Santa
By the way, the kids are 18 and 21 – I started it a long time ago so they wouldn’t guess whose was whose – we’ve done everything from dogs to brands of soap – too funny.
Gift – My own puppy two years ago, my husband saved for a year to surpri
se me
Meal – ham and sweet potatoe pie
Cookie – sugar with icing
Place – wherever my love and kids are
Memory – buying my love a playstation 2 when no one else could get one – my kids and I prayed hard and truly got our Christmas miracle – he loved it – he was 39
Movie – Charlie Brown – duh
1. Fresh and I definitely the fatter the better!
2. My handmade ones from my kids too!
3. Mary Did you Know and O Holy Night
4. Midnight Service kneeling and singing Silent Night
5. My Mom filled a blank journal full of scriptures with my name in them!
6. Turkey and dressing too!
7. Mmmm the cookie dough! : )
8. Home/love everyone together!
9. Goodness there are so many… I think all… there is just something about Christmas that feels so cozy!
10. Little Drummer Boy/ The Crippled Lamb/ and the Heat Miser one (?)
1. Fake, pre-lit…PTL!!
2. Two apples with what we called my grandparents, Sweetmom and Sweetdad, written on them in bubble letters. They had one with each of our names, including theirs, on their tree. When they passed, I got the ones with their names…love them!
3. Breath of Heaven, Mary’s song
4. Reading about the birth of Jesus in the bible before each of us prays. Of course, the opening of the presents shortly after is a bonus.
5. I have been SO blessed in my life, so this one was hard. I’m going to have to go with last year, my parents gave my sister and I and our husbands and her two boys, a trip to Beaver Creek, CO. We had a blast!!
6. Ham, cheese dip, other dips and sweets…can anyone say “graze!”.
7. Peanut butter and ritz cracker sandwhiches covered in chocolate.
8. Anywhere my family is!! We’ve always been at my parents, but their home was destroyed in a tornado this year and won’t be ready to move back into until March. We’re just glad to be together!
9. This is similar to Beth’s…but, my Dad has always been a little tight. Anytime he is going to spend any amount of money, he will agonize over it for awhile. If he ever talks about buying a new car, don’t take him seriously until he has spoken of it for atleast 3 years. Anyway, somehow, while we were gone to the Christmas Eve service, he had someone put a brand spanking new black cadillac in the garage. We had been home from church for 4 hours before he let her open the very last gift. In it was a set of cadillac keys!! No one believed it, and we thought he was playing a joke because she had already opened 3 really nice gifts from him… He told us to follow him outside, and we all tripped over ourselves and each other trying to get out there…Once we were all out there, he opened the garage door and we all went nuts. My Mom had lost her Mother that year, and her only sibling had just been diagnosed with lung cancer and Dad said he just wanted to do something special for her…SO PRECIOUS!
10. ELF!!! My Mom and sister call me Buddy…I recite the movie constantly!
Ya’ll, I’ve got a a brand new broken leg, a 4yr old with Strepticcoliestoftenust(i dont know how to spell that stupid fancy word meaning my kid has a sore throat cuz im a bad mom and don’t wash his hands enough), and a 20mth old who is so stinkin’ attached to me that he somehow gets me to hold him ALL DAY…WITH A BROKEN LEG!!! It’s cool though cuz I got knee pads for when I’m on the carpet and an office chair w/ wheels for the hard floors. What was my point? Oh yeah, ADD makes random blog commenting difficult. Funny enough, I was gonna say I didn’t have time to do the cute question thingie, but (and this is totally shallow, I know, but I would appreciate it if it were me)…Amanda, you look really really great in that picture with ya’ll’s cousins! You should crop and edit and make that your profile picture. Not that everyone else doesn’t look…you know, blah blah blah… I cherish the value of inner beauty, but dang if I don’t love some stranger goin’ out of their way to tell me how gorgeous I am. My mansion in Heaven just turned into a 50 sqft. garage, didn’t it?
Sam*
1. Fresh Tree or Fake Tree
FRESH
2. Favorite Ornament
ALL OF THE ONES THAT KIDS MADE AS TODDLERS AT MDO
3. Favorite Christmas Song
CHRISTMAS CANON BY TRANS SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA
4. Favorite Tradition
ONE YEAR WE WERE TRYING TO SAVE MONEY (EVERY YEAR REALLY :)) AND WE WENT TO HOME DEPOT TO BUY A TREE AND KIDS HAD SO MUCH FUN PLAYING HIDE AND SEEK IN THE “LOT” THAT IT IS NOW OUR FAVE THING TO DO TO GO TO HD AND BUY TREE.
5. Favorite Gift Ever Received
TODAY! DEAR FRIENDS OF OUR’S – SON (HE IS OUR DEAR FRIEND TOO) CAME OUT OF BRAIN ANEURYSM SURGERY FOR SECOND ATTEMPT TO FIX IT. GOD PERFORMED MIRACLE – THE ABSOLUTE FINEST GIFT! I AM SO EXCITED I AM NOW DOING THIS THING (I HAVE TONS OF OTHR STUFF I NEED TO BE DOING :))
6. Favorite Christmas Meal
YUMMY BEEF TENDER, HOT SPINACH AND POTAOTOS AU GRATIN
7. Favorite Christmas Cookie
SURPRISE TEACAKES -LIKE A SAND TART BUT HAS CHOC KISS IN THE MIDDLE – (SURPRISE!)
8. Favorite Place To Be
ON DEC 26 IN MY QUIET TIME CHAIR WITH A CUP OF COFFEE LISTENING TO EVERYONE PLAY WITH FUN STUFF
9. Favorite Memory – MY DAD AND I WOULD WALK UP (HOLDING HANDS) TO THE ALTAR AT THE CHURCH WE ATTENDED TO SEE BABY JESUS IN THE MANGER
10. Favorite Christmas Movie
ELF – ONLY TO HEAR LAUGHTER OF HUSBAND AND KIDS (IT REALLY IS BAD THOUGH :0 🙂
December 10, 2008 11:24 AM
1. Fresh Tree or Fake Tree
Fake! The last real tree we bought got so dry that you could hear the dried pine needles fall through the tree when the door slammed shut. A dry climate is great for you hair – bad for fresh trees.
2. Favorite Ornament
The first year we were married, we bought a little ceramic Linus (Snoopy character) holding a little tree. It has graced our tree every year since.
3. Favorite Christmas Song
Love the lyrics to “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.”
4. Favorite Tradition
Going to the candlelight service on Christmas eve – so many meaningful messages.
5. Favorite Gift Ever Received
Would have to be the diamond ring my husband got me last year. Never really wanted one – I’ve worn just a band these 30+ years – so it was a total surprise. (I am SO hard to surprise.) I stared at it for days. It’s not huge, but it’s got some sparkle. Come to think of it, that is probably why I am such a fan of glitter. If there’s not glitter all over the house – it just isn’t Christmas.
6. Favorite Christmas Meal
Christmas Breakfast/Brunch Extravaganza!!!!
7. Favorite Christmas Cookie
I love, love iced sugar cookies.
8. Favorite Place To Be
With my family. Especially with aging parents.
9. Favorite Memory
One year we decided the best place for our tree was in a corner. We worked on it for hours. Every bulb perfectly placed; icicles added one by one. (At least while I was watching.) When we finished, we turned out all the lights and sat together on the couch to admire the most beautiful tree we ever had. As we sat in silent awe, the tree began to fall forward – all the way to the floor before we could catch it. We learned that year to remember to add decorations to the back of the tree, even though you can’t see it – to even out the weight.
10. Favorite Christmas Movie
Home Alone because my children just loved it when it first came out. It brings back great memories of us all watching it together.
Beth my dear, I am 64 years old and still miss my parents terribly,especially at Christmas…it never goes away. Also, I LOVE Reuben sandwiches…they are just the greatest…glad we have one more thing in common (besides Jesus)
1) Fresh
2) O Holy Night
3) Picking out a tree that is always to tall.
4) When I was 8 I got a Shaun Cassidy album and the record player for it.
5) Eggs Romano/Mother in law’s homemade Ravioli
6) Potato chip cookies
7) With my family as we go visit all the extended family
8) First Christmas where both the kids “really” understood what was going on Christmas morning
9) A Christmas Story, Elf, and Christmas Vacation
Hey Mama Siesta,
Can I come join you for one of those rueben sandwiches when were in Heaven together? They are my fave too and no one in my family appreciates a good rueben.
Love you!
Becky
1. Fresh in the pot so I can plant it in the yard after Christmas.
2. Two stuffed snowmen with my kids’ pictures in them from a lady at church.
3. Little Drummer Boy and well as a ton of others!
4. We had Christmas Eve at my hometown church for as long as I can remember. It is where my hubby proposed to me. We no longer are able to attend there but we still get together as a family and have ham sandwiches and open presents on Christmas Eve.
5. My engagement ring from my precious hubby.
6. Sweet dressing along with the normal turkey and such.
7. I like the old-fashion spritz cookies that are in the shape of Christmas trees and wreaths and a bunch of other shapes.
8. At home with my family watching the kiddos enjoy their morning of presents and breakfast and fun before heading to grandma’s for a HUGE meal.
9. My hubby asked me to marry him at the Christmas Eve program at Grace Lutheran Church in Sugar City, Colorado. I was the virgin Mary in the annual Christmas program for quite a few years before this event. Needless to say – it was the last year they quit letting me be the virgin Mary.
10. Chevy Chase Christmas Vacation. I am a laugher when it comes to funny movies but this one makes me really laugh! It embarasses my kids to no end!
Artificial tree though I miss the real ones a bit
Favorite ornament- an angel hand painted by my 1st grade Sunday School teacher and the ones with my kiddos pictures in them
Christmas Song- O Holy Night
Tradition- we open Christmas books each day of December until Christmas- it is delicious time snuggling and reading with the kids
Favorite Gift- my mother just gave me (early) the ring my grandfather gave my recently passed grandmother on their 50th anniversary
Favorite meal- the seafood feast my parents always prepared on Christmas Eve
Cookie- Sugar cookies with royal icing decorated an inch thick w/ sprinkles by the kids
Place to be- with my husband and kids
Memory- one year a dear friend of our family (and church trustee) decided we MUST have luminaries outside the church on Christmas Eve. Being December in South Dakota it was bitterly cold and windy, so we couldn’t get the candles to stay lit, so he decided to light them inside and carry them out. Moments later, he was juggling a burning paper bag in front of my sister, his daughter and I (it was quickly stamped out).
Movie- The Preacher’s Wife with Whitney Houston
1. Fake tree – I hate all of the needles falling off the real ones.
2. It has come to be an ornament that my mom sent to me that she made when she was very little. A baby Jesus in a walnut shell.
3. Mary, Did You Know?
4. Going to church on Christmas Eve with the family then going home and seeing the kids so excited for Christmas morning.
5. A ring that my husband got me when we first started dating.
6. Turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing, green bean casserole, apple Snicker salad, chocolate pie
7. Peanut butter Kisses
8. With my family usually at home now that I have kids. It is too much fun to be home where we can be ourselves and not feel like we are invading other peoples space.
9. When I was a kid I remember going to my grandparents house on Christmas Eve and going to church then having supper then Santa would come, so much fun.
10. A Christmas Story – the tongue on the flagpole is great!!!
1. Fake — I loathe pine needles on the carpet.
2. Ornament — tiny, flat, gold-plated praying angel with my name and the year it was given to me engraved on it.
3. Song — it’s a newer one: “You are the light” by David Hodges
4. Tradition — one we started with our kids (3 and 5yrs old). I set the table for a royal meal, with festive dishes, real napkins, place cards, candles, etc. I pull baby Jesus from a couple of the small nativity scenes, wrap him, and put the little gift on the kids places. They open their first gift, and hold on to Jesus while my husband tells the christmas story. We have a lovely meal, then tear into the presents.
5. favorite gift – first bicycle, age 5 — it was blue and beautiful.
6. Favorite meal — the breakfast from question 4 — it’s sweet, and calm and just our little brood.
7. Favorite cookie — mom’s snickerdoodles
8. Favorite place to be — staying up late with husband on Christmas Eve, cozied up on the sofa, drinking hot chocolate, and getting excited for the kids to wake up the next morning.
9. Favorite memory — Christmas in England during my junior year abroad. Stayed with a new friend and got the proper British Christmas, complete with Christmas pudding (read: fruitcake), and watching crazy people swim the English channel the day after.
10. Movie – A Christmas Carol. I just love it when Scrooge turns nice.
1. Fresh. We get it from the same Tree Farm every year, the day after Thanksgiving.
2. All of the ones the kids’ have made through the years, especially the ones with their sweet little faces.
3. Kirk Franklin – Now Behold the Lamb and Travis – Jesus Saves are my top two this year.
4. Sipping a glass of Egg Nog with Russell on Christmas Eve after the kids have gone to bed, the tree lights are on and we snuggle on the sofa talking about the past year, all of the Christmases we have spent together and hopes and dreams for the New Year.
5. Twelve String Guitar I received when I was a sophomore in high school. Still have it and play it.
6. My mom’s fruit ambrosia. To die for.
7. My Aunt Flo’s Hattie’s Balls.
8. Our home.
9. The Santa Money Bag. I still have mine. It hangs on the mantel with my stocking.
10. Charlie Brown Christmas and Rudolph. Have to watch them both every year.
Oh yay! I’ll play! (I have been missing in action on the comments because in September, at the ripe old age of 36 I decided to go to school full time! Christmas break is here and I get to read blogs again!)
Merry Christmas Siestas!!!
1. We bought a fake pre-lit tree after years of fresh trees. Love it!
2. A beautiful crystal snow flake with “2002” on it. It was given to me the year my dad died in memory of him. It means so much to me.
3. Behold a King Shall Reign (Sandi Patti and some guy.)
4. Watching Christmas movies with my family all wrapped in blankets to the glow of the Christmas tree!
5. My set of depression glass dishes from my mom. We both love to entertain and these dishes are beautiful to serve on!
6. Christmas Eve at the Butchers…it is always different, but delicious!
7. Sugar cookies!
8. HOME!
9. Our first Christmas as a married couple. I woke Paul up at 6:00am. I was too excited!
10. Elf! (I love smiling, smiling’s my favorite!)
you made this old gray biker dude shed a tear with your number eight (8). Thanks.
I think ill use that.
Abundant Blessings
Frankie G
A Biker for Christ
you are too cool Amanda! I’m watching Elf right now…9:45 P.M. and watching it with a girlfriend on the phone…you are way cool…woman!
Allison
1. Fresh
2. The little Betsey Clark Hallmark ornament I bought in 1989 when my own Betsy was having her first Christmas.
3. “Away in a Manger.” My favorite verse is the one that begins, “be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask you to stay Close by me forever..”
4. Placing the Nativity set under the tree before anything else is done. The little baby Jesus and manger that Betsy made of clay in preschool which goes inside. Betsy putting her grandmama’s star atop the tree. Watching “It’s a Wonderful Life” and drinking hot chocolate all by myself late on Christmas Eve.
5. My Easy Bake Oven in 1966.
6. Breakfast casserole, fresh fruit and a big glass of milk.
7. Peanut blossoms – the peanut butter cookies rolled in sugar and topped with a Hershey’s Kiss.
8. Home…and this will be the first Christmas in 21 years I’ll be in a new house. Praying God will make it feel like home quickly for my daughter.
9. Above-mentioned daughter’s second Christmas, when she got a little set of plastic dishes with Sesame Street characters on them. Her eyes got huge as she said, “Boat ‘n Oahnie” (Bert and Ernie) over and over again!
10. The old Miracle on 34th Street.
Merry Christmas, y’all!
WendyB who is still buried under boxes and can’t find her Blogger password again.
1. Fresh Fresh Fresh!!! & I agree with Beth… fatter the better
2. anything my son has made
3. New Kid in Town
4. Picking out a tree…especially when it's snowing. So magical to be wondering around the trees and looking up into the sky as the snow it falling!
5. mini bake oven !
6. Gotta go with Ham
7. I prefer making them to eatting them…I suppose sugar if I had to pick.
8. I don't think I have a favorite place before, so I'm gonna follow Beth's lead on "in God's presence" I'm certain nothing better will come along.
9. The year I got my son one of those cool wooden loft beds that doubles as a tent…slide and all. I was up all night assembling it in his room as he slept in my bed…quite the feat given my single-parent status. More proof that God took care of me long before I actively walked with Him. Oh, but the look on his face & his little squeal was so worth it! I got double for my trouble b/c last year when he stopped believing in santa he put it together and gave me credit for the bed 🙂
10. Elf…and only when I watch it with my friend…we should get her and Melissa together
Fake Tree: Love the real ones but my son is alergic
Favorite Ornament: My grandma sent me a Angel Card one year when I was about 7 that had a ribbon through it so you could hang it. She was just my absolute favorite person, so full of the love of Jesus – you could see it when you walked in the room. It just reminds me of her. Can't wait to see her again some day. And like you Beth, I can't wait to have her homemade Peach Cobbler!
Song: Mary Did You Know
Tradition: Stockings on Christmas morning with my kids.
Gift: My last babydoll I got when I was 12.
Meal: A big Christmas Breakfast
Cookie: Slice and bakes have always been my favorite.
Place to Be: Anywhere my family is
Memory: When my son was 3 someone asked him what he wanted from Santa, he told them whatever it was. When we got in the car that afternoon he asked what we were going to get Santa. I told him Santa didn't really expect anything, but he INSISTED. So we went to Home Depot, cause were else do you go to get something for Santa? He decided on some red & white work gloves. He was so excited when he got a note the next morning from Santa thanking him for being so thoughtful. That most kids don't think of being kind to Santa. He was so excited.
Movie: Holiday Inn
So Kimberly and Grace, give me your sugar cookie recipe and I’ll get to stop using Pillsbury!
Thank you for the early Christmas gift…a nice big smile! I love you ladies more than you know.
1. Fake ( I’m afraid of a real one catching on fire!)
2. Ones my kids have made
3. Away in a Manger
4. My whole family piling in my parents LITTLE living room to open all of our presents
5. A necklace from my husband with my children’s birthstones on it.
6. Fried Turkey, rice and gravy, baked macoroni and cheese, sweet potatoes with marshmallows and rolls
7. Moms sugar cookies with vanilla icing and sprinkles
8. At home with my family
9. Being a child, when my whole family congregated at my “Maw-Maw and Paw-Paw’s house to open presents.
10. A Christmas Story
girls, this is so fun!!
::taylor
Melissa – no, not cranberries from the can. How could you? You are practically the next Martha Stewart. We can’t let this continue. Some how, some way we will fix this. I’m calling Pioneer Woman pronto (is that how yo spell pronto?)!
1. Tree: Fresh
2. Fav. Ornament: the gingerbread without a right foot…i bit it off thinking it was real.
3. Fav. Christmas Song: Winter Wonder Land
4. Fav. Tradition: paper wad fight after everyone has opened their gifts
5. Fav. Gift: My very first care
6. Fav. Christmas meal: my grandma’s sweet potatoes and homemade noodles
7. Fav. Christmas Cookie: Potatoe Chip Cookies!!
8. Fav. Place to Be: Home
9. Fav. memory: when santa left a note saying that because we asked for so many gifts his sleigh overturned and our presents had spilled out all over the front yard…and we ran around all over the yard collecting our gifts!!
10. Fav. Movie: Christmas Vacation and Elf!! “you are sitting on throne of lies…” lovee it 🙂
9.
1. Real Tree
2. Favorite ornament, a tie-on Christmas bell from 1969. Olmsted Community church, O. Falls Ohio.
3. Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel
4. Tradition–New Mexican food Christmas Eve. Menudo, Posole, Queso and chips, Tamales.Red Chile (Coyote Cafe recipe).
5. Gift–Children’s Illustrated Bible (1968).
6. Meal. Cracker Barrel Spiral Ham.
7. Cookie–My sugar cut- out decorated cookies with almond flavoring and butter cream icing. Yields 6 Dozen, lots of work.
8. Place–Home sweet Home and my Mom’s house.
9. Memory–Daddy, up hammering toys together when I was little.
Santa always ate the cookies and milk. Grandma, sleeping over at our house.
1. Fresh! A Frasier Fir please. Our second Christmas together, my husband and I were in an apartment and couldn’t have a real one. So we put up my grandma’s artificial one from the 50’s… back then they made them out of plastic…. and dust apparently. Our apartment smelled like plastic and dust… it stunk! I was so sad! I went out and bought a million evergreen smelling candles (which I’m not sure we were supposed to have either—but something seriously had to be done!)
2. A fuchsia reindeer with dangly bead legs I bought at Pier 1 a few years back. Or Christmas balls… always loved them!
3. The Christmas Song ( Chestnuts roasting) by Nat King Coal or The Christmas Walz by Nancy Wilson
4. Christmas Eve exchanging gifts between us 6 siblings. We used to go to grandma’s for Christmas day, so my parents wanted a tradition at home for us too… so we did that before Santa Christmas morning and then grandma’s… we used to get each other the junkiest toys at the drug store… but it was always so fun! I love shopping for everyone too!
5. A Green Amethyst ring my husband got me last Christmas…. he never ever buys me jewelry, so it was a huge surprise!
6. I love appetizer Christmas Eve at my in-laws… my mom-in-law makes the best appetizers! Or I love ham on Christmas. And Lefse!
7. Green Holly Wreaths (with corn flakes and marshmallows) or frosted sugar cookies or spritz
8. Used to be Grandma Just’s house. Now I love to go home to mom and dad’s and be all together in North Dakota.
9. Cutting down our first Christmas tree together in the woods our first Christmas together. Or I just know this year will be magical with the birth of our first child—our son Judah.
10. Elf!!! or White Christmas with Bing, Rosemary, Vera, and Danny.
1. Fresh! Hand picked and hand cut!(only after searching most of the 100 acres of the tree farm just in case we missed the perfect one!)
2. Probably my favorite is the tree topper crown of thorns.
3. This year I think Travis’ “Ring the Bell” but the old time carols still move me -their words so profound!
4. I don’t if I could pick just one…picking out the tree always the weekend after thanksgiving for-family fun. Reading a Christmas story book each night in December with the last one being the new one we got that year. Our family making Christmas sugar cookies and decorating them with my spiritual dad and his wife!!! But especially Christmas eve with the candles and telling The Story and opening up the gift we each want to give Jesus for this year! –
5. My stepmother was known (by all)for being able to pick out the most awful and exact opposite of what I would ever want, presents for me (just me) but one year – after I had become a Christian she gave me a beautiful real gold cross necklace. Of course all the gifts my girls have given me come in a close second!!! 🙂
6. Salmon – with seafood chowder for Christmas eve!
7. Does homemade almond rocca count?
8. With my family – hopefully with snow!
9. My favorite memory is one that happens every year – just like my kindred sprirt Beth – staying up to the wee hours of the night Christmas eve cause even though I promise myself each year I won’t do it again – wrapping all the presents and then watching the look of surprise on the girls faces the next morning!
10. Wow we start watching Christmas movies in October – Charlie Brown’s Christmas, and Peter, Paul and Mary Christmas special. (Does that date me or what!)
Merry Christmas to all! Happy Birthday Jesus!
1. Fake due to Asthma & Allergies
2. An ornament that says "and Two shall become one" that we received as a wedding gift…Monday is 7 years!
3. I absolutely love Christmas music so it's impossible to pick just one…but I really enjoy Ave Maria…we used it in our wedding…in a whole other genre, Oh Beautiful Star of Bethlehem
4. I'm a huge traditionalist so this is hard…Christmas eve service and going to see the lights at the Bristol Motor Speedway…THOUSANDS of lights complete with a lil Christmas Village!
5. I always thoroughly enjoy opening my stocking each year! I always save it for last!
6. On Christmas Eve its always tradition to eat Chili…there are always at least 6 crockpots full on my mother's countertops! No worries…there are about 45extended family members there!
7. I agree with Beth…Pilsbury Sugar Cookies with icing from the tub…I make this kind with my boys and its so much fun.
8. With my family
9. I could list one from each year, but at the top of the list would be our second Christmas married…it snowed and it was my hubby's first White Christmas
10. The Preacher's Wife
“5. Favorite Gift Ever Received
Last year Mom gave me a huge box of all the clothes she had saved from when I was a baby. I had no idea she still had them, so it was a very big surprise. It’s so fun to have those now since we’re having a baby girl in just two months!”
Amanda you must have missed Wising Up where your mom hung all your clothes on the clothes line…lol!
I have a fake tree because I have a husband and daughter allergic to real ones, although I’d rather have a real one. Growing up in the Northwest we always had real ones. I miss the smell.
Currently my favorite Christmas song is a toss-up between I Believe by Natalie Grant and Christmas Day by Michael W. Smith and Mandisa! They sound so spectacular together. AND…I get to see Michael W. Smith’s Christmas concert tomorrow AND Friday night. I CAN’T WAIT!
Favorite Tradition: Watching Christmas Vacation on Thanksgiving night with my husband.
Favorite Gift: The year I married my husband he gave me a kitten for Christmas. Her name is Beauty and we STILL have her. I don’t know for how long though because she’s 13 years old.
Favorite Christmas meal: Lasagna on Christmas Eve with my family. It’s my mom’s recipe and I LOVE IT!
Favorite Christmas cookie: Molasses Sugar Cookies! Yum!
Favorite place to be:While everyone in the house is in bed (hopefully) asleep I love to lay down on the couch and look at my tree and listen to Michael W. Smith on my i pod. He has the most beautiful Christmas CDs.
Favorite Memory:Getting up at 2:00am on Christmas morning to open my stocking. I just couldn’t wait till sun up. Now, my kids do it and it drives me CRAZY! Hee Hee!
And my favorite movie which is on my TV as I type is…It’s A Wonderful Life! What a GREAT movie. it just makes me smile because “I just like to smile. Smiling’s my favorite.” :o)
Have a Blessed Christmas and may God bless us Everyone. Love you all.
Kristi in Oregon
1. Fresh Tree/Fake Tree?
Always Fresh… it's just not Christmas without the fresh smell of pine through the house!
2. Favorite Ornament?
The Nativity tree topper that my husband and I found a few years ago. I know it's not an ornament per say, but it does add to the tree. It is Mary, Joseph and they are holding Baby Jesus. It goes on top and it's beautiful! I love it!
3. Favorite Christmas Song?
White Christmas, by Bing Crosby -AND- O Holy Night, by Mariah Carey off of her Christmas album. Man that CD is sooo good.
4. Favorite Tradition?
Christmas Eve night at my Grandmothers. We'd eat, open gifts and then jump in the cars and go see the "The Fantasy of Lights" at the University.
Christmas Morning, my sisters and I would get up at the crack of dawn…okay it was still dark, and we'd sneak into the living room to see what Santa had left us. We'd grab them take them to our room where we could turn on the light and just gawk over what we each got. We'd never open them. Then we'd sneak back put them back in the rightful places infront of the tree and go beg momma and daddy to get up so we could open Santa & Christmas gifts. GOOD MEMORIES! How i miss being a child sometimes.
5. Favorite Gift Ever Received?
My Raspberry Tart rag doll. It was one of the Strawberry Shortcake characters. I loved that doll. I still have her too!
6. Favorite Christmas Meal?
Your typical holiday meal… Turkey, Dressing, Gravy, Mashed Taters, Cranberry Sauce (from a can), Rolls you bake in oven in the box and GREEN STUFF… aka: Pistachio Pudding w/ goodies. We always called it the Green Stuff. It's one of my FAVORITE things still to this day!
7. Favorite Christmas Cookie?
The "Secret Family" Christmas Cookies that we would make with my Momma every year. We also made the Icing too. Once you marry the recipe is handed down to you. These are quickly becoming my husbands favorite too. I am looking forward to making them in the next week.
8. Favorite Place to be?
With my family… wherever that is.
9. Favorite Memory?
I have so many… Refer back to Question 4.
10. Favorite Christmas Movie?
BY FAR…. "WHITE CHRISTMAS" with Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney & Vera Ellen. It's just not Christmas without that movie!
Not to mention the "Frosty", "Rudolph" and "Charlie Brown" Christmas TV movies. Cant' forget those! That's tradition!
I just posted this Questionnaire on my blog. It was fun filling out!
Fake or fresh-prefer fresh but since living overseas we have fake, still looks pretty when decorated but you need a scented candle in the room for effect.
Favorite ornament-many, but especially love my first born’s first Christmas ornament-a little cradle that swings.
Favorite Christmas Song-Oh Come All Ye Faithful, also love the Amy Grant album, especially Tender Tennessee Christmas!
Favorite tradition-opening pjs on Christmas eve
Favorite Gift-my mother gave me a baby doll one year and then every year after quietly took her from my room when I was sleeping on Christmas Eve, on Christmas morning she was always sitting next to my stocking in a new dress.
Favorite Christmas meal-ham with the trimmings and chocolate pound cake for dessert
Favorite Cookie-thumbprints or buttercreams (a butter/sugar ball dipped in chocolate, sigh…)
Favorite Place to Be-with family, all together
Favorite Memory-my two sisters and I going into my brother’s room veeeery early Christmas morning, waking him up and sitting in his room until the street lights were turned off outside-my parents said we could not wake them before that! Then we all had to sit on the steps and have a picture taken before going into the living room to see all the gifts. The waiting seemed to last forever.
Favorite Christmas Movie-White Christmas (my two girls did a great rendtion of Sisters when they were very little), I do love a Christmas Story-‘it’s a major award!’
Okay, here goes:
Tree: Fake since the “Great Cat, um, Tinkle Accident of 1983”. Still love a Fresh tree, however.
Ornament: The ones my girls made when they were little.
Song: The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting…) and Travis’s rendition of “Jesus Saves” on his new CD.
Fav. Tradition: A treasure hunt that we did with our girls that led them to the Baby Jesus wrapped in the most beautiful package. Then we’d read the Christmas story and they’d put Him in the manger that had been empty until Christmas Eve.
Fav. Gift: An antique armoire that my husband managed to get shipped from England and delivered to our house while we were gone on Christmas Eve. It was waiting in our bedroom when we got home that night. It was the most extravagant, well thought out gift he’d given me up to that time.
Fav. meal: The traditional meal with my great-grandmother’s cornbread dressing.
Fav. cookie: Sugar (Beth: add a teaspoon of mace to any favorite sugar cookie recipe, and you won’t go back to Pillsbury!)
Fav. place to be: in Texas with my whole family
Fav. memory: The Christmas that 20 people stayed in our 1200 sq. ft. house and the WHOLE living room was a sea of gifts. I was 7.
Fav. movie: Hands down, “White Christmas”
Merry Merry Christmas!
Tis the season to do this fast:
Real trees but I am such a poor judge of size that one year we lost over 1/2 the living room and My husband had to cut 8 feet off the bottom(What can I say I thought the room was bigger and taller than that, clearly I believed I lived in a mansion.)
-Glass little Drummer boy ornaments we bought that first Christmas together. Granted the 6 of them got lost in that massive tree so I found myself making all kinds of crocheted ornaments to try to fill it up even a little(3 strings of lites got lost too, ahh that is why my man picks the trees now, narrows it down to three and then I get to choose)
-Mary did you Know. I weep.
-Actally opening stockings. (to much history here to explain)
-My wee dog Mia, my husband knew I was pinning for a dog friend again after the massive companion of Pongo died Hope deferred makes the heart sick, and I was. Christmas Morning my family had all pooled together to keep her a secret. I wondered why we weren’t going the the Childrens homes for meals that last week and why my daughter near freaked out when I offered to go to her house when I was in town one afternoon and take her dog for a walk (Mia was in hiding at her place for that day). They smuggled the little fluff ball in and put her under the tree while I was fussing in the kitchen to get brunch ready they got very frustrated with me making sure coffee was on and food was good to go, when I finally walked into the Sunset Room there was a whimper from the tree and I lost it, I was shaking and crying. She is 3 this Christmas and she is my friend and companion.
-Ham Potato Scallops Glazed carrots and a crisp garden salad.
-scottish short bread cookies from a placed called Brother’s Two here in Summerside.
-our home
-the year our daughter and son-in-law returned from a mission term in africa. We were just so happy to have them home.
-Meet me in St. Louis Love it love it love it.
Merry Christmas ladies
Be Blessed each and every one.
Huggs
Iris
We live in Beaumont and it didn't start snowing here until around midnight. My husband woke up the children at 1am because the youngest has never seen snow. We got about 4 inches. They were out in the back yard having a snowball fight waking up all the neighbors. God is so good because school is delayed for 2 hours today so everyone gets to sleep in.
Paula G. <><
1. Fresh tree
2. Favorite ornaments are handmade angels from Germany we purchased when we were stationed in Germany in the 80’s. I also purchase an ornament for each of my children each year. My hope is I can give each of them their own box of ornaments they used as a child as a wedding gift on their wedding day.
3. Favorite song: “O Come All Ye Faithful”
4. Favorite tradition: Staying at our house, reading the Christmas story, and just having time together. Anyone is more than welcome to come to our house, but we stay home. We all love it. The kids really don’t want to go anywhere, either.
5. Favorite Gift Ever Received: Larry the Lion when I was six years old. I still have it and it works! (I’m almost as old as Beth, too!) Ha!
6. Favorite Christmas Meal: Turkey, potatoes, green beans, corn, desserts, whatever we can think of!
7. Favorite Christmas Cookie: Sugar cookies with hot chocolate! Yummmmm!
8. Favorite Place to Be: Home with my family. If it’s snowing – not too likely in GA – but outside my home in the snow.
9. Favorite Movie: “The Christmas Carol” with Alistair Sims and “It’s A Wonderful Life”. Get some fresh sugar cookies – all of them if necessary – a huge cup of hot chocolate, turn the Christmas tree lights on and turn off all the other lights, turn on one of the movies, and that’s the most perfect evening ever!
Julie
GA
1. Fresh Tree/Fake Tree? Well, fresh, but our cats think they’re salad, so we have a prelit artificial tree this year.
2. Favorite Ornament- I have to echo Melissa on this one — it’s the angel tree topper that my husband got me several years back. It reminds me of the one on our childhood tree, and it gives me such peace every time I look at it.
3. Favorite Christmas Song- Once again, I have to echo Melissa! It’s O Holy Night, and any baritone voice singing it (preferrably on key) works for me. I cry every single time I hear it. Every time.
4. Favorite Tradition- Growing up, it was waking up at an obscenely early hour and nagging my mom to open presents while she worked in the kitchen stuffing the turkey. She’d always send me back to bed, but I didn’t sleep. Now, it’s letting my kids open their jammies and ornaments on Christmas Eve, and then all going to service together.
5. Favorite Gift Ever Received- Pat the Bunny. I wanted that book so badly. I still have it.
6. Favorite Christmas Meal- Wow, Melissa, are you and I related somehow??? I love everything you listed, right down to the canned cranberry. If it doesn’t come out in the shape of the can with a “sloooorp” sound, I don’t want it!
7. Favorite Christmas Cookie- Our dear friend Dr. Amuso always made these amazing pizelles. He passed away a few months ago, and every time I see a pizelle, I think of him and start to cry. They were amazing!
8. Favorite Place to be- Anywhere my family is. Preferrably with snow.
9. Favorite Memory- One year, we all piled on my parents’ bed on Christmas Eve, and my dad said he could hear sleigh bells. Then he said he saw Rudolph’s nose in the clouds. We totally fell for it and scampered off to bed.
10. Favorite Christmas Movie- A Christmas Story, followed by It’s a Wonderful Life.
We quote Elf-isms all year long in our house.
“I’m singing! I’m in a store and I’m siiiiiiiiingiiiiiing.”
Merry Christmas!