*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 Jacksonās pictures
3. 4Him ā 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, āOh, that is the cutest thing Iāve ever seen on you!ā āNo, YOU!!!ā
5. Iād always driven a heap. I do mean A HEAP. Most of my years it was my parentsā 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 didnāt even know to feel cheated. One Christmas at Keithās 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 parentsā garage for me. I couldnāt even get in it. I buried my head in Keithās 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 Iāve 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 itās 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, āAnd it came to pass in those daysā¦ā, 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. Heād been begging for a second child since the day our first was born. That second baby would never wear those blue bootiesā¦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 nearlyā¦we nearlyā¦well, you know what we nearly do.
PS. ITāS 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 doesnāt 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. Donāt 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 Careyās 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, donāt 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 Iāll 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 Jordanās 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, āAre you for real?ā āAre you for real?ā āYou really like me!?!ā Anyway, I knew who the joke was really on and that I was really the lucky one in the relationship, but Iāll 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 speakā¦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.
This is the first time I’ve posted to the blog, though I truly enjoy reading it. I’m usually pretty shy about things of this nature and tend to shy away, but when I saw the topic, I could not resist. I hope y’all don’t mind. I had to be away and missed the survey. Maybe next time. God bless you all
1. Fake–that way we can leave it up longer.
2. Favorite ornament: That is difficult, because each ornament has sentimental value. When we place ornaments on our tree, we take a trip down memory lane.
3. Favorite Christmas song: “Strange way to save the World” and “I saw the bells on Christmas Day”
4. Favorite tradition: When it gets close to midnight on Christmas Eve, I read the Christmas Story alone. Then I thank God for the most important gift that He has given, acknowledging His gift before I recieve any on Christmas Day.
5. Favorite gift: I always enjoy getting books.
6. Favorite Christmas meal: I enjoy anything we have, nut really enjoy chicken and dressing and all the things that go with it (except the cranberry sauce of ANY kind)
7. Favorite Christmas Cookie: Sugar Cookies, either Pillsbury or homemade, either iced or plain. It doesn’t matter to me.
8. Favorite place to be: With my family.
9. Favorite Christmas memory: When I was a child, we lived in Anchorage, Alaska (my dad is retired Air Force). My brother and I were sitting on the couch watching TV when I looked out the window and spotted a red light in the distance. I was 7 and he was 4. I knew that was Rudolph’s nose. I told my brother that Santa was coming and we had to get to bed immediately. We ran as fast as we could. Later that night, I was awakened to sounds on the roof. Could it be Santa? As I got older I realized that red light was a radio transmitter…but Santa still came.
10. Favorite Christmas Movie: “It’s A Wonderful Life”, “Miracle on 34th Street”. I have yet to see “Elf”, but plan to this year.
This is so much fun:
Fake Tree: That way I can put it up as early as possible.
Favorite Ornament: Anything my kids made
Favorite Christmas Song: Mary Did you Know?
Favorite Tradition: Having my kids run into the house after Christmas Eve Service and look to see if Santa left them a new pair of pyjamas while we were at Church.
Fav Gift: When I was about 10 I wanted so badly a pair of Super Slider Snow Skates. And lo and behold Christmas morning came and there they were.
Fav Meal: Turkey with all the fixins. Is there anything else????
Fav Cookie: Shortbread
Favorite Place to be: With my family, laughing and just being together.
Fav Memory: Waiting up stairs allnight Christmas eve with my 6 sisters and singing Christmas Carols and talking about what Santa would bring us. Our parents never once got angry and made us go to bed.
Fav Christmas Movie: It’s a Wonderful Life (hands down).
I love fresh, but confess to having a fake. I live by myself so it is easier..
Frosty & Friends Hallmark collection (my grandparents would get me one every year)
Angels We Have Heard on High – Amy Grant and Gloria – Michael W. Smith
Driving around to look at lights. Decorating the tree & drinking hot chocolate. Advent calendar.
After moving from FL to PA as a kid..Santa brought us sleds with controls for our first snow.
Turkey or Ham, rolls, broccoli/cheese casserole, frozen cherry salad, pie
Sugar cookies with cookie cutters, colored frosting & sprinkles
With family by the fire while it is snowing outside…
Going to the Christmas Eve service and feeling the joy & excitement in the air. Not being able to sleep…thinking I heard Santa & the reindeer…
Family tradition to watch Christmas Vacation & laugh at Cousin Eddie.
1. Fake (It always turns out perfect!)
2. Both of my boys' first ornament (I made a handprint impression when they were each 1 week old. They're 3 and 1 now.)
3. White Christmas By: Michael Buble (The first song my hubby & I danced to at our wedding.)
4. Going to candlelight Christmas Eve service with my family, coming home & reading the Christmas story – putting baby Jesus in the manger, opening our new ornament to put on the tree, playing Santa for my boys, waking up and opening presents in our pj's
5. The 1989 Holiday Barbie – best gift I ever received from my dad (Received it again about 10 years later from my grandparents after they heard my first one was lost and how much it had meant to me.)
6. My father-in-law's ham!!! Yummy. Sweet potatoe casserole, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, my grandma's homemade rolls.
7. Oreo Balls, no contest!
8. With my family! Cozy inside, snowin' outside.
9. My first Christmas with my husband in our little apartment celebrating next to our little Charlie Brown Christmas tree. We still keep many of the traditions we started then with our family.
10. White Christmas!!! Also love It's A Wonderful Life
I already answered the survey and was reading through some of the answers when I started chuckling to myself. My daughter loves when I retell the story of the Christmas she turned 2. She was born 3 days before Christmas.
On this particular Christmas my husband stayed up late to finish putting together a little kitchen for her. I had gone to bed, and he fell asleep in the chair with all the lights on. Well my 6 year old son came in my room and was saying something about a gift he had received. Coming out of my sleep I realized he had gotten up, figured since his father was in the chair, he could start opening gifts. So after a while my daughter woke up and was crying for something to drink. By this time my husband had gotten up and went to the bathroom to wash up for bed. I was trying to settle by daughter and convince my son to go back to bed and wait for morning. Well before you knew it they were both in tears and my daughter was crying hysterically. I went to the bathroom door and told my husband, “You better get out because I am setting them loose”. I was so tired I had no choice. So with my daughter screaming in my arms I walked into the living room and all of a sudden she stopped screaming and with a shocked look said “a KITCHEN? Santa brought me a KITCHEN?” It was absolutely hysterical the way she was able to shut off the water works when she saw her gift. To this day she still laughs when I tell this story. Hard to believe that was 9 years ago. But the best thing is my almost 11 year old little girl still wants a baby doll for Christmas, and I think Santa will indulge her that.
1. Fresh Tree/Fake Tree – Fresh and as big and fluffy as I can get into the house!
2. Favorite Ornament – A Small mouse hand made out of a walnut
3. Favorite Christmas Song – Grown up Christmas List Sung by Amy Grant
4. Favorite Tradition – Used to be cutting down a fresh tree…we need to find a new place to go at our new home! Baking cookies too!
5. Favorite Gift Ever Received
6. Favorite Christmas Meal – Turkey with all the trimmings
7. Favorite Christmas Cookie – I make my moms sugar cookies with orange zest! It is just NOT Christmas without them!
8. Favorite Place to be – Anywhere my husband and boys are!
9. Favorite Memory – Watching my boys open their Christmas presents the year they were 2! It was the first Christmas they really knew what was going on and they were so excited and just loved it!
10. Favorite Christmas Movie – It’s a Wonderful Life
Just got home from Converge – IT WAS AMAZING! Absolutely what I needed from God tonight from the first hug from a dear friend till the lights came on at the end.
one question – What was that song that Travis sang right before intermission with the names of God? I have got to download that on my ipod! Please tell…
Is it okay if I share an answer to prayer? My son is 11 yr. old and has Muscular Dystrophy. Over the last few years we have watched him slowly loose strength. It has gotten to the point that he needs a power wheelchair to help him get around. We meet a few weeks ago with his PT and a Vendor from a company to do a seating for his wheelchair. We discussed his needs, measure him ect. Then they wrote up letters, and send the information to our insurance company to hopefully approve. While this has been a very difficult thing for me as a mom to have to do, my son has been very excepting of this. He is very ready for this change in fact he has a specific type of power chair in mind that he wanted. When he told his PT and the Vendor what specifically he wanted they said that was considered an upgrade , an additional $5,000 dollar upgrade and the insurance would never approve of it because it is not medically necessary. Well I saw the disappointment in my sons face and I said, well why can’t we ask for it? After all this is going to be his legs for the rest of his life. Why canĆ¢ā¬ā¢t we give him what he really wants? They were pretty much against it but the vendor said he would talk to the company that maybe they would do a free upgrade. When we left Ryan asked me about it and I said well, we need to pray about it because it is going to take a miracle for you to get the upgrade for the chair that you want. Well yesterday I got a call from the Vendor and he said he talked with the company. They were not willing to do a free upgrade but they would do what they call a demo model. I won’t go into detail but the upgrade that would have costed us $ 5,000 will now only be 10% of that price! He said do you realize what a good deal they are giving you? We have not told our son yet. We are waiting until he gets the chair and when he sees it he will know that God heard his prayer and he got his Miracle that he prayed for!!! We pray everyday that God will heal our son of this disease and believing that one day he will choose to give us another miracle! thanks for letting me share! i am so excited. God is so good!
I must comment to Julie who wrote about Larry the Lion…that was my sister’s favorite gift the year she was about 4…she opened it and exclaimed very matter of fact,’Yep, that’s it! That’s just what I wanted!’
I have been visiting the LPM blog for some time now, but this is my first time to comment.
1. Fake or Fresh – FAKE, I’m very allergic to pine and can’t breath around fresh trees.
2. Favorite Ornament – The handmade wooden ones that my Uncle made for me when I was little.
3. Favorite Christmas Song – One King by Point of Grace
4. Favorite Tradition – Homemade Cinnamon Rolls for Breakfast on Christmas morning.
5. Favorite Gift Ever Received – A computer from my parents as I was getting ready to go off to college.
6. Favorite Christmas Meal – The Traditional Meal of Turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoe casserole and homemade cranberry sauce.
7. Favorite Christmas Cookie – My grandmother danish balls.
8. Favorite Place To Be – Where every my family is.
9. Favorite Memory – Christmas Eve at my grandparents with my cousins camping out in the living room to “catch” Santa.
10. Favorite Christmas Movie – Tha Santa Clause with Tim Allen
1. Fake – I am so allergic to the fresh ones it’s not funny.
2. hmmm… I love my tree topper, but it never manages to stay upright on the tree, so we usually have to take it off before it falls and smashes into a million pieces.
3. “This Baby” on Steven Curtis Chapman’s first Christmas album (I can’t believe I can’t remember what it’s called.)
4. Staying up late playing Monopoly or Uno with my brothers while our parents were upstairs scrambling to get everything wrapped. (We didn’t realize that part until later, of course.)
5. I finished high school in three years, but I didn’t decide to do that until the summer before my last year, so it wasn’t like my parents had really budgeted to buy me a class ring a year early. I was completely taken aback and cried like a baby when I opened my class ring the Christmas of 1991 before I graduated in 1992.
6. I know we’re a little odd, but we’re Italian, so we always have homemade pasta (spaghetti, ravioli, gnocci) and meatballs, with a huge salad and bread at Christmas. And the sauce is so spicy your eyes water and your nose runs. It’s awesome. š
7. My granddad always made the best chocolate fudge at Christmas. I miss it, but not as much as I miss him!
8. Wherever my family is.
9. One year when I was about 8 and my brothers were three and four, we woke up at “oh dark thirty” as my dad says — probably just after they had finished stashing everything under the tree — and refused to go back to sleep. I bet it was probably 4 in the morning. Our poor mom, bless her, sat on the couch reading from our Christmas story books until daylight. Then we got dad up, read the Christmas story from the Bible, opened presents, and fell asleep before we could even say thank you!
10. The Christmas Story — for goofy sentimental family reasons. Elf ranks right up there, too.
1. Fresh and needs to be as fat or fatter than it is tall… Yes. I like them very fat.
2. I love all our ornaments, but we have Spode ornaments that match the ornaments on the plates my mom has. Those are probably near the top of the list because they always remind me of the great meals and times spent around the dinner table using my mom’s chirstmas china. Its hard to chose one as each ornament has so many memories.
3. O Holy Night… but I like pretty much all Christmas music.
4. Favorite tradition would probably be the Christmas morning routine. Living room (Where we cant see into the den where the tree is) to open our stockings then having to wait through breakfast before we can open the presents under the tree!
5. Favorite gift… not really to me. It was to my dad, but since I still lived at home, I got to enjoy it. After my dad got sick, we gave him the puppy he always wanted but was too practical to get. The puppy is now my parents 3 year old Springer Spaniel and they added to their brood with a sister for him. And when I moved out, I got myself a Springer! So not technically mine, but my favorite Christmas gift was the puppy that made my dad sit down in the floor sobbing when he found out that it was his!
Favorite Chistmas meal is Beef Wellington. My Mom usually makes it all up and then I make little decorations out of the left over pastery for the tops of each one!
6. Favorite Cookie: We do a girls cookie cooking day every year, but I dont have one favorite. Top 3 are Peanut Butter Balls, Noel Nut Balls and Haystacks.
7. Favorite Place to be… with my family. Dont care where that is as long as we are all together.
8. Favorite Memory… Proably when we got my dad the puppy. He was so shocked that he finally got a puppy and even more schocked that my mom actually said yes!
9. Favorite movie… I Dont really have a favorite chirstmas movie.
Did you get any more snow? I heard on the news last night, much winter weather in your area. We are a balmy 62 degrees today!
Baton Rouge got some heavy snow… It’s quite beautiful. My friend at Forever His has pictures up…
Well, I just thought I’d see if you are all snowbound or snowbunnies… Blessings!
1. Fresh is my preference, but fake is my reality
2. Favorite Ornament – this one is exceptionally hard for me – HUGE collection, but I think it has to be my newer one of Linus standing on the stage…push the button…and he tells Charlie Brown what Christmas is all about.
3. Christmas Song – Easy one…My man singing the Dennis Jernigan song, "Hallelujah! Christ Is Born"…I think seeing him sing it in church was the first time I felt my heart in my throat over that guy! Crying over the reality of my Jesus and weak-kneed over my guy…honestly, does it get any better?
4. Favorite Tradition – Making the ugliest Christmas cookies you have ever seen with my girls. Delicious…but hideously ugly. What's up with all that dough spreading?
5. Gift Received – too many to name…probably ALL of them the first year Jimmy and I were married. I had never had so many before…I felt VERY special!
6. Favorite Meal – Ham, Turkey, Dressing, Mashed Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Cranberry, Green-Bean casserole/Broccoli-Rice casserole Broccoli & Cauliflower salad.
And I am with Melissa.pleeaassee do NOT make me eat a real cranberry. ewwww…
7. Christmas Cookie – Those really ugly ones I mentioned.
8. Favorite Place to Be – Home on Christmas morning with the girls and Jimmy.
9. The magic in McKenna's face when she was younger and "heard" Santa and the reindeer on the roof, thanks to my nieces and Jimmy.
10. Christmas Movie – Tie-Elf for fun, Miracle on 34th Street (new one) for sentiment.
And I have to agree…Heaven will be so sweet…I want to spend Christmas Eve with my mom again.
Kim safina – I do not think I will ever forget the jingle bells under the bed.
Made me laugh out loud – No wonder you have been married 26+ years.
Oh How Fun Melissa! I love the little bit about fighting over who got to put the ornaments on the tree and that you snuck to stare at all the presents under the tree… So did I… I can’t sleep that night either – ever!
Melissa,
Your #9 brought tears to my eyes. Thanks for sharing.
And Beth,
When I heard that Houston got snow I immediately thought of you and your team. Your comment about it paralleled my imagination about it.
Donna, thank you for sharing your blessings with us about your precious son getting his wheelchair.
And Anon. I am laughing over Santa and the kitchen set for your daughter.
And if anyone still needs a sugar cut-out cookie recipe (not Pillsbury) will be happy to post.
Already sent my answers in earlier, but accidentally under Anon.
1. FRESH!!!!
2. A ceramic angel with a slightly askew halo. My mother gave it to me and I display it proudly!
3. All time fav: Oh Holy Night (almost anyone except Mariah Carey…sorry Melissa!)
New fav: Come Darkness, Come Light by Mary Chapin Carpenter
4. Baking Christmas goodies is my favorite tradition.
5. A Bible from my parents
6. Turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, the canned jellied cranberry stuff, homemade rolls, and homemade pies for dessert.
7. Shortbread cookies
8. Living in Houston, I long for anywhere with both family and snow…but I usually settle for just being with family!
9. Being snowed in our family home in Wyoming one Christmas. The wind was howling outside but we were toasty warm by the fireside, eating Christmas goodies, and watching Christmas specials that we could sing along with.
10. The Grinch – the old, animated version not the more recent movie.
Hi Amanda,
Wanted to add to the questionnaire with this comment:
4. Favorite Tradition
Growing up with my Mom, Dad, sisters and brother we lived in a two story house with a balcony. In the middle of the balcony was two windows looking into our house and you could see our stairs too. During Christmas time my Mom would paint these windows with tempera paint, the star of Bethlehem, Mary and the baby Jesus. There was a light hanging from the ceiling in the house and it would shine through those windows, making the images look like stain glass. That was always neat to see at night and it was neat too as a young girl to see my mom painting on the balcony. š
Allison
1. Fake tree – after living in apartments and townhouse or two, come to love fake tree. Clean up in so much easier and no watering.
2. Favorite ornament – There is no one I find a favorite. I love the variety of ornaments we have from homemade to simple candles to ornate ones. Very electic collection.
3. Favorite songs – O Holy Night and Once More by Travis Cottrell. My daughter Claire love Ring the Bells!
4. Favorite Tradition – We live in Mpls/St. Paul metro area. Every Christmas Eve day we go to the Mall of America. It is surprisingly quiet. We can admire the decorations, eat lunch and do a little last minute shopping. Then we come home go to late afternoon services and have light supper before getting the kiddies ready for bed and ready for Santa.
5. Favorite/Best Gift Ever – My daughter Claire arrived from Korea December 26, 2000. No better gift than a darling, little 7-month old coming off the plane in her little red plaid coat!
6. Favorite Meal – I always like being creative but it must include pumpkin pie and lefse with cinnamon and sugar. My Norwegian roots come out – lefse is basically a potato tortilla.
7. Christmas Cookie – My favorites are anything with chocolate, Russian Tea Cake and sunbuckles (Norwegian)
8. Favorite place to be is anywhere my family is. However, someday I want to try it in Texas away from the really bone-chilling weather and many inches of snow.
9. Favorite memory: Celebrating our first Christmas with our son Daniel… We flew to Arizona to visit my MIL and her face when she met us at the airport. We have a great picture of Daniel in a darling little straw hat from Hawaii.
Merry Christmas to all,
Mary Ann, a MN Siesta
girls, Do you know how to cook the dressing? My mom unexpectedly passed away this August (leaving me and my sister in complete disarray– we were/are the type that talked 4 times a day about nothing!) So.. this Christmas take the dear video camera and tape your momma making the favorites!
Treasure each moment,
Courtney
Sorry I am late, just getting back to the real world after a sick child. Here are my answers:
1.Fake- the cat would try to climb the real ones (my husband even tied fishing line from the tree to hooks in the ceiling).
2.I love the ones my boys have made over the years. My 11 yr old tried for me not to put them on but mom won and the ornaments are on the tree.
3.Mary Did You Know (by Kathy Mattea) & What Child Is This
4.Our tradition is fixing hot choc. in travel mugs with bags of popcorn and going out to see the 'Tacky Lights' tour.
5.My favorite gift as a child was a pair of roller skates (white with pink wheels and lace). Now, anything that my boys pick and they do a pretty good job.
6.The meal on Christmas Eve is always a full breakfast platter. On Christmas Day, that does vary.
7.Pepperment Bark
8.Anywhere that my boys are! We tend to stay home for Christmas and then travel to visit.
9.Going to the tree farm the first year we were married to get our tree. My dear newly husband of 2 months thought for sure that it was just the right fit. Well, it was too tall to even fit in the door so he was out in the dark and cold sawing away.
10.The Friday after Thanksgiving we start watching Christmas movies. At least on Fridays and try to work in one more during the week. Santa Claus I-III, Grinch, Frosty, Rudolph, Elf, Charlie Brown, Willy Wonka(older version), and tonight was Chitty Chitty Bang Bang(not Christmas, but tradition)
1. Fresh
2. Handmade ornaments my mom made.
3. Silent Night
4. Everyone now comes to our house.
5. Football- 16th birthday (Mel, I too was/is a tomboy!)
6. As a child we had ham, loved the apple, banana walnut salad.
7. Mom’s homemade chocolate cookies with marshmallow in the top, covered with chocolate frosting.
8. At home with hubby, my puppy, 5 kittys, 1 flop earred rabbit, numerous fish – bestest with snow falling – huge flakes.
9. Memory – Christmas I slept on the couch and squealed out “Debby we got bikes” – it was about 2 am = Mom and Dad were not happy Santas!!!
10. Sorry kiddos – since I was 7 it has been “It Is A Wonderful Life” – and ELF too!!!
Merry Christmas!!!!
AJ~ Loved reading yours and your mom's and Melissa's answers!
1. Unfortunately fresh = big time allergies. I have a cute little fake tree that has been passed down from my mom, then my sister, and now to me. It's perfect for me. š
2. A gold ornament of a little girl kneeling to pray that my mom had engraved with my name on it when I was born. I still hang it on the tree.
3. "Mary Did You Know", "Breath of Heaven," and currently "God Is With Us" on the Casting Crowns Christmas CD.
4. Going to the Christmas Eve service at church and on Christmas day eating lunch and opening presents at my parents' house with my sisters and their families. We usually sit in the same spots in the living room every year. Especially love to watch my nieces and nephews open their gifts.
5. I don't know if this was my most favorite gift but I can't think of anything right now. When I was in middle school and went to the skating rink every single weekend, I badly wanted skates of my own! So I vividly remember getting the prettiest white skates with orange and yellow pom poms on them. Gorgeous! Haha! Thought I was hot stuff skating around in those things! š
6. Traditional= turkey/ham, dressing (my mom's is the best!), green bean casserole, macaroni & cheese, some sort of salad, crescent rolls, and my mom's banana pudding (the REAL kind that is baked! The best ever!!), and a variety of desserts.
7. Sugar cookies cut out in the shapes of santa, reindeer, snowmen, etc.., with lots of sprinkles or icing.
8. With my family here in SC.
9. Not sure I can think of a specific favorite memory but I have a lot of fond memories when my dad's parents were still living. After we opened our presents Christmas morning, my sisters and I could take one favorite gift with us down to Nanny's and Granddaddy's…all the grandchildren did this and there were LOTS of us. I just remember being with my dad's very large family in the old wooden house that my dad and his siblings were all born in. I fondly remember playing with my cousins and climbing the big tree in the front yard. Good times!
10. Elf is a good one that I own, too, but I saw Fred Claus a few weeks ago and really loved that one, too!
Thanks for all my siestas for sharing! Was fun to read a lot of them! š
p.s. I just ate 10 DOVE CHOCOLATES WITH CARAMEL as I typed this out!!! Good grief! :/
Love you girls!
Missy in SC š
Great post.
1. Prefer fresh, but since we all get sick every time we get one we have a fake tree.
2. Most of my heart shape ones and a beaded snowflake.
3. Silent night
4. Have our family Christmas just the six of us before we go to Ca. to spend Christmas with my family.
5. My oldest daughter. She was born at the beginning of Dec.
6. The desserts (does that count).
7. Wow how can I choose just one, I like so many.
8. Where every my family is.
9. Each of my kids wonder and excitment when they were small. And the time when my oldest daughter to my cousin that she barked on her shoes because she got car sick.
Kim B. in AZ
1. Fresh Tree/Fake Tree? Fresh! Agree with Melissa on the little pine allergy. Not a problem, just turn up the humidifier.
2. Favorite Ornament- A metallic foil type star that my honey and I bought on our first Christmas together. It is a bit floppy now, and one of the lights is a little “broky”, but it’s ours. He keeps asking to replace it. No going. My mom and dad have one from their first Christmas as well. Almost identical!
3. Favorite Christmas Song- Mary Did You Know. I cry every time. Kathy Mattea does it VERY well.
4. Favorite Tradition- Waiting until the “night before” to shop for stocking stuffers. My mom did that too…Nothing like Walmart at 11:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Just me and all the “men” in town!!
5. Favorite Gift Ever Received- Does my wedding ring count? I got it just 6 days before Christmas in 1987! Still wearing it too – Thank you Jesus!!!
6. Favorite Christmas Meal- Sorry girls…can’t do turkey twice in two months…it has to be fresh ham, cooked to perfection, with an amazing raisin sauce, warm and spicy. Mashed potatoes…sweet potato casserole. Corn. Fresh yeast rolls. Plus all the “quick breads” that have been noshed on for weeks before. Dessert… freshly made carrot cake with ALL the cream cheese frosting it can hold. Can’t wait!
7. Favorite Christmas Cookie- Soft Molasses cookies rolled in sugar and baked just enough to not be dough. Using the LARGE Pampered Chef scoop, of course!
8. Favorite Place to be- Home. I used to “hate” going to someone elses house for Christmas day. It was OUR day and I didn’t like sharing it. Gram and Gramp would come over for dinner…but we stayed home…and now we do the same in our family. No swapping holidays…they come to us or we wait till next year!
9. Favorite Memory- Sleeping in my parents house on our first Christmas together…we had been married 6 days and came “home” for Christmas. Would do that completely over! 2nd favorite memory…being in Disneyworld on Christmas day when I was in 10th grade…I will NEVER forget it.
10. Favorite Christmas Movie- Any or all of the Santa Clause movies with Tim Allen. I love him! I love the Polar Express too!
It was so much fun reading about your traditions and memories girls. Thank you for sharing your lives with us!
Not only our we siestas in faith…we’re siestas in “Elf”!
Everyone rolls their eyes at me when I say that is my favorite Christmas movie! Thank you for giving me validation! š
1. Fresh … the tallest, skinniest one I can find. (Just goes better with my primitive decor!)
2. Years ago one of my favorite students gave me a moravian star made by his grandfather. I think of Michael fondly ever year as the the girls take turns putting it on top of the tree.
3. Mary, Did You Know? (The Michael English version) or What Child is This? … What’s up with me and the question songs?!?!
4. I always make seafood for Christmas eve and then we play games or watch a movie, just the four of us.
5. Favorite Gift … hmmmmm … I just remember loving the smell of a new doll on Christmas morning.
6. We do a massive brunch at my parents on Christmas Day. It has all manner of variety and we literally eat all day long!
7. No question … the peanut butter kind with a Hershey Kiss in the center!
8. At my parents home on Christmas Day with all of my siblings and their kids, piled into the living room to open gifts.
9. Most Memorable Christmas … the year my dad forgot to open the flue on the fire place. (I was in junior high at the time.) We all woke up to a smoke-filled house about 3 in the morning. No one could go back to sleep, so we decided to open our gifts then and there, then all went back to bed and slept soundly.
10. I have to confess … I’m not a fan of Christmas movies, though I’ve not seen Elf, so maybe that could change. I do love the Christmas ending to the American Girl “Samantha” movie where they decide to adopt the 3 little girls!
Merry Christmas!
Renee
1. fake tree, highly allergic to pine.
2. fave ornament- our first christmas. this is my first christmas married!
3.i have too many favorite christmas songs! š
4.tradition.. just being with my family. and enjoying the entire day laughing & talking.
5. favorite gift.. i'm really into taking pictures of every single thing i can, so my camera.
6. my fave meal is ham, mac n cheese, rolls, sweet potatoe cassarole, strawberry pizza.
7. fave cookie, sugar cookies that our local bakery makes.
8.place to be. home watching christmas movies with my family
9.fave memory- my ninny pats christmas tree always being up before thanksgiving.. miss her so much.
10. christmas movie. i love the grinch lol! it cracks me up.
This was fun! I just blogged about my favorite Christmas ornament, but it’s too long to write here… I love fresh trees, a traditional meal, iced sugar cookies, It’s a Wonderful Life, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, snowy Christmas memories at Honey Rock in Wisconsin, and being with my family!
Merry Christmas!
This is fun!! By this point, I don’t know if anyone will still be reading comments, but it is good for me to just ponder and record my thoughts, so here goes:
1. real (Only because my husband and I grew up with the artificial ones, and when we lived in Michigan for a few years we decided to go to a tree farm, pick out a tree, and have them cut it down. We had a huge “great room” and wanted to get a twelve foot tall tree so it would reach the ceiling–We didn’t realize that the taller the tree is, the wider it is, also…LOL. We literally had to anchor it to the windows…good times…LOL…great memories.)
2.Favorite ornament–my ceramic angel ornaments that were given out every year by a very sweet lady that led many young women to Christ.
3. Song — O Holy Night
4. Favorite tradition–Advent Wreath… Now that my children are older, each one takes a “candle” (hope,peace, joy, love) and plans a devotional for it.
5. Favorite gift–the ones my dad would always give…he would wrap a box with a note in it and send you all over the house, unwrapping other boxes with notes in them.
6. Favorite Meal — We lay out “snack type” food on Christmas Eve, because we open gifts from our immediate family on Christmas Eve, and then Santa leaves a gift on Christmas morning. We have peel and eat shrimp, shrimp scampi, meatballs, pickled herring, coctail weiners, chips and dip, cheeses and crackers, etc.
7. Favorite cookie–Russian Tea Cakes
8. Favorite place to be — Where my family is
9. Favorite Memory — Wow, that’s hard…so many…growing up: after unwrapping gifts Christmas Eve and spending time with everyone in our family, mom and I would WALK over to church for the midnght Christmas Eve service. (It was about 1/2 mile to a mile away, and I can remember walking through the snow, and giggling with her, many times)
with my immediate family: watching my children’s eyes as they lifted the lid off of a box containing a collie puppy.
10. Movie: It’s a Wonderful Life
1. Fresh tree
2. My favorite ornament cannot be limited to just one. All the hand-made ornaments my boys made while growing up are my favorites.
3. Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee. Another new favorite is Ring the Bells found on Travis Cottrell’s new Christmas album. On the same CD a great one is Hark the Herald Angels Sing. (Siestas, if you have not heard this CD, take time to listen to the samples of this album on ITunes. The CD title is Ring the Bells)
4.Just being together with my familiy on Christmas day. Reading the Christmas story. Enjoying great food and sharing memories with each other as we gather around the table.
5. My first new bicycle at age ten.
6. Amanda, my favorite meal at Christmas is the same one you mentioned.
7. My favorite cookie is the ginger bread men my sister makes every year. DELICIOUS!
My sister’s decorating skills are second to none, the ginger bread men are so cute.
8. Wherever Mike, Bradley, and Nathan are is my favorite place to be. If we are together we are home.
9. My favorite memory is the year my brother got an electric train for Christmas. We had so much fun playing with it. I think Dad had more fun playing with it than anyone.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Mary
Hey Siestas – Wonder if you could offer up a prayer for my church. Last night (Friday, Dec 12) the Wasilla Bible Church building burned here in Alaska. This is actually where Sarah (Palin) attends church. We just moved into our new building a couple years ago. This affects lots of people in Wasilla and Palmer. Please keep us in your prayers. Thanks.
We need to hear from Mr. Keith Moore on favorite Christmas things!
Fresh Tree/Fake Tree? fake tabletop tree (and prelit!!)…we have space limitations….I still hope for the year we can get a real one!
Favorite Ornament: the ones made by the kids. Another fave is a set of plush felt nativity ornaments that go onto a ~12-in. tall plush polyfleece tree; I always remember my daughter (when she was ~2 y/o ’til even recently) hugging the little tree.
Favorite Christmas Song: I love Handel’s Messiah, the Nutcracker, O Come All Ye Faithful, Deck the Halls, to name a few.
Favorite Tradition: Doing our Christmas decorations; the kids enjoy getting out the ornaments and setting things up. I also love decorating Christmas cookies with the kids and driving around to see the lights around town, and, and, and…. I really don’t have one favorite for this category.
Favorite Christmas Meal: I really, REALLY love the usual– turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, and if we’re going all out, then we also have green bean casserole, corn pudding and a sweet potato casserole with pecan-streusel topping.
Favorite Christmas Cookie: homemade gingerbread cookies made with molasses (just learned how to make them several years ago).
Favorite Place to Be: Wherever my husband (& kids) are, and after that, Houston! I don't think I've been anywhere else for Christmas for pretty much my entire life.
Okay, I'm going to stop now because I really can't pick just one thing for most of these!
I cannot believe that a family growing up in Montana could be so similar to a family in Texas…Your memories and likes ring true.
1. Fresh Tree/Fake Tree? If I ever put up a tree, it would have to be fresh; however, since my cats consider a tree to be something to climb and the balls on it fair game for batting practice, I have not had one for the past ten years.
2. Favorite Ornament- I do have a garland I hang across my fireplace mantle that I hang ornaments on…my favorite is a bootie that says baby’s 1st Christmas…given to me the year I was adopted (I was an adult when I was adopted…it always cracks me up).
3. Favorite Christmas Song- Jars of Clay Little Drummer Boy *GULP*
4. Favorite Tradition- House hopping…I’m single…no reason for a personal tradition, I just join everyone elses.
5. Favorite Gift Ever Received-My very first Amplified Bible…I had to have one ’cause who’s who in the world of yackety yack was preaching from it…it had my formal name on the outside and my nickname on the inside…it eventually became the first duct-tape bible before they were marketed…I don’t use it, but I can’t seem to get rid of it.
6. Favorite Christmas Meal- traditional.
7. Favorite Christmas Cookie- I don’t know what they are called, but they are white with a powdery outside and nuts on the inside…for the longest time I hated nuts, so I would just suck on the cookie and spit out the nuts…yes…it is possible to extract all the nuts. š
8. Favorite Place to be- A Colorado Christmas is the only Christmas for Me.
9. Favorite Memory- My first Christmas at a foster home in New Mexico. My foster parents would put gifts in stockings to keep everyone happy so they could sleep in…my foster brothers and sister knew about getting gifts in stockings…I never heard of that before. EARLY Christmas morning they all came into my room, jumped on my bed and dumped my stocking out all over me saying “look what you got.” We then went out to the living room and turned the tree lights on and sang Christmas carols in front of the tree and laughed at each other for not knowing all the words.
10. Favorite Christmas Movie- A Christmas Story
Just a few quick answers:
Fresh tree (for sure! – with big lights in primary colors and bubble lights)
Favorite meal: Christmas Eve – soup supper; Christmas morning – egg casserole and sweet rolls
Favorite carol: What Child is This
Favorite memory: Being in church for the S.S. program – struggling through our “piece” and getting the box of hard Christmas candy with the one chocolate drop that every child received
Favorite ornament – gold angel tree topper my husband and I got on our first Christmas and all the precious homemade ones from our kids
Favorite Christmas movie(s): Can’t believe all the modern movies mentioned! Must be the classic It’s a Wonderful Life (Potterville always reminded me of what society is like when God is left out) and White Christmas.
Such good reading! Thanks for asking us and sharing your favorites
Love in Him
Becky
Hey Y’all from Georgia Jan!
1. Fresh or Fake:
FRESH – love the smell of the Frazier Fir, I can hear the needles hitting the wood floor even now…
2. Favorite Ornament:
Homemade ones my boys made (they are now grown men) like Nut Cracker Men made out of clothespins
3. Favorite Song: Mary, Did you Know? – O Holy Night
4. Favorite Tradition: Past 20 years…Going shopping with my Mom and sisters the day after Thanksgiving (us laughing at Mom and she doesn’t know why which makes us laugh even more – laughing in love)
5. Favorite Gift:
A positive pregnancy test – on Christmas Eve – he is now 27
6. Favorite Christmas Meal:
Turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, my sister’s broccoli rice casserole, and pecan pie
7.Favorite Christmas Cookie:
Old fashioned shortbread cookies with icing and sprinkles
8. Favorite Place to Be: I like to turn off all the lights and be in the den with the tree RIGHT BY MYSELF…it is so special – I don’t even know if my men (husband and boys) ever knew I did it – still do
9. Favorite Memory: My sister Jean, that I share every childhood memory of Christmas with, she died and is with the Lord now; well, every Christmas Eve we would sleep together (we shared a room and had twin beds, but we would sleep in the same twin bed) and get up several times during the night to sneak and look for our gifts – new dolls especially
10. Favorite Christmas Movie: Elf
Merry Christmas and Much Love
GA JAN
Ok, since you recommended it….I just purchased Elf! I haven’t watched it yet and wonder if it’s appropriate for a 10 and 8 year old?? I can’t wait to see what all the laughing is about!!! š
It’s the most wonderful time of the year!
1. Fresh Tree or Fake Tree – Fake and lit with fiber optics!
2. Favorite Ornament – A set of clear balls that look like giant bubbles. They have a rainbow effect and my mom gave them to me many years ago.
3. Favorite Christmas Song – O Little Town of Bethlehem (hard to choose but I just love the words to this old carol).
4. Favorite Tradition – Lighting luminaries outdoors on Christmas Eve night and imagining the angels as they announced to the shepherds baby Jesus had been born. And then wondering how it was for Mary to go through what she went through.
5. Favorite Gift Ever Received – A baby doll when I was about 6 or 7 years old. She was the size of a real baby and she had a wooden knob on her back that when wound upĆ¢ā¬Ā¦her head would gently move and a lullabye played. I still have her. And a baby quilt for my dolls that my grandmother Ć¢ā¬ÅBobĆ¢ā¬Ā made me! Yes, we called her Bob. Her real name was Emma Alice.
6. Favorite Christmas Meal – My momĆ¢ā¬ā¢s dressing and hen cooked to perfection, fried squash patties, Spanish Corn Casserole, fresh peas, homemade yeast rolls, Orange FrappeĆ¢ā¬ā¢ congealed salad (love it!) and COCONUT CREAM PIE!
7. Favorite Christmas Cookie – Fruit Cake cookies. Favorite candy – Martha Washington Balls.
8. Favorite Place To Be – At home with my honey.
9. Favorite Memory – My nephew, David (who passed away in Ć¢ā¬Ė05 at the age of 24) playing his guitar for all of us at my parents the Christmas before he died. He was awesome with a guitar. IĆ¢ā¬ā¢ve never seen fingers move so fast as he played.
10. Favorite Christmas Movie – Prancer! I just love the little girlĆ¢ā¬ā¢s faith. And it was against all odds!
Merry Christmas!
1. Fresh Tree/Fake Tree? I love fresh trees, but I always wind up putting a fake up one every year.
2. Favorite Ornament- An angel I've had since I was about 2 or 3 years old.
3. Favorite Christmas Song- It's a tie between 'Mary did you know' & 'O Holy Night.' I do have to say that this year, though, my favorite song has been "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth." My cousins' little boy lost his two front teeth last month & he's been singing that song for the last few weeks. So precious!
4. Favorite Tradition- Getting together with family on Christmas Eve.
5. Favorite Gift Ever Received- I don't think I have any Christmas gift that stands out as a 'favorite.' I'm very appreciative of anything given to me.
6. Favorite Christmas Meal- Turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, peas, rolls
7. Favorite Christmas Cookie- Gingerbread
8. Favorite Place to be- Home
9. Favorite Memory- Checking under the tree & seeing that Santa had visited!!
10. Favorite Christmas Movie- A Christmas Story.
Exams are finally over so I can answer now!
1. Fresh Tree or Fake Tree
Fresh
2. Favorite Ornament
I loved my older brother's baby's first Christmas ornament. I thought it was so cute! But they said he should be the one to put it up… which does make sense. I love a Santa head one too.
3. Favorite Christmas Song
"All I Want for Christmas is You"- Mariah Carey & I was really into "Breath of Heaven" last year after my friend sang it in the Christmas pageant
4. Favorite Tradition
Cinnamon rolls for breakfast
5. Favorite Gift Ever Received
I'd had a lot of good ones- I got really excited about a Home Alone 2 soundtrack cassette tape
6. Favorite Christmas Meal
Ham, fruit, cresent rolls, green beans
7. Favorite Christmas Cookie
Frosted sugar cookies
8. Favorite Place To Be
Home
9. Favorite Memory
I used to really enjoy my cousins when they were toddlers
10. Favorite Christmas Movie
Home Alone
Mariah Carey is talented and all, but if you have ever heard Cece Winans sing ‘O Holy Night’ live, well, then you have heard the very sound of heaven.
Fresh tree: You go out and pick and chop down.
Fav. Ornament: One our son made it was Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus.
Fav. Song: The First Noel(Choir version)
Fav. tradition: Hanging out with family and friends.
Fav. gift ever received: To meet my mom for the first time. Had been taken away from her at age 2.
Fav. Christmas meal: Turkey, homemade stuffing, cranberry sauce(the fake kind), Brussels sprouts, mashed potatoes.
Fav Christmas cookies: Scottish Shortbread
Fav. Place to be: Asheville, NC
Fav. Memory: We would go to Molly and Jack's house(my grandpa &Grandma) and have a special breakfast and then open presents. I miss my grandma so much. I loved watching her face when she opened her presents.
Fav. Christmas Movie: It's a wonderful life.
Blessings to you and your family. Have an awesome Christmas and remember Jesus is the reason for the season.
thanks for the fun memories Beth, Amanda and Melissa!
**NEW FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MEMORY that happened TODAY**
My daughter just got in from school (public school down the street). She was talking about her music class and how she learned that some people celebrate Hanukkah and not Christmas. She said “We don’t, though. We celebrate Jesus’ birthday.”
I asked her if she told her teacher that, and she said “No, but Meredith did.” (Meredith being her favourite friend in Kindergarten.)
It warms my heart to think of two little 5 year olds sitting side by side in music class standing up for Jesus’ birthday in a dark world. And the fact that these two girls love each other even though they don’t yet realise the full significance of what being sisters-in-Christ means!
It gives me great joy to know your favorite movie is Elf. That is hands down the most awesome Christmas movie ever made.
Tree? artificial
That’s what you get when you grow up in a family of six around here. [But, then again, my dear parents had all 4 of us ‘girls’ within 5-5 years of one another, my being the youngest child.] =)
Favorite Ornament? “Angie”, our Christmas Angel tree topper
Favorite Christmas song? I have two: 1) Silent Night; 2) Breath of Heaven
Tradition? Gathering as many family members as possible together for Christmas Eve Service
Gift? a Dorothy Hamill Barbie doll, with ice skates, the Christmas after she had won the gold medal at the 1976 Winter Olympics [and, mind you, these dolls were NOT an easy item to find back then], but I still played with it… And, I still have it in a special place, too.
Christmas Meal? Turkey and gravy, with chestnut dressing [the roasting kind of chestnuts], etc.
Christmas cooky? I have two, and both come from my 50% Norwegian heritage. One is a tart like cooky called “Sand Bakkels”, made in small tins; the second is even more unusual, as it is a cone shaped, crepe kind of treat, called “Krumkake”, which stands for crumbcake in Norwegian, so one must eat this one over a bowl or something, as if made correctly, it will fall apart as it is eaten
=). But, the best part is that you have to buy some spray whipped topping to fill the insides with before eating them. Yum ! See them here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jim_lahey/2060536250/
Favorite Place to be: With my family and close friends
Favorite Movie: Miracle on 34th Street and The Little Drummer Boy
Merry CHRISTmas to you all !!!
In Christ’s Love,
Jennifer O.
Southern Wisconsin
P.s. Anyone want some really cold temperatures and some measurable snow ??? The forecasters are telling us that we may get between 8-12 inches of snow between December 18th to Dec. 19, 2008 !!!
I guess I have got a couple more things to add here, I already posted, but I was interested in seeing how many people love Mary did you know after I posted it I was thinkiong I was weird cuz no one had posted it at that point, but I knew Meet me in St. Louis would be a stretch, I just think the scene where the sisters are in the snow and Judy Garland is tell her little sister “as long as we’re tgether that’s all that matters,” had such impact on me, because I didn’t have that growing up and I so longed for to have a family that cares like that for each other. My children are all now grown and married having children of their own and to hear them say, “As long as we are together Mum that is all that matters” bring tears to my eyes… As a young woman praying that prayer and only believing God for it, to know now here I am and at the end of the day that is all that really matters is an answered prayer to my heart. (One of hundreds of answers to prayer I might add.).
My daughter-in-law sent me this following post if it isn’t to long I hope to get it in this post and it is truer than true.
1 Corinthians 13 Christmas Style.
If I decorate my house with lovely plaid bows, strands of dazzling lights and shiny glass balls but do not show love to my family-I am just another decorator.
If I slave away in the kitchen baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals, and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family-I’m just another cook.
If I work in the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family-It profits me nothing.
If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir’s cantata but do not focus on Christ I have missed the point…
Love stops the cooking to hug the child.
Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.
Love is kind, though harried and tired.
Love doesn’t envy another home that has co-ordinated Chrsitmas China and table linens.
Love doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of the way.
Love doesn’t give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can’t.
Love bears all things, believe all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never fails. Video games will break, pearl necklaces will get lost, golf clubs will rust. But giving the gift of love will endure forever.
As I said my daughter-in-law sent this to me and it is a gentle reminder to love as Christ would have us love this holiday season.
Merry Christmas LPM ladies thanks for letting me share my world with you all this year via this blog.
Beth thanks for being who you are.
Amanda and Melissa thanks for coming alongside your mum in all she does.
Tell Keith I appreciate all a husband of a busy wife lives with(my dear man does the same), thank him from a lady in Canada for his willingness to let his wife follow God’s call on her life, and we would love to see him make the trip to our fair region when Beth comes sometime to the Eastern Maritime Coast of Canada.
Again Merry Christmas to the greastest groups of ladies this side of heaven.
Iris