Christmas 20 Questions

Funny how everyone has such different likes and dislikes at Christmas, which is part of what makes Christmas so delightful!

As I was thinking about that recently, I remembered a situation that I experienced last year, when I was doing some after-Christmas bargain hunting. I was browsing at Hobby Lobby, and saw a tall, sparkly, hot pink artificial tree standing in an isle, all alone, with broken ornaments and miscellaneous Christmas items scattered about.

I chuckled to myself, wondering why any company would even make such a hideous sight, and thinking that nobody in America would ever buy such an ugly tree. Hot pink? But as I headed to the checkout counter, believe it or not, a lady was buying that hot pink tree! I wanted to ask her what she was going to do with it, but I decided against it. I guess that old saying "to each his own", rang true!

Today I am going to share my answers to 20 Christmas questions. If you have anything special or unique to share with us that you do at Christmas, then post it in the comments! Or copy and paste all 20 questions to answer. Merry Christmas, and happy differences!

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Egg nog - ewww. The thought of drinking soggy, cold egg residue actually makes me gag a little. Hot chocolate with whipped cream or marshmallows, definitely.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? My mother used to get so upset when I was little, because my grandmother would wrap our presents and put "from Santa" on the tag - so I never do that! It was a little confusing at the time, and I didnt want to pass down any confusion to my own kids. So Santa sets out the gifts for the kids in each of their assigned areas on Christmas morning, and all the presents under the tree are from Mom and Dad (even though none of my kids believe in Santa anymore, sniff, sniff, we still do this).

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? I am most certainly a white-light kind of girl. My kids wish I was a little more exciting with the lights, but white lights seem so elegant, and peaceful, and beautiful, so I always stick with that. I did give in and put colored lights on our little Christmas tree in the kitchen that is decorated with all candy-themed ornaments, so that satisfies everyones color needs.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? Nope - where do you get that stuff anyway? Hmmm.

5. When do you put your decorations away? Usually the first or second day after Christmas. Since we get a live tree every year right after Thanksgiving, I usually have had my fill of millions of pine needles on the floor by the time Christmas is over.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Sweet Potato Casserole, covered in gooey marshmallows and crushed pecans.

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child: Oohh, so many. To name a few....Sitting at the top of the stairs on Christmas morning with my brother and sister, waiting anxiously as my dad started the fire, turned on all the tree lights and the Christmas music, and then called us downstairs to see what Santa had brought. Also going to the Moravian Love Feast every Christmas Eve. And visiting my grandmothers house and being filled with the smells of delicious goodies as soon as we arrived, while being "forced" to sit at the piano with her and sing Christmas carols - an activity I would give anything to be able to do now.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? When I looked out the window one late Christmas Eve, scanning the skies for Santas sleigh lights, and instead noticed my neighbors garage light was on. I then saw them carrying a large swinging chair down the driveway, and the next morning, that same chair was sitting in my living room, from Santa. I think I already knew the truth before that, but that was the kicker.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Actually we celebrate Christmas with my in-laws every Christmas Eve, so we open lots of presents! But that does not spoil the fun on Christmas morning, just makes the fun of Christmas last even longer.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? I have three trees (okay, remember I told you I was a Christmas-aholic, so give me some grace. Smiles) My main tree is decorated with all red balls, Santa ornaments, red poinsettias, and red ribbons. My upstairs tree is decorated with all silver ornaments and crystal ornaments, and silver ribbons. And the third tree is our candy tree in the kitchen, with peppermint ribbons and lots of yummy looking ornaments. (not including the four huge holly trees in the front of the house, that I decorate with white lights each year)

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Love it when it falls, hate it two hours later. Glad we only get snow every few years in Charlotte, and only two inches at a time. I despise snow make up days at school, because it always interferes with our life. So Im fine with no snow, thank you very much.

12. Can you ice skate? I used to ice skate as a child, even on real frozen ponds. Now I would probably just break my leg, and other essential body parts.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? Remember that swinging wicker chair I mentioned? Loved it, for years, even took it to college with me.

14. What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Spending it with my family, and making it memorable and special for my children. Remembering the real reason for the season.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Blueberry Crunch Cake (awesome recipe from Paula Deen), Pumpkin Pie and Pecan Pie (nothing beats my mothers homemade pecan pie!)

16. What tops your tree? All three of my trees have big oversized bows on the top, with the ribbon cascading around or down the tree. When I was growing up, we had a little angel that topped our tree every year, named Angie. She was like a special sweet friend that we pulled out every December. My mother gave her to me several years ago, and now me and my children carefully pull Angie out each year, and prominently display her on our mantle.

17. Which do you prefer - giving or receiving? Although I love presents, (of course, what girl doesnt?!), I do love giving. I love to see people open something that I handpicked just for them, and especially when they like it, it fits, and they dont want to return it. The joy of giving became even more special after we had children - seeing the smiles on their faces on Christmas morning makes receiving gifts seem unimportant!

18. What is your favorite Christmas Song? I share the love of the song that has always been my mothers favorite song - Its Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas. Considering the fact that I listen to Christmas music for about eight weeks every winter, to the chagrin of my family, it is hard to narrow down anything more than that.

19. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum?? Yummy, as long as they are the normal peppermint candy canes, and not all those strange flavors and colors that are on the shelves now.

20. Favorite holiday movie? My all time favorite is Its A Wonderful Life, but now with all the new Christmas movies, that is a hard question for me to answer. I could watch the movies ELF and Christmas With The Kranks, every day of my life and still laugh hysterically. Plus I love all the Santa Clause movies, and Home Alone. Believe it or not, I still love Rudolph and Frosty.

Did I say I really like Christmas? That might be the understatement of the year.

Hope these little questions helped think about some of your fun and special Christmas memories and traditions today!

Have a Christmas spirit-filled day!