25 Christmas Questions Meme

Today's meme comes from MamaHen over at Clucks from the Henhouse. It sounded like fun...and it counts as a blog post...so I'm game! Maybe thinking about all these questions will get me MORE into the Christmas spirit around here.

So here's the deal...

1. Post the rules on your blog.
2. Fill out the questions below
3. Tag 5-7 people at the end of your post.
4. Pass on the tag. Have FUN!!

Just so you know...this meme is totally voluntary! I'm not tagging anybody, but if you want to snag it and do it, feel free! Then let me know so I can be sure to check YOURS out.

1.Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
No contest here, HOT CHOCOLATE! I remember my mom making it on the stove WITHOUT a mix! Yep! It CAN be made without those little packets. (That little tidbit was so Bex will know back in the olden days we didn't have the little packets.)

2.Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
Santa has always wrapped the presents...actually, Mr. Fix-It is the champion wrapper around here. I HATE that part! Just give me a bag and I'll stuff it.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?
Both. I like colored and white...especially those twinkle lights! We live so far in the woods we rarely decorate outside--nobody ever sees it! In recent years, the girls strung lights all over the place outside. There's just something about lights in a tree... love em!!

4. Do you hang mistletoe?
No. Though we do like shooting it out of the trees outside!

5. When do you put your decorations up?
Depends on whats going on in our lives. When Bex was young we waited till AFTER her birthday on the 12th. Now, she wants them up earlier. I absolutely REFUSE to put them up before December 1...but we always leave them up until New Years.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
Hmmm...that's a really tough decision. Anything I don't cook is such a treat. I love scalloped potatoes...but never cook them and my SIL and step-mother always make them for Christmas. I like it all...except for green stuff (like broccoli casserole).

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child:
Hmm...I guess the one that stands out most in my mind (kind of weird, I know) but is the year we bought my mom her first microwave oven. A microwave was THEEEE new thing back then. It was an Amana Radarange...SUPER high class in the early '70's! She was sooo excited when my brother brought it in on Christmas Eve. I can still see her eyes lighting up when she pulled the paper off. You're thinking ...She was excited about an appliance? YES!!!

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
I don't really remember. With two OLDER brothers and one younger...THEY probably spoiled it early on.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
We have 3 different gift openings. On Christmas Eve, my whole family (brothers and their families, gparents, and parents) gathers at my Dad's in central Florida...except ONE that we always miss. We open gifts that night with the bigger group. Then Christmas morning we are always at my little brother's house and open gifts with them--more personal. Then when we get back home AFTER Christmas...Bex usually has a special gift Santa leaves at our house while we're out of town. When Bex was small, we thought about being HOME on Christmas morning...but she nixed that idea in quick fashion! She would much rather be with her cousins on Christmas morning...no fun at home alone with just Mom and Dad.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? It's very eclectic. I LOVE homemade ornaments. I still have some I made when I was a kid. Bex generally decorates the tree, anyway. My most special ornament is a decorated instant picture of Bex taken by a nurse at the hospital. Sounds cheesy, huh? But when I was feeling especially blue (and couldn't quit crying) because Bex had to be in the special unit rather than with me, this nurse was wonderful. She taped garland around the edges and brought it to me. I'll always treasure her compassion and understanding.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?
I would love it! It snowed once the day BEFORE Christmas Eve here in Tallytown. We had a great time throwing snowballs at each other! The next day all the roads were iced over. We were one of the last cars to get across the Suwannee River before they closed the bridge on Christmas Eve. We LOVED it!!!

12. Can you ice skate?
Considering I can't even roller skate, I'm wayyyyy too intelligent to even try. On the other hand, Bex and Mr. Fix-It LOVE it and ice skate anytime they get the chance.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
Bex was my best Christmas gift ever! Like Mama Hen, mostly I remember the precious times spent with my family. I think the most memorable gifts are ones I enjoyed being a part of giving to my mom and others. Sounds a little pious, but its true!

14. What is the most important thing about the Holidays for you?
Again, copying Mama Hen....Celebrating Jesus' birth and spending time with family. For me, remembering the reason for the season is the biggest challenge and the greatest reward!

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?
Now you're going to find out just how weird I am....I LOVE a piece of peanut butter fudge stuffed inside a warm yeast roll. TRUE! It just doesn't get any better than that!

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
I love everybody gathering at my Dad's on Christmas Eve. I told Mr. Fix-It when we got married that I didn't care where we spent ANY other holiday, but on Christmas EVE-- I would be at Daddy's house. We've even left for another venue after the celebration on Christmas Eve, but we've NEVER missed being with my Daddy that night. I'll tell you more about all the special things we do that night in another post...just so you'll have SOMETHING to look forward to!

17. What tops your tree?
Whatever Bex puts up there...sometimes a star, sometimes an angel. I'm not all that picky.

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving?
I like BOTH! But as I get older, I find more pleasure in giving than I do in receiving...of course, maybe if I GOT better things I would like that more!! You know--a bit more bling? I don't think Mr. Fix-It believes in Bling...

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song?"
Ahh..I think it changes, but lately..Mary, Did You Know? I love trying to get into the heads of biblical people. What were they thinking? What made them any different than others? I also like Breath of Heaven. Of course, I LOVE all the old standards, too!

20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum?
As long as they are the standard peppermint, YUM!

21. What do you want for Christmas?
I'm so blessed, I can hardly ask for anything more! A safe holiday season for my family and friends is always at the top of my list. After my dad going through a heart-attack this year, I'm just thankful HE is here to celebrate another year with us.

But if I'm just being silly, I would love an iPod to walk with, Bex's car to get fixed, a new stove (since mine has died), or a new microwave. I've also put in for a new frying pan--just in case Santa is checking my blog...

22. Do you attend an annual Christmas Party?
Every year seems different. We've already been to two this year. One was at the Car Museum (Mr. Fix-It is buddies with the owner and put in the security system there) and they fed us the most wonderful, tender, grilled steaks and HUGE baked potatoes. Ahhh...we could do that again ANY day!

23. Do you dress up on Christmas or wear PJs?
I guess PJ's in the morning and dressing a bit better for lunch...you know, actually brushing of the hair (and teeth) and the putting on of makeup...yeah..that's dressing up, right? We are always at my brother's and they take in a lot of strays...so there is always a wonderful crowd and LOTS of food for lunch.

24. Do you own a santa hat?
Probably...but it never reaches the head. I have enough trouble with flat hair...No hat-hair for me!

25. Who do you normally spend Christmas with?
As I said before, we're at my Dad's the afternoon and evening of Christmas Eve, then out to my brother/SIL's for the night. Then we usually spend Christmas Day and night there...unless we leave to go to visit other relatives...which is rare. Usually, by Christmas night, me and my SIL sneak away and head to Ralph's (a burger joint in town).

Well, that's the end of the questions...after answering all of them, I really am starting to get in the spirit of things. Of course, if you know me, I hope you sense the "spirit" in me ALLLL year long! Celebrating Jesus birth is special, but the continuous celebration that HE LIVES should keep us in the spirit all the time!

Stay tuned!