Merry Christmas!

I feel compelled to do this loverly Christmas meme in honor of the special day. Many of you have been hit with it already, but feel free to join in the festivities and give it a whirl if you are up for it.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I love to wrap--I think it has to do with my need to control things. I can make the paper do what I want, ya know. And I like clean lines.

2. Real tree or artificial? I totally get the reason for the real tree, and in fact, we have one each year now that we have kids. It is a big deal to nate and I am happy to ablige. But if it were up to me I would use a fake one. I just feel so bad for the guy, chopped down from his nice home in the forest and brought to my home to DIE. I just find it all so tragic. And honestly, there are a lot of very useful things I can think of spending $50 on. Things that last well into the New Year.

3. When do you put up a Christmas tree? Between Thanksgiving and my birthday, the 14th. Thanksgiving is a little soon, and we've ended up with a few fire hazards before Christmas even hit. I prefer the following week or two.

4. When do you take the tree down? When there are more needles on the ground than on the tree.

5. Do you like eggnog? I love the smell of it, but havent ever tasted it. the "egg" part throws me off a bit.

6. A gift you asked for as a child but never received? No idea. Those memories are stored in that closet my mind rarely visits.

7. Do you have a nativity scene? Of course! "Jesus is the reason for the season," right?

8. Hardest person to buy for? Nate. Every year.

9. Easiest person to buy for? Luxie.

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? In high school I was at my boyfriend's house and happened to glance down at this newspaper ad opened on his kitchen table. It had this tacky jewelery--specifically this bracelet that had a charm that read "someone special." Well I started commenting on how ridiculous it was, and his brother got this funny look on his face. I then looked at my boyfriend and had no doubt about what I'd gotten for Christmas. Needless to say he was less than thrilled to give it to me and I was just as thrilled to wear it. Awkward.

11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail, definitely, but unfortunately I havent gotten around to it yet this year.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? I love "A Christmas Story."

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Around Thanksgiving, but I try to avoid the day after.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes I don’t like to waste and someone might as well appreciate it. (I stole this one from my friend who sent this to me.)

15. Favorite things to eat at Christmas? frosted Christmas cookies, which I make myself sick on each year. Then I start trying to balance it out with the chips and dips and end up on a junk food downer.

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear, although I grew up with the colorful lights on the tree.

17. Favorite Christmas song? O Night Divine (fall on your knees.) I tear up everytime I hear it. I love all the Christmas songs but this one is so amazing to me.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home these days. We used to travel each year (as a child) to my uncle's house. Then nate and I would travel to his parents' house each year before we had kids. Now we stay home, and although I am beginning to love it I miss the days of traveling. Although the thought of traveling with kids makes me happy to be at home!

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? Yes, thanks to that wonderful Rudolph song they play each year.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? nothing. just lights up there the last few years.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Nate's family does it all on Christmas morning so I have conformed to their ways. Growing up we opened gifts Christmas eve and then stockings in the morning. I think I would love to do that again someday.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Hmm, I dont know. I suppose I would say that this year Im going to do my best to not focus on the annoying aspects, and keep my attention on what really matters; my husband, kids, and of course my Savior.

Have a wonderful time friends! And I'll post some pictures as the holiday progresses.