Christmas Meme

Saw this on the Knit for Joy and decided to join in on the fun. I'd love to see your answers, so if you decide to answer, leave me a comment so I can go read it!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
I like the look of wrapping paper better, but have some bags if I’m under a time crunch.

2. Real tree or Artificial?
Definitely a “real” freshly cut tree. One of our favorite traditions is to drive to the U-Cut lot and choose our own tree.

3. When do you put up the tree?
I like to put it up as soon as possible. Usually this is the Saturday after Thanksgiving or the next weekend.

4. When do you take the tree down?
Usually some time around the 1st of January.

5. Do you like eggnog?
Yes, but I like it “watered” down with whole milk.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
I have 2 that stick out in my mind, a 10-speed bicycle and a flute. I had been taking lessons on a fife and had finally grown enough so that my fingers could reach the keys on the real thing.

7. Hardest person to buy for?
The guys in my family. I have 3 brothers and a brother-in-law, along with my dad, father-in-law, and husband.

8. Easiest person to buy for?
My mom, sister and sisters-in-law.

9. Do you have a nativity scene?
Yes, I collect them. I have one that my mom made for me taking the ceramic from green ware to finished product and several others that I have purchased over the years. I like to decorate my tree with various mini-nativities.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
My husband usually takes care of this and always mails them or hands them to people in person.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
I had an aunt who never seemed to realize what age I really was. She would often give age inappropriate gifts, but was always so well meaning.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
I’m not sure. I like them, but some of the Santa Claus type movies get on my nerves after awhile.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
I am always on the look out for ideas. However, I do like to make my gifts, so I've been known to start knitting for Christmas gifts in January.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
I have only re-gifted an item when going to the parties at my work and church. There, we play a “White Elephant” game with the gifts and the whole point is to bring something nutty. However, my husband ended up with a used, but cleaned up, cat litter box one year!

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Turkey. I like most of the “special” foods that are served for dinners like Thanksgiving and Christmas. I would have them more often, but they take so long to cook!

16. Lights on the tree?
Yes, of course! I like to use 600-800 white lights on our 6-7 foot tree.

17. Favorite Christmas song?
Any Christ-mas song. When the Christian radio stations start playing songs like Rudolph and Frosty, I switch the station. I don’t have anything against these songs, but enjoy others so much more and find that those “Winter Festival” songs just inappropriate for the Christian stations.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
Home, for sure. Nearly all of my family lives within a hundred miles of my house!

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?
No.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
Either. It just depends on what I decide to put there when finishing the decorating.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
We open gifts with my family on Christmas Eve as that is when we’re all together. Then, we open our gifts to each other on Christmas morning, following up with gifts at my in-laws in the afternoon.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
The commercialism. People should not need to fear for their lives if they work in retail or if they are standing in line to get into a store. This worry about getting the best stuff for cheap drives me nuts and most people don’t even really need the junk they buy any way!

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?
I collect blue and purple glass ball ornaments for the tree. I have one set that has the names of God on them in Hebrew and in English. The gold calligraphy on the balls is so beautiful.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?
Turkey! ;)

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?
I haven’t given it much thought. I know my husband and a couple others will want to know, though.

26. Lights, blinking or always on?Always on, always straight, and always white. I can appreciate the fancy stuff that others do with their decorating, but for my house, I like it very simple and elegant.

Feel free to copy this meme and make it your own!