Christmas Tag

I know I have frightened many of you with my hatred of tags -- and junk forwards as well -- but there is one kind of tag I like: CHRISTMAS TAGS! So here goes

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I love to wrap, so of course wrapping paper. I wrap everything in sight! I also wrap early. I buy the rolls at Costco as soon as they come out -- which is in October. Dustin is off in the snow of Colorado and he asked if he could wear his new coat I bought him for Christmas. NOPE! And you know why -- because it's been wrapped since the day the box arrived. I'll take things out of the box so I can wrap each item individually. It's a sickness.

2. Real tree or artificial? Fake. We did real one year and then Dustin missed the pick up date, so it sat on the side of our house until May. So yeah, FAKE!
I got this tree as birthday presents and it's still one of my favorite memories. Dustin had hidden it in a neighbor's garage, so he snuck off with the kids and came blaring down the street with Christmas music playing out of the car and honking the horn. I loved it!

3. When do you put up the tree? The day after Thanksgiving -- the most wonderful day of the year.

4. When do you take the tree down? Ummmmm, sometime before New Years. I get antsy to get things cleaned up and all organized quickly.

5. Do you like eggnog? About 3 sips of it. I'll buy a whole thing of it and then we have to throw over half of it away.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Anything to do with dolls. Dolls, doll houses, paper dolls, barbie dolls. Loved them all.

7. Do you have a nativity scene? Three -- One is nice one from my Aunt, one is a Little People from my Aunt, and my kids love the felt nativity scene we got from a girlfriend a few years ago. You can dress the people up and everything.

8. Hardest person to buy for? Dustin is a pain in the butt. He cannot commit to anything. I'll come up with fabulous ideas and he'll veto them all. Then he'll say he wants something like running shoes. The one thing I don't buy without people trying them on is running shoes! They're expensive and they all fit differently.

9. Easiest person to buy for? Nate. Ellie's at the I-already-have-everything-but-I-still-thinki-I-need-something-huge-and-stupid-and-expensive stage, Sadie's at the what-the-heck-do-you-need stage, but Nate is at the I-love-everything-you-get-for-me-even-if-it's-just-a-piece-of-paper stage. Just right!

***Speaking of Sadie, I'm starting to feel guilty about not getting her anything. So whoever comes up with something really fabulous I can get her gets a PRIZE. ***

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever got? I love every gift. Really I do. And if you believe that you're crazy.

11. Mail or email Christmas cards? MAIL! I love going to the mail and getting Christmas cards! It's my FAVORITE part of the season. So much of life is in *cyber space* these days, that I love having something physical to hold onto. Plus I love t put up the pictures and look at the cute photos of their kids. . . and I put them all in an album that I look through to see how everyone's kids have grown. Sometimes when I go to the mail and I don't have any Christmas cards, I curse my e-mail card friends under my breath. If they had mailed theirs, maybe I'd have mail today! I hope Chelsea is feeling guilty now ;p

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Miracle of 34th Street and ELF!

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? December 26th. Ha ha, just kidding. I usually get stuff starting in the summer. Right when I start my Christmas cards. For me Christmas starts in July.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Uhhh, maybe. I'm not telling. yes.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Sugar cookies. Any neighbor gifts. . . pretty much anything with carbs.

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear. The kids like colored though, so the advent tree has colored lights on it just for them.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Silent Night. I love that commercial where all the babies are sleeping. . . Such a peaceful song.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home! I've done the traveling and I'd prefer to be home, where my kids seem to not get sick.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Possibly. Do I want to try? No.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel -- Ellie picked her out because she has a harp.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? What cheat opens their present on Christmas Eve? LAME! Christmas morning. All of them. Even if it takes 3 hours.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Weight gain.

23. What do you love most about Christmas? All of it! There are so many fun traditions and you really realize how blessed you are. I love the cards so I can catch up with friends, gifts from people to remind you how many people you love, traditions my kids look forward to every year, all the service opportunities so you can serve others, the music. . Can you tell it's my favorite time of the year?

I also have to share a funny Ellie moment. Before Dustin's flight the other night, he put a dinner in the crock pot for me. I also popped some refridgerated rolls in the oven that my girl friend had brought over the night before. So Ellie sees me in the kitchen and thinks I'm actually making things. After dinner she says, "Thanks for making us dinner mom! You never do that." I didn't bother correcting her that a. I didn't make dinner and b. UH YES I have! I may not do it a lot and it may not be the best, but I cook *something* at least every other week!

** DON'T forget about the PRIZE! I'm desperate people! Give me suggestions **