Christmas Meme

No one ever tags me with these things.... I, admittedly, borrowed it from another.

1. Egg nog or hot chocolate? Egg Nog!

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Mrs. Santa (that would be MOI!) wraps the presents and then asks Santa to deliver them to our front door. The kids run to the door when they hear the sleigh bells and Santa's knock.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? White

4. Do you hang mistletoe? Nope.

5. When do you put your decorations up? The week after Thanksgiving.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Lefse and a little lutefisk just for traditions sake.

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? Christmas Eve with my extended family at our home... Santa knocking on our door.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I remember one year questioning it, and from then on, I knew.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? We typically celebrate Christmas with my family the weekend preceding Christmas. We play games and enjoy appetizers or finger foods (always featuring traditional Norwegian dishes - lutefish, smoked salmon, and lefse) throughout the day. In the evening, we exchange gifts. Santa will stop by and leave presents on the front porch.

Christmas Eve (or thereabouts), we drive to my husband's parents. My father-in-law prepares Prime Rib for dinner on Christmas Eve. Occasionally, Santa visits in full regalia. My hubby and I open gifts from Santa with the kids traditionally, on Christmas morning with his parents. We then spend the afternoon with my aunts, uncles, and cousins at my mother's sister's home.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? I put some old Christmas music on and put up the tree in the living room. We have an artificial tree and the kids help me by handing me the branches and we build it together. We then adorn it with white lights and all the ornaments we have collected over the years. When we are on vacation, I always buy an ornament to commemorate our trip. Others have been received as gifts from friends, colleagues, and white elephant exhanges. As the kids are getting older now, they are beginning to make ornaments as well. So, in the years to come, our ornament collection will continue to to grow.

11. Snow! Love it or dread it? Love it... although, this year, I'm hoping it doesn't interfere with marathon training (not the snow so much but the melting, packed ice that follows).

12. Can you ice skate? Tried it a few times as a child. Frequently fell on my butt but I can manage to get around the pond/rink.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? As a girl, I remember one year Santa brought me a Barbie Townhouse - it had an elevator and everything! Mom and Dad must have been in touch with Santa because that same year, they gave me tons of Barbie clothes and 2 new dolls. (DD will be receiving a Barbie Dreamhouse from Santa this year - I wish I had pictures of my townhouse to share with her.) As an adult, my hubby is an awesome Santa. I'm not really a jewelry sort of girl - I'm more practical - but he gave me a gold gecko pendant one year that I cherish. Last year, he gave me a Wacom and an iPod (he uses the iPod more than I, however).

14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you? Spending special times with my family. Watching the spirit of Christmas live through my children warms my heart more than you'll know.

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? Grandma's apple pie.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Gathering at my in-laws on Christmas Eve.

17. What tops your tree? A circle of white star lights.

18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving? Definitely giving.

19. What is your favorite Christmas song? This year it is "Here Comes Santa Claus" - it is fun to watch my daughters behavior change as soon as I start to sing it. :) I'm always humming "Jingle Bells" (all year!) but it isn't really a favorite. I like "Silent Night".

20. Candy canes? Yes!

21. Favorite Christmas movie? Sleepless in Seattle (I know, not really a Christmas movie)

22. What do you leave for Santa? Chocolate Chip Cookies, a glass of milk, and some apples for his reindeer.