Christmas Survey

Thanks Septembermom for the idea!

Have you started your Christmas shopping?

Almost done.  Just one more thing to pick up for Brian, and a thing or two to get at a children’s store for Joseph.

Tell me about one of your special traditions.

Christmas morning as a kid- we had to wait to wake our parents up until 6 (why?  what was wrong with them?  Now I know.), and then we all lined up and waited in the hallway while they put in their contacts, started some coffee (something else I never understood- there are PRESENTS OUT THERE, PEOPLE!), and turned on the tree lights.

Then, my mom and dad would sit down in the living room with their camera, and tell us that it was time to come out!!

I just loved that waiting in the hallway time- all shivery and excited!  And then, when we finally had the go-ahead?  GAH!  The best moment of my whole year!

Are you a Black Friday shopper?

 Nope.  I am not big on crowds.  Or waiting in line.  Unless there was something big that I wanted to get that some store was giving away for free, I just don’t think it is worth it. 

I will pay the extra 8 bucks to get that sweater at a time when I can walk right in, grab it, and pay.

When do you put up your tree?

As a child, it was always around my sister’s birthday (Dec. 11).  I think because my mom couldn’t stand to have it up any longer than that. (She is known to take down holiday decorations the day after the holiday…or sometimes the night of…)

Now that I have my own family tree, we tend to get it around the first weekend in December.  The longer that tree is up and making my house smell good, the better!

Do you travel at Christmas or stay home?

We definitely stay home. 

We will probably always travel to Oregon to see our families for Thanksgiving, but it is important for us to have our children in their own home on Christmas morning.   Maybe because I was always home for Christmas?  Even though it means that we will be alone with just our nuclear family (aka Brian, Joseph and Me), it is worth it to us.

What is your funniest Christmas memory?

One year when I was an early teenager and SOOO obsessed with Nsync (remember them, anyone?), I opened a present that held a bunch of NSYNC gifts.  A cd, a calendar,…I forget what else.

But, also, in the package, was a box of Insync brand tampons!  My mom thought that she was soooo funny, and I remember being SO embarrassed to be opening up TAMPONS in front of my DAD!  I think there is even a picture of me somewhere with a bright red face holding the box.

What is your favorite Christmas movie of all time?

Miracle on 34th Street, the original.  Well, tied with The Muppets Christmas Carol. 

Do you do your own Christmas baking? What is your favorite Christmas treat?

Yes.  I always loved it when I would go to someone’s house and they would have a plate full of like 5 different kinds of cookies and treats!

My mom was of the “make a treat, give everyone a few days to eat it, and then put it down the garbage disposal to remove further temptation” camp.  Why the garbage disposal and not the trash?  Because she would fish it out in a later moment of desperation. (Oh, how I love my mom!)

So, I have made it my mission to make several kinds of treats every year, so that my kids and I can have the excitement of seeing a plate heaped with various goodies! (Although, let me tell you, it is a lot less exciting when you have to make them…)

My favorite treat is probably these Chocolate Peanutbutter bars that my childhood best friend’s mom always made. (Shout out to Mrs. V!) 

I could eat a whole pan. 

Two years ago, when Joseph was a little non-sleeping newborn, I would cut myself a square every time he woke up in the middle of the night to nurse, just to make myself feel better.

And that is why I never lost the last of that baby weight.

Fake or real tree?

REAL!  And generally Douglas Fir.  I just love the smell of a new tree…it is worth the pine needles to me!

What day (as a mom) does the actual panic set in to get it all done?

Hmmm.. not feeling that yet.  Maybe just having the one kid is keeping it manageable?  Plus, the good news is that I love to shop.  And online shop. (Bad news for Brian…)

Are you still wrapping presents on Christmas Eve?

No, but the stockings will need to be filled.

What is your favorite family fun time at Christmas?

I would say that picking out and cutting down a Christmas tree was always the highlight.

But, now that we are in Idaho- where only potatoes will grow- we get our tree from a lot.  So that’s less fun.

What Christmas craft do you like the best?

I used to love making Gingerbread houses, and I would often have a Gingerbread-house-making-birthday party! (My birthday is Dec. 21st.)  But, now that I am responsible for the mess…it is a little daunting.  Maybe when Joseph gets older.

Also, cutting out snowflakes is still pretty rad.  It always surprises me when I unfold it and find a SNOWFLAKE!!…it’s the little things.

Christmas music. Yes or no, and if yes, what is your favorite song?

Oh, yes!  Brian does not like Christmas music at ALL, but I LOVE IT!

And, let’s just say that we have a Christmas clock that plays a carol every hour, Pandora on our tv is set to the Christmas channel, the radio is on a non-stop Christmas station, and there is a Christmas CD in our car’s cd player.

I like compromises.

My favorite song is probably Mary’s Boy Child by Boney M.  Listen to it, you will love it! (If it is too long for you, skip to 3min. 30 sec. in- that’s where it starts to pick up.)

When do you plan to finish shopping?

This weekend.  By the way, Brian, you need to watch Joseph for me for a while this weekend while I finish shopping.  Surprise!