A Christmas List

1. Eggnog or hot chocolate?
Hot Chocolate - with TONS of mini-marshmallows! Honestly, I think Egg Nog is vile. Even the name makes me CRINGE!

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
Wrap, unless they are too big to wrap. This years Ryan's Sit and Spin and Tricycle will remain unwrapped. Actually, Elmo will be riding the tricycle!

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?
Colored on the tree and white icicles on the house. I would love to someday do a second, smaller, tree with white lights, gold garland, and my collection of Hummel ornaments. Every ormanement made from 1974 to 2000 when they stopped making the series.
4. Do you hang mistletoe?
Nope, but I should we need more kisses in our house!

5. When do you put your decorations up?
The day after Thanksgiving (well the couple days after). The tree goes up about 2 and a half weeks before Christmas since we get a real one every year.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
This is so sad, but my favorite holiday dish are little smokies in BBQ sauce. For some reason we only have them at Christmas time. Actually, I am serving them tonight at a party we are having!

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child?
Going downtown to see Santa. Of course, when we were little downtown was still a busy place and safe to travel to. They had Santa on a HUGE mountain and there was a monorail to ride. It was so much fun. Now I work downtown and all that remains is the sad looking monorail and there is a seat for Santa, but I have never seen him sit in it....

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
I was much older than I would like to admit! I was probably 9 and my best friend told me. I was so devastated. I remember asking my mom who told me the truth but also told me that Santa will always be real if you believe in the Christmas spirit. That, my friends, was the deepest thing my mother has ever said!

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
We always opened a gift from our parents on Christmas Eve and it was always PJs. We will be doing that with Ryan this year as well.

10. What kind of cookies does Santa get set out for him?
We haven't done this yet. But growing up I remember how interesting it was that my dad and Santa liked all the same cookies!
11. Snow! Love it or dread it?
DREAD! I do, however, like a pretty white Christmas but I hate travelling in it.

12. Can you ice skate?
HA! I took lesson at 7 and broke my nose learning, or trying to lear, how to skate backwards!

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
It was Tina ballerina! I have tried in vain to find a picture of he ron the internet, but I have had no success! Those of you over 30 may remember her. She had a plastic tiara attached to her head and you could spin her around by it. Creepy, but all I wanted Christmas 1977....
14. What's the most important thing about the holidays for you?
Spending time with family and friends and earing cookies!
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?
One year my MIL bought an ice cream roll from Friendlys. I LOVE peppermint ice cream!
16. What tops your tree?
For the 3rd year running our tree is topped by a star that looks like it is a gingerbread cookie. It was the only topper Rob and I could agree on the first Christmas we decorated a tree!
17. Which do you prefer: giving or receiving?
Giving, but only if I am sure I hit upon the perfect gift, otherwise I get anxious!
18. What is your favorite Christmas Carol?
I love Carol of the Bells, but don't ever ask me to sing it -- you will be sorry!
19. Candy canes?
The most perfect confection EVER! My mom got these chocolate peppermint ones form Hershey this year. Most perfect candy. EVER!