25 Questions (Christmas)

These questions are making the rounds throughout the blogosphere. I took them from Erin’s blog, but you may have seen them on other blogs too.

1. Eggnog or hot chocolate?

Hot chocolate. But I probably will have one glass of eggnog, since my son asked me to make this Chocolate Eggnog Pie for dessert.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?

Santa fills the stockings and leaves unwrapped presents in the vicinity of the tree (usually Santa’s gifts are too big to fit under the tree–ride-on toys, play kitchen, etc.).

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?

We have a white tree with white lights. We have colored lights outside.

4. Do you hang mistletoe?

Nope.

5. When do you hang your decorations up?

Usually mid-December, when I realize that it’s now or never.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?

My mom’s whole berry cranberry relish.

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child?

We used to spend Christmas vacation skiing in Switzerland. For several years we went to Saas Fe, which had a ban on cars! Transportation was by foot, cross-country skis, electric cart or horse-drawn sleigh. I distinctly remember playing at the old hotel with other children. We spoke different languages, but still managed to communicate and make up games to entertain ourselves. We had the run of the hotel and I have no idea what our parents were doing! I still can’t believe the hotel had real candles on the big Christmas tree in the dining room. I’m sure that would be a fire code violation today.

8. What is on your Christmas wish list?

The book Mile Markers by Kristin Armstrong.

9. Do you open a gifts on Christmas Eve?

Sometimes we open one gift on Christmas Eve–I used to buy everyone Christmas PJs and that would be the present we would each open on Christmas Eve. I really like the anticipation of opening presents on Christmas morning.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?

With our white tree, we have to keep the decorations simple–blue balls and silver and white decorations. Some day we will have a green tree again and I can use the more sentimental ornaments.

11. Snow? Love it or dread it?

Love it. We don’t get much of it in the D.C. area, but when we do it is so lovely!

12. Real tree or fake tree?

Couldn’t be much faker.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?

My fuzzy Nike hat with a pocket and built-in headphones for my iPod Nano.

14. What’s the most important thing about Christmas for you?

Getting together with family and friends and attending Christmas service at church.

15. What is your favorite Holiday dessert?

My daughter’s apple pie.

16. What is your favorite tradition?

Baking cookies and then enjoying them for breakfast–one of my ginger crinkles goes perfectly with a cup of coffee!

17. What tops your tree?

A white crochet angel.

18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving?

Definitely giving.

19. What is your favorite Christmas song?

Silent Night

20. Candy canes, yuck or yum?

Yum, for the first few licks. I’m not a big candy person but I like peppermint.

21. Favorite Christmas movie?

How The Grinch Stole Christmas

22. What do you leave for Santa?

Decorated sugar cookies and milk.

23. Do you have a Christmas morning tradition?

Now that my kids are teenagers, my husband and I enjoy a quiet morning having coffee by the Christmas tree and wondering if they will ever get up so we can open our presents!

24. Do you prefer to shop on-line or at the mall?

Both. I definitely get most of my gifts on-line, but I also like to do a bit of shopping at the boutique stores in Old Town and make at least one trip to the mall.

25. Christmas letter or Christmas card?

Christmas card.

There’s no question about a Christmas sweater, but there should be!

Merry Christmas!