A Christmas Getting to Know you

My friend Lynn had this on her blog and I thought I'd join in the fun. If you do too then let me know!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? It's much more fun to unwrap a gift than to pull it out of the bag!

2. Real tree or artificial? We've had artificial since we've been married, but I really like the real ones. We had real ones growing up and there's something about the real pine smell.

3. When do you put up the tree? Earlier than we did when I was a kid...we don't really have a set time...if not Thanksgiving weekend then the following weekend

4. When do you take the tree down? Again, no set day on this...I guess when I get tired of it being up and in the way and when I feel like cleaning the house;)

5. Do you like eggnog? Yuck

6. Favorite gift received? Hmm....well I've always been spoiled when it comes to Christmas gifts, but I think my favorite was my Mother's Ring last year

7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yep, but it doesn't have a story behind it like some people's, its just a cheapo one from Wally World

8. Hardest person to buy for? Zach

9. Easiest person to buy for? Hannah

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I really can't think of anything that were terrible, but nobody cares about getting socks for Christmas;) But you need to be thankful for all you're given

11. Mail or email Christmas cards? I like to get Christmas cards and we've always mailed them or letters, but this year you are all getting ecards or letters...I can't justify spending tons of money to mail 100 stamps when I know it is much needed elsewhere (and I don't mean in my household for gifts)

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Elf is funny, but I like the classic It's a Wonderful Life too

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? sometime in December, normally the last minute but this year I'm pretty much done as its not what's important

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Not that I can think of

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Hmmm....I like all the goodies (besides pies)

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? We normally have color but this year I put white up as I wanted something different...I like white

17. Favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night and What Child is This, although my favorite non-CHRISTian Christmas song is Sleigh Ride (ever since we played it for a band concert in high school its been a favorite)

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Home, although it would be nice to travel 'home' one year

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? I sure can

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel, but as a kid we had a star

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning of Christmas? Usually one on Christmas Eve and the rest Christmas morning, although Zach and the kids always beg to open all on the Eve

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? There's more than one...all the Santa hype, the commercialism, how its so about getting and going into debt and not giving...its gotten so far away from Jesus

23. What I love most about Christmas? The fact that God sent JESUS to be born in a lowly manger~ the same JESUS who died on a cross for you and I

I do have to add that living in the south it is hard for it to feel like it is that time of the year, Christmas. When its in the 60s, 70s and 80s and there is no snow it is difficult to fathom that its the middle of December (probably because I grew up with all of the snow).