I am joining Michelle @ Fabulous in First for a fun holiday party. Do you remember the get-to-know-you linky party at the beginning of the school year? I really enjoyed reading about some of my favorite bloggers so I decided to join this time.
Hot Chocolate or Eggnog?
I don't like either one.
Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them underneath the tree?
Santa always wraps his presents at our house in his own special paper.
Colored lights or white?
I love colorful lights - inside and outside.
Our cat, Ivan, helped us decorated the tree today.
Lexi loved the lower branches. "Ahhhh!" She said, "A new scratching post!"
When do you decorate?
I usually like to decorate early in the season. I like to have everything up by December 1st. The past few weeks my husband has been traveling quite a bit so the last thing he felt like doing on the weekend was helping us decorate. We finally got our tree today and will put up our outside lights tomorrow.
Real or fake tree?
We have had both through the years. When I was 35 I was diagnosed with asthma. For some reason, all of the dust on a fake tree was harder on my asthma than the smell of a real tree. So, we've had real trees for about 10 years.
What tops your tree?
Star
Favorite Christmas memories or traditions?
I was always very excited about Christmas as a child. I had trouble going to sleep and then would wake up very early. Most Christmas mornings I woke up around 3:30-4:00 a.m. when my parents were getting ready to go milk the cows. I grew up on a dairy farm. They made me wait until they were finished before we could open gifts. It was torture to sit and look at our beautiful tree full of gifts and not be able to open them right then. Plus, I had to be quiet because my two brothers were still asleep. Quiet was not my nature!
I am still the first one to wake up. Even when my daughter was little, she did not wake up early. Obviously she took after her father and uncles!
Do you remember your favorite gift as a child?
I have always loved writing, school supplies, playing school, and being a librarian. When I was in 1st or 2nd grade I got a desk for Christmas. I spent many hours at that desk pretending to be either a teacher or librarian.
Do you prefer giving or receiving?
I love to give gifts whether it's a holiday or not.
What is your favorite Christmas song?
There are so many that it's hard to choose.
--Brenda Lee's - Rockin' around the Christmas Tree
--Mariah Carey's - All I Want for Christmas is You
Candy Canes. Yuck or Yum?
I love candy canes by themselves or crunched up in melted almond bark. Super yummy!
Favorite Christmas movie?
Christmas movies has always been a "thing" of my husband. Every year he gets a new one in his stocking. We have a big collection and watch Christmas movies the entire month of December. Each year we watch It's a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Carol. I also like Love Actually, Family Man, and Home Alone.
Do you shop online or at stores?
Most of my shopping is local. The only online shopping I do is for my husband because he wants stuff for his motorcycles.
Photo cards, letter or store bought card?
I've used all 3 at some point. The past few years I have been getting fewer and fewer cards. Now I only send a card if someone sends one to me. In the past, I mailed a card to everyone in my address book on December 1st. I guess times are changing.