Christmas MeMe

(Our Christmas tree all decorated...some spots look bare but thats because my lights are twinkling...LOL and thats how I captured the pic)

I'm sitting here wondering if this is the calm before the storm? My house is so peaceful right now and the girls haven't fought a single time this morning and it's nearly lunchtime! Could I have gotten my Christmas wish early? Naw! Say it isn't so! I know Santa didn't bring me the peace I asked for just yet...haha! Frankie is gone hunting for the day, Kayleigh is in the kitchen baking for tonight, Kacey is playing her DS, Nemo is laying in his bed asleep, the tree is lit and the Christmas music is playing. All the presents are bought, wrapped and awaiting inside of a big black garbage bag for the right time to place them. As I sit here, everything is done. It's all ready! I can't believe I'm not rushing around like a mad woman. Nope, not this year! This is REALLY nice. Tonight starts the wonderful festivities and several traditions that we started years ago. My Mom and Brian will come up to our house after they get out of Christmas Eve church service. I usually make something like chili & rice or spaghetti for dinner but this year we decided to take it easy and just do pizza. Yeah, Kacey will already be on a Christmas high ....so whats a little pizza gonna do? LOL! We give Mom & Brian their gifts and then we watch a new Christmas movie. Before the movie starts, we give the girls one gift. They know every year what this gift is but they don't know what they look like....new jammies! This year, the chosen movie is "Santa Buddies". The girls have no idea they are getting it! After the movie is over, we tell Mom & Brian goodbye and then the girls go right to bed so Santa can come.

I'm so excited for the festivities to arrive! So I decided to waste some time doing a Christmas Meme. I won't tag anyone since some of you are really busy this time of year but if you wanna do it then I'd love to see your answers.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Wrapping paper all the way!! Unless the gift is something that just cant be wrapped.

2. Real tree or Artificial?
We've always had artificial. This year will be the last year I can use the tree we have because the needles are starting to come apart and it just needs to be thrown out or possibly donated to a family in need of one. I've always said we'd go buy a real one so we could plant it outside after Christmas but we haven't done that yet. Maybe next year? LOL!

3. When do you put up the tree?
Growing up we always put it up the first Saturday in Dec but since I've had my own house the last 11 years, we decorate everything the day after Thanksgiving when all the crazies are out shopping...LOL!

4. When do you take the tree down?
By the time Christmas is over, I'm ready to get my house back to normal so I usually take it down the week after. Growing up, we always left it up til Jan 1st but by then I'm so over my house being a mess...haha!

5. Do you like eggnog?
I used to LOVE it but now I will have a cup and usually thats all.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
Hmmm.. I would have to say the year I got New Kids On The Block tickets...5th row!!! I didn't know I was getting them and it was a true surprise caught on video!

7 . Hardest person to buy for?
My Mom. She's one that buys everything for herself when she needs it and so when its time to shop, it's hard to find stuff for her. This year was a bit easier ;) I did get her things she wanted and needed!

8. Easiest person to buy for?
Frankie. I always know the things he's needing or wanting so when I shop it's easy to grab stuff for him.

9. Do you have a nativity scene?
You bet! When I moved out, my Mom gave me the nativity that we had under our Christmas tree every year. It's so old and it's seen it's better days but I can't part with it. I've glued the pieces on so many times but it's so worth it. When I pull it out each year, it reminds me of my childhood and I have an appreciation for the sentimental value it holds that my girls won't ever feel for it.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
MAIL!!! We get so caught up in email through the year that Christmas seems to be the only time we get snail mail and my girls LOVE opening the cards!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
This is a tough one! I'm sure I've gotten some rotten gifts but I'm so appreciative that I'd never admit that they were awful :)

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
The Christmas Shoes- If you have NEVER seen this movie then it is a MUST see!

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Usually after Thanksgiving but only because it's hard to hide presents all year long! My Mom starts shopping the day after Christmas for the following year. Crazy!

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Yes (hangs head in shame) LOL!

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas ?
Each year my Mom bakes Christmas cookies for trays she makes to give as gifts. We get one of those trays each year filled with yummy goodness :) My favs!

16. Lights on the tree?
Of course! Make them colored and twinkle too!!!!

17. Favorite Christmas song?
Oh Holy Night - Something about that song gives me this warm feeling all over and I love Celine Dion's version of it :)

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
I wouldn't call it traveling. We go visit :) The girls wake up Christmas morning at home and then we used to go to Granny's house for lunch and then to my Moms for dinner. This year, we are going to Frankie's Moms in place of where we went to Granny's. It's gonna be a rough day for all of us this year with Granny gone.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer?
Sure can! Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Doner, Blitzen… and Rudolph, of course.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
We have a star. Growing up there was always an angel.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Both! LOL! We have Christmas Eve with my Mom and they open their presents from us at our house and the girls open their new jammies. Then Santa comes and we open everything else on Christmas morning and then when we go visit the girls open presents there.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
Traffic!!

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?
I love the ones the girls make for me each year. My all time fav ornament is the one I still hang with Donnie's (NKOTB) pic on it...hahaha!

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?
Homemade mashed potatoes!

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?
A new laptop and the Creative Memories software :)

26. Eggnog or hot chocolate?
Neither...gimme some COFFEE!!

27. Does Santa wrap the presents or leave them open under the tree?
Everything gets WRAPPED!

28. Colored lights on a tree or white?
Colored....and twinkling!!

29. Do you hang mistletoe?
Yes :) Gotta have a reason to stop my hubby in the hallway and kiss him ;) Haha!

30. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
Colored lights that twinkle and ornaments of every shape, style and color!

32. Can you ice skate?
I have enough trouble walking so why in the world would I put my fatass up on a blade? LOL! No I can't!

33. Candy canes: yum or yuck?
YUM!

34. Favorite Christmas decoration?
Hmm...probably my ceramic tree that my Mom made for me. I had one growing up and I loved it and so when I moved out, she made me one of my own and now it can be something I hand down to my girls. It plugs in and all the colored bulbs light up.

35. Stockings- Stuff or Just decoration?
STUFF!!! Thats where all the "little" presents go! :)