Christmas Q & A

An idea stolen borrowed from her umbrella, because I love anything holiday related :)

1. Eggnog or hot chocolate?

Hot chocolate!!!(!!!)  I love hot chocolate, especially Caribou Coffee's milk hot chocolate.  At Christmas time, I like to get it with a half shot of peppermint flavoring and topped with Andes mints.  Yum! :)

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

Santa wrapped some of our presents, but growing up there was always one gift under the tree for my brother and I that was left unwrapped by the jolly man.  As a grown up, Santa leaves us stockings instead full of unwrapped surprises.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?

White!  I love white lights on the tree and the house.  They look so warm and inviting!

4. Do you hang mistletoe?

Not typically, though John has been requesting some, haha. 

5. When do you put your decorations up?

It was tradition for us to put the tree up the day after Thanksgiving with all sorts of snacky foods (shrimp and cocktail sauce, veggies and dip, meat and cheeses, candies...).  I hope to continue that tradition.  

6. What is your favorite holiday dish?

Green bean casserole.  I could eat it all day every day.  Oh, and lefse.  :)

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child?

I was ALWAYS the first one up on Christmas morning.  I mean, tip toeing down the hall at 4 in the morning, then 4:30, the 5:00, until someone else was awake and I felt like it was okay to officially be awake.  I also swear I heard sleigh bells on our roof one year as a child.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?

That he exists?  As a very young child. :)

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?

Not growing up, but now that John and I are starting our own traditions, we have decided to do a Christmas Eve gift; something picked out for each other specifically to be opened on Christmas Eve.

This is John's; can you guess what it is? ;)

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?

Right now, we have lots (LOTS) of hand-me-downs from my parents (they're really pretty glass ornaments).  Eventually, I'd like to have a tree full of ornaments that we have collected through the years.  Also, as a rule, I do the lion's share of the decorating because, you know, I love Christmas!

11. Snow! Love it or dread it?

Depends on if I have to drive in it.  It can get pretty brutal here in Minnesota, but generally I love to watch the snow fall as long as I can be curled up with some hot chocolate.

12. Can you ice skate?

Yep!  Don't all Minnesotans grow up ice fishing and ice skating?

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?

For many years, my grandma has bought my brother and I a Christmas ornament that is a little box with a folded up bill inside.  The boxes are all hanging on our tree and always will. :) 

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

Being with family and friends.

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?

Pumpkin pie!

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?

It's hard to pick one, but for many years, my family would gather around the Christmas tree at my grandma's on Christmas Eve and sing Christmas carols.  I also LOVE going to the holidazzle every year (a Christmas parade with lighted floats).  And I have to watch a whole myriad of Christmas movies every year: Elf, Love Actually, The Grinch (the original), Rudolph, and A White Christmas

Santa is ALWAYS the grand marshal :)

17. What tops your tree?

A silver star.

18. Which do you prefer: giving or receiving?

Giving!  I love the feeling of finding the perfect gift for someone.  I start super early too, like August haha!

19. Candy canes: yuck or yum?

In moderation, yum.  In hot chocolate as a stir stick?  Double yum.

20. Favorite Christmas show/movie?

As mentioned above, I kind of love them all.  However, White Christmas and Rudolph hold a special place in my heart.  As a little girl, I sang with Rosemary Clooney during a Christmas concert at Orchestra Hall!  And Rudolph, that piercing horrible glowing noise, I just love it.  I can't help myself.

21. Saddest Christmas song?

Percy the Puny Poinsettia.  Even a plant with no uncle or aunt shouldn't spend Christmas day by himself!

22. What is your favorite Christmas song?

"Snow," from White Christmas, and "Baby It's Cold Outside." I also used to sing "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" endlessly as a child (much to my grandma's dismay)