I picked this up from Jaquandor who snagged this from SamuraiFrog, It has been a hectic week here under the Big Top and after hosting that huge carnival, wrapping up more gifts, searching for Daniel’s glasses and as always, doing laundry, I am tired so I think I will just take a quiz and relax.
Favorite traditional Christmas song: It’s a tie between “O Holy Night” and “Silent Night”.
Favorite contemporary or modern Christmas song: A three-way tie: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”, “Mary Did You Know” and All is Well”
Least favorite Christmas song: Now here is my chance to say I don’t see why “Carol of the Bells” is considered to be one of the top least favorite Christmas songs. I guess because it is such a great vocal exercise for any choral group. To each his own, I guess. Personally, like Jaquandor, I wonder about “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”. Timing is everything.
Christmas song that makes you cry: “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” always does it to me.
Real or artificial tree: Abigael and I are allergic so we have three artificial: little, big and ginormous.
Favorite Christmas edible treat: I’m with Jaquandor, Christmas time is a yummy time. It seems that those of us in the healthcare industry are especially blessed with lots and lots of edible, yummy treats as gifts. But if I could only choose one it would have to be my mother in law’s fudge. YUMMO!
White lights or multi-colored: white on two of our trees and colored on the kids’ tree and outside.
How many Christmas parties will you go to this year: Four. Three which I got to get all dressed up purty-like for.
Favorite act of kindness to perform during this season: To look someone in the eye and smile.
Favorite sounds of Christmas: the music, the gasps and squeals of delight my son makes when he takes in the lights, decorations and all the gifts under the tree.
Favorite things to wear: my cozy, warm scarves. This year I am also loving my holiday dress I bought for holiday parties and Holly’s upcoming Vegas trip. I feel so hot in that dress thanks to all the hard work on my arms that my trainer has put me through. I promised him full credit for those.
Favorite Christmas movie/TV special: hands down Charlie Brown’s Christmas.
Favorite Christmas episode of a TV Series. While I will admit a number of them warmed my heart, made me smile or made me cry, I can’t seem to recall any particular standout TV series episode. Could it be because the holiday theme is so predictable?
Eggnog or hot chocolate: will either be spiked? If not then I will take some mulled wine please.
Favorite Christmas book: It’s so cute one might get cavities just looking at it, but I do love looking t Anne Geddes’ Twelve Days of Christmas..
Christmas books on my “to read” list: Any suggestions?
Peppermint or cinnamon: What, no nutmeg?
What’s on the top of your tree: A star on two of the trees and an angel on the other
Traditional Christmas meal growing up: Frankly I would like to forget that clove stuffed, dried out, canned ham and all the other crap that went with it. What can I say except my best Christmas memories growing up don’t include my home or family.
Online shopping or traditional “go to the store” shopping: This year 90% of it was online which would be why it has been such a stress-less holiday.
Something you received as a Christmas gift as a child that you still have: Unless you count my Pitiful Pearl doll I found again on eBay, nothing.
How many Christmas cards you have mailed so far: 100
Favorite source for Christmas ideas: I must say that I LIVE for Oprah’s favorite things list although I usually can’t afford most of them. Someday she should give these things to bloggers/nurses/moms/forty-somethings/people with thick glasses/future grandmothers like me!
Coordinated/themed or hodge-podge tree decorations: hodge podge that reflects our family growing through the years.
What’s on the top of YOUR Christmas wishlist: I told Daniel to tell daddy that something very, very sparkly is on top of my list. Ultimately what I want is a maid service.
Roles you’ve played in Christmas plays/programs: I was always the soloist singing the reflective song. My favorite was the year I sang “All is Well” as Mary and Joseph settled into the stable.
Wrapping paper or gift bags: I love having all the gifts wrapped under the tree. It’s funny that over the years, no clown has tore into the packages before the big day. Yes, they do molest them and that is why I wrap all the packages.
When do you put up the tree: one on the landing on the second floor, one in the sitting room and one on a shelf in the family room.
When do you take the tree down: work schedule permitting, right after New Year’s day although one year one stayed up until the end of January.
Do you have a nativity scene: Yes.
Hardest person to buy for: Usually one of Bill’s siblings
Easiest person to buy for: the kids because they love to make lists.
Worst Christmas gift you ever received: I can’t say. Someone might read this!
When do you start shopping for Christmas: Usually around October.
Have you ever recycled a Christmas present: Confess to re-gifting here? Someone might be reading this!
Travel at Christmas or stay home: The years we traveled there was always drama stirred up by at least one loved one…usually the same one. That would be one of many reasons why we prefer to stay close to home plus the fact that nurses are rarely given a stretch of days off during the holidays. Now why would a dedicated nurse like myself want to be anywhere but in the hospital over the holidays?
Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer: Dasher and Dancer, Comet and Vixen, Comet and Cupid, Donner and Blitzen. And I do recall the most famous reindeer of all….Rudolph!
Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning: Christmas Eve has been traditionally reserved for Bill’s family. Here under the Big Top, we open ours on Christmas morning.
Most annoying thing about this time of year: Hmmmm, tough one. Sanctimonious “more Christian than you” types who kvetch about the “war on Christmas”. (A special subset thereof is people who whine about how we can’t put Nativities on the town park or whatever. You want to put up a Nativity? Put it on your own lawn.) People who grunt about how much they hate Christmas, for no good reason. People who let their internal meanness show anyway. People who drag their kids on long days of shopping and openly yell at their children in the stores.
Yeah, what Jaquandor said!
What I love most about Christmas: Snow. Quiet. Food. Light. Music. Good wishes, shared among friends. Bells. Cats in the wrapping paper. Red, green, silver, gold. Hugs. Family. Love. Luke, chapter two (and Linus’s recitation of part of that book thereof in A Charlie Brown Christmas, surely the greatest single voiceover in animation history).
Again, yeah, what Jaquandor said.
Leave a comment if you play along so I can check out your answers.
Okey dokey, I’ll play! Happy Holidays!
The maid service thing is a great idea except for one thing. I know that if I got that for Alexis, the day before the maid was coming, Alexis would be all over the house cleaning it so it wasn’t a mess when the maid came. What’s the point?