I'm sorry that I haven't written for so long. It seems that we have been so busy, but I couldn't tell you with what. Tis the season, I guess. I can tell you that I am pretty much done shopping. Christmas cards have been sent. Neighbor gifts have all been made and delivered. So, I think I can kind of relax now. Yeah, right! Anyway...

I was reading a friend's blog and she had this cute questionaire on there. I learned a lot about her and I thought I would share some of our likes/dislikes, traditions, etc. Merry Christmas!!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Mostly wrapping paper and, this sounds a little odd, but between my family members we wrap and exchange gifts in fabric gift bags that my aunt made. They are neat because we give them back and forth to each other and we don't have to throw anything away or take the time (and paper and tape) to wrap anything.

2. Real tree or Artificial? Fake. Last year we finally broke down and bought a beautiful 9 ft. pre-lit tree. Love it. I especially love the pre-lit part. It seems in years past that I Always had to do the lights on the tree. Granted, I am kind of a Nazi about how the lights should go, but I still got sick of doing it alone. I also like that we don't have to water it, which could have been kind of interesting with our dog this year. I will admit that I miss the smell of a real tree, though. I guess that's what candles are for.

3. When do you put up the tree? We don't really have a set time. Somewhere between Thanksgiving and, um, Christmas?

4. When do you take the tree down? Again, no set time. I love to put up the Christmas decorations. But, around the first part of January I start to feel a little clostr0phobic (I'm sure I didn't spell that right) and I have to put everything away. Our house seems to gain square footage when all the Christmas stuff is down.

5. Do you like egg nog? Yes!! Which is probably not a good thing. I try not drink too much of it. I do, though, thanks to my parents, dilute it with a little milk. My kids love it too. All of them when they were young, and Avery now, call it Neg Nog Juice.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? I really don't know. That's a tough question. I had a great Christmas every year. I loved the Barbie furniture and clothes my sister and I got one year. I got a cool new bike another year. And, I'll never forget the year my family got it's first computer.

7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, I have lots. I kind of collect them. I have some from different countries like the Czech Republic and Mexico. I have some that are antique and some that are handmade. I take out all the glass in my China Hutch and put all my nativities in there.

8. Hardest person to buy for? Um, probably Ryan's parents. Although, I think we did pretty good this year...

9. Easiest person to buy for? Definitely Zack and Maycee. Every commercial they see, they yell, "I want that, I want that!" I have so many choices!! Maycee is escpecially obsessed with "Qick Gems, by Conair". Her dad is a sucker and called and ordered them. Don't tell!

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Definitely mail. I hate to admit that my technological skills seem to be dwindling each year I stay home with our kids.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I think I am not going to answer this question. :)

12. Favorite Christmas movie? Definitely, Christmas Vacation, hands down.
"Eddie, I wouldn't be more surprised if I woke tomorrow morning with my head sewn to the carpet."
"Aunt Bethany, would you say grace?" "Grace...she died 30 years ago!"

Love it!

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually around October.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Again, I am not going to answer this question. No, just kidding. I never have, unless it was a white elephant gift.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Oh my goodness. "It's the most wonderful time of the year..." I love when the doorbell rings at night and it's a neighbor delivering some kind of goody. But, my all-time favorite treats at Christmas is the candy my Grandma used to make: peanut brittle, pecan logs, fudge, chocolate covered cherries. Oh my goodness.

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Probably Silent Night. Sinead O'Conner sings a great version of this.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Both, kind of. I don't know if driving to either my parents or Ryan's parents is considered "traveling", but we split the time between them.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolph. I think that's all of them, right?

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? A Star.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning. Although, when we were younger we woke up so early we could almost consider it Christmas eve.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Lines. Lines. Lines. At the post office, at the store, everywhere.

23. Um, somehow I lost #23 question in translation.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Christmas eve dinner: clam chowder and rolls. Christmas morning: yummy breakfast at the Normans, and before I got married, my mom's Breakfast casserole. Christmas dinner: Turkey or ham and mashed potatoes and all the trimmings. It's like Thanksgiving all over again!

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? I don't know. I really was spoiled for my birthday. But, I'll tell you what I really want even though I know it's never going to happen. I want a dog that doesn't pee or poop on the carpet. I want new carpet. I'd like a finished, organized basement with a CLEAN toy room in it. (that's more unlikely than the dog that doesn't pee on the carpet) But, I got my new car, so really, I'm good.