Christmas Tag and Day 22 of the Christmas Photo Project

Green Kisses for Day 22 of the Christmas Photo Project

I was going to write a post on goals for next year, but I figure a little Christmas tag is more fun.

I’ve been happily tagged by FIVE people: Amy, Julie, Michelle, Janine, and Melanie.

I figured I’d better start tagging back or else I was going to be “IT” for way too long.  Ha!

Melanie was the first to tag me.  If you haven’t been to her blog, she’s a brilliant writer and I’m loving her new vlog series.  She’s always got such wonderful things to say and I love learning about life in Cape Town.  It makes me really, REALLY want to go there sometime.

Michelle tagged me second.  I love reading her stories, poems and sonnets.  That girl has a gift!  Her stories always seem to have such an awesome twist that you’re riveted until the end – like every time!

Janine tagged me next.  She’s an incredible blogger and I can’t believe how much she’s accomplished in just a few short months: she’s already one of the top 100 Mommy Blogs!  Not only that, she’s got a magical wand for commenting on other people’s blogs – she’s always there to comment – first! – and I can’t thank her enough.

Julie got me next.  Can I tell you what a positive influence this woman has been to me and to the blogosphere?  She has over 900 followers to her blog and for good reason: she’s amazing with some witty and intelligent writing that I can’t wait to read.

And Amy.  How I love Amy’s blog about her life with her family and children. She’s so real and I feel like somehow through cyber space we are kindred spirits.  Plus, she gives the coolest birthday parties, ever.  When I read that they were doing the Hunger Games with a Cornucopia, I was like: coolest mom, ever.

Now on to the tagging questions.  Okay, I’m going to attempt to answer them…ALL.  Here goes.

What makes Christmas such a special holiday for you and your family?

We always celebrate with family.  I’m a sucker for family holidays and I love baking and cooking for the occasion.  The fact that I have family to spend it with – whether it’s my husband’s or my own – is such a gift.

Were you told the truth about Santa by your parents or did you find out another way?

I found out from a neighborhood kid in third grade.  We never liked each other much – it was one of those things where we both knew we wouldn’t “click” and she made fun of me for still believing in Santa.  I tried to justify it, but then I realized she was probably right.  I don’t remember talking to my parents about it, though.  Needless to say, the last time I ever talked to that girl, I tried riding her ten-speed and crashed into her dad’s car when I was trying to stop before sailing into the street and a car was coming.  Then, I ran off.  Yup, I sure did.

Do you open presents on Christmas Eve, Christmas morning, or both? 

At my family’s house: Christmas Eve.  At my husband’s family’s house: Christmas Day.

What’s your favorite Christmas movie to watch? Or favorite Christmas song?

Movie?  While You Were Sleeping.  Starting in high school, this would always come on and I am such a freakin’ sap, and I’d stay up all hours of the night watching it over and over.

Song?  O Holy Night.  I get chills when I hear this song, but only if it’s sung right.  Neil Diamond?  Awesome.  Cartman?  Awesome, but I don’t get the chills.  I went searching for a good video and I found one by “Celtic Woman” – it moved me to tears, especially at 2:53.

I might have to start actually watching their stuff now.

What makes Christmas such a special holiday for you and your family?

The fact that I get to be with family on Christmas, hands down.  I have passed up jobs before if there was even the remote possibility of having to work on Thanksgiving or Christmas.  I will.be.with.family.on.those.days.

Real tree or fake?

Virtual.  Ha!  We don’t usually get a tree because we are never home at our house for Christmas.  We decorate, but we don’t get a tree…because my own mom gets like seven of them and my husband’s mom usually has us decorate hers.

If you could spend Christmas anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

You know, I go through moods on this.  I desperately want to be with family as I said, so the top two choices are Waynesville and Colorado Springs.  But, if given the chance for the entire family to pick a place?  I think I’d like to try about five different places: Vienna, Austria (because of the quaint village-style goings-on and the snow!), New York City (I hear the ice skating is really fun), Breckenridge (ooh, a ski in-ski out Christmas would be awesome), Key West (they have really cool sunset celebrations and have really cool stories about Christmas ghosts) and the Outer Banks (I have heard about some insanely cool Christmas traditions there).

Do you eat Christmas lunch or dinner, or both?

It’s like Christmas “lupper” – we eat around 3 in the afternoon because if we say it’s going to be 12, it ends up being 3.  If we’re at my parents’ house, though, if we eat at 12, we really eat at 12 – my dad was a military man.

What’s the best Christmas gift you’ve ever received?

This is one area of my life where I have been really blessed.  I have received so many wonderful, thoughtful and symbolic presents over the years.

What’s the coolest stocking gift you’ve ever received?

Ya know, my own family never did stockings.  My husband’s family did when all the kids were younger.

Do you prefer to wrap gifts or use gift bags? 

I wrap them, of course.  I like to take it a step further and draw designs on them, make interesting bows, add glitter…I’m sort of crazy like that.

What’s the weirdest ornament on your tree?

Since I don’t have a tree, I’ll go with my mother-in-law’s tree: a cardinal that the cat attacked over and over and more feathers fall out of it every time you touch it.

What are your thoughts on re-gifting?

I’m a firm believer in the “thought that counts” principle: if it’s something beautiful that I will never use, I’ll pass it on for someone else to enjoy.

Describe the best Christmas morning you’ve ever had.

This one is tough, but when I was about five, we were at my granma’s house in Santa Fe, NM.  When I woke up, there were no presents under the tree.  I ran and told my mom that Santa must have forgotten that we traveled to Grandma’s house.  She said she was going to see if Santa didn’t leave the presents on the doorstep because there was no chimney.  We opened the door and in a big bag were LOTS of presents for everyone.

I think those are all the questions, so now I’m going to tag people and pass on the Christmas joy:

Vikki

Aprille

Clark

Richard

Cari

Katherine

Bill

Tag.  YOU’RE IT!

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