real life...{christmas quiz}

lindsay over at leelala did a christmas quiz and i thought i'd get in on the fun!

1. Egg nog or hot chocolate? actually, neither! hot cider.
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? definitely wrapped. thankfully, that's hubby's job. i'm a gift bag type of girl.
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? white, all the way! next year i'd love to add some of those white light christmas characters - ya know, the reindeer or an angel....
4. Do you hang mistletoe? never have
5. When do you put your decorations up? hubby and i 'discuss' this each year. he insists on getting our tree thanksgiving weekend. since you can't have a tree without decorations, everything gets done up that weekend. by christmas time (like RIGHT NOW!) i'm kinda sick of 'em :-(
6. What is your favorite holiday dish? do christmas cookies count?? *grin*
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? the christmas cantatas at church, youth & adult. i sang my first solo when i was 5. i used to watch my mom in the adult choir and couldn't wait to be old enough to sing with her!
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? gosh, i don't even remember. evidently, my parents handled the transition so skillfully that i wasn't traumatized.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? yes - christmas pjs for the family (but not matching)
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? white lights, various ornaments and red bows. little man picks out (at least) one new ornament a year and we also try to buy one with him name on it every year - not sure why but i'm always so tickled when we find one :-)
11. Snow! Love it or dread it? love the look of it. used to hate it when hubby was plowing - kinda disruptive to the whole family routine - but kinda looking forward to it now that he's on his own. i'm also hoping to get back to skiing after a five or so year hiatus!!
12. Can you ice skate? yes, but not really into it. and i have a fear of skating on lakes & ponds. man made rinks only, please.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? sure do. christmas break during basic training, my parents gave me diamond earrings & a solitaire necklace. it wasn't the diamonds themselves (though i do love them!) it was the sacrifice behind them.
14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you? Jesus. Remembering the true meaning and not getting caught up in the STRESS. {lindsay's answer} ditto!
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? russian tea cookies - also known as butterballs in my family
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? watching little man open his gifts
17. What tops your tree? a red bow
18. Which do you prefer: giving or receiving? giving - so long as i've come up with something meaningful or clever!
19. Candy canes: yuck or yummy? yuck.
20. Favorite Christmas show? don't really have one, i love them all! well, except for "frosty returns"....really?
21. Saddest Christmas song? definitely "christmas shoes" i lost my godmother shortly before christmas and this will be my first christmas without my mom. if i hear even the first note, it's not gonna be pretty!
22. What is your favorite Christmas song? o holy night. always has been!