It’s a wonderful Christmas meme.

I am doing this meme (from Penny) to continue the happy Christmas spirit feelings I’ve been having the past couple days. After struggling with SAD issues since we returned home from vacation, the change in attitude was much needed.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bag?

I am a convert to gift bags now that I have admitted I am a horrible wrapper.

2. Real tree or artificial?

I prefer a real one but I have an artificial one. We always had real ones when I was growing up, even going a couple times to chop down our own. The year Greg and I got married, we bought an artificial one. However, last year, the cats “discovered” the tree and started eating the fake needles. So, no tree this year.

3. When do you put up your tree?

Growing up, the live tree would go up a week or two before Christmas. With the artificial tree, we were putting it up the day or two after Thanksgiving.

4. When do you take down your tree?

Growing up, it was not uncommon for the tree to still be up on my dad’s birthday (January 11). Artificial tree has been taken down the first couple days of January.

5. Do you like eggnog?

With or without alcohol, yes please.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?

Cabbage Patch Kid named Caron Alura. Or the computer ;).

7. Do you have a nativity scene?

No. Even though we’re not religious, some can be lovely.

8. Hardest person to buy for?

Both of our dads.

9. Easiest person to buy for?

Greg’s mom. She always tells us exactly what to buy her.

10. Worst Christmas gift you’ve ever received?

When I first opened the gift, I was horrified, but I found that it was a good present after all.

Christmas 1999. My mom picked out size XL pajamas for me. I was incredibly offended, but also in complete denial about the weight gain that must have been evident when I visited for Thanksgiving. I was surprised that they fit perfectly and started realizing that I might need to lose some weight (or at least start eating healthier and exercising).

11. Mail or email Christmas cards?

Mail. But I chose not to send them this year.

12. Favorite Christmas movie?

“Miracle on 34th Street”.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?

Usually mid-November. This year, I started 12/5.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?

Nope.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?

Rib roast or turkey. And there’s always my five-year tradition of making coq au vin around Christmas (anywhere from Dec 21 – Dec 26). One of these years, I’d really like to do the Feast of the Seven Fishes for Christmas Eve.

16. White or colored lights?

Colored, please.

17. Favorite Christmas song?

Secular: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Religious: O Come All Ye Faithful

18. Traveling for Christmas or staying home?

There was a set way of doing things growing up. Christmas Eve was spent with my dad’s brother, usually enjoying steaks or salmon. We got to open his gifts to us, plus one of our parents’ gifts. Christmas morning was at home, though once my sister moved out & until we moved to Wisconsin, we had brunch at her place (ten minutes away). Christmas afternoon & evening were spent at my mom’s grandmother’s house (until I was 3), then my mom’s aunt’s house (from 3 until we moved to Wisconsin) about a half hour away in the town where my parents grew up.

Nowadays, we visit my family at either Thanksgiving or right after Christmas most years, except the year we were married, 2004, and this year. We spend some time with Greg’s parents during the actual holiday and they live about an hour from us.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer?

If I think about it hard enough, yes.

20. Angel or Star on top of tree?

Angel.

21. Open presents Christmas Eve or Morning?

I already answered this above about growing up, but these days it depends on when we get together with Greg’s parents. No matter what, I like the majority of our presents to be opened Christmas morning for tradition’s sake.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year?

How stressful it all is.

23. What I love most about Christmas ?

Music, movies, cinnamon sticks simmering on my mom’s stove, fresh pine.