10 Christmas Questions

1. Wrapping paper or gifts bags? Wrapping paper all the way! I love the act of unwrapping a present, and pulling tissue paper out of a bag isn't quite the same. I am a little anal about our wrapped presents coordinating {are you shocked?} and I usually stick to traditional bright red and a sage green of sorts. But "Santa" presents are wrapped in a certain paper. A few years ago I found a gigantic roll of it that will likely last through the end of time, and it's fun that Santa presents are wrapped in the exact same paper every year. The kids think it is his one and only special paper.

2. Real or fake tree? We always had a fake tree growing up, and that was the norm. I must admit though, I was a little jealous of my friends who had real trees. There is NOTHING else in this world like that smell! But when I married Cody everything changed and I converted over 95% to real trees. I leave a 5% margin of non-conversion because there is a part of me that longs for the hassel-free fake tree. But once we have it up and it's trimmed and the house smells amazing, I forget about that 5%.

3. Egg nog or hot chocolate? Egg nog is nasty stuff! I have never liked it, and so far no one in our family does either. I would drink hot chocolate year round, even in the summer. Love it with a candy cane sticking out.

4. Favorite gift received as a child- There are several. One year my grandma made EACH granddaughter their own set of Barbie clothes, along with a beautiful {homemade} carrying case. Now these were not just any Barbie clothes. They were amazing, and considering she made four sets, I can't imagine how long it took her to do so. I used those clothes until they were almost worn out! Another gift that I loved was a kid ice cream maker. I think I was about ten years old. I'd seen it in catalogs and had begged for it. One day I was in my mom's bedroom looking for something and accidentally stumbled upon her stash of Christmas presents. I saw that ice cream maker, and I was over the moon excited, but really sad that I had accidentally spoiled my surprise!

5. White or colored lights? White everywhere in the house. Garlands, trees, wrapped around just about anything. But I love colored on the outside of the house. It reminds me of a gingerbread house!

6. Favorite Christmas song? Anything that Burl Ives sings. I love all of the "old" ones. Bing Crosby, Brenda Lee, Nat King Cole, Johnny Matthis, etc. My new favorite Christmas albums in modern times are by Faith Hill and Hilary Weeks. {Songs I hate- Santa Baby and Mary Did You Know}

7. Angel or star at the top of the tree? We have a big gold star. The base of it gets wrapped in a really big frilly bow that kind of drapes down the tree.

8. Open presents on Christmas Eve or morning? Growing up we always opened our presents on Christmas Eve, and I never liked that. But now.... On Christmas eve the kids open our new Christmas book. Then everything else on Christmas morning.

9. Favorite Christmas traditions-
- Reading our Christmas books every December night before bed... and then getting a new one on Christmas Eve.

- Shopping with our kids to help them pick out presents for each one of their siblings. Then helping them wrap. They get so excited about giving!

- Taking turns picking presents from under the tree... but you can't pick a present for yourself. The kids love picking a present for someone else -- especially the ones they bought for someone else. We open one present at a time too... makes it go slower!!!!!

10. What do you love most about Christmas?
Finding the perfect Christmas tree. Christmas music. Our advent calendar. Thinking about Christ's birth. Hot chocolate. Sugar cookie dough. Wrapping presents. Shopping at a busy christmasy mall. Going to see Santa. Writing our Christmas letter and doing cards. Taking lots of pictures. Traditions. Neighbor gifts. The smell of cinnamon. The First Presidency Christmas devotional. Sitting in the family room with just the tree lights twinkling. Yummy christmas eve dinner. Christmas church outfits. Getting cards and packages in the mail. Reading the december Ensign. Writing letters to Santa. Christmasy family home evenings. Watching christmas movies. Christmas morning breakfast. Spending time with extended family. Playing games. Taking a Christmas line-up picture on christmas morning. Driving around looking at christmas lights. Spending time with my husband -- he's such a little boy when it's christmas time!