Thanks Christina. This is a great way to remember Christmas.

Melissa's Christmas - 2008

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Ummmm. Well, I use both. Usually if I have time I like to use wrapping paper. If I am crazy busy, which is more likely, then I usually use gift bags. However, I think under the tree bags are far too easy to peek in. They are so tempting! On the other hand, for those that sneak peeks, wrapping paper isn't going to stand in their way. I have heard of people using razor blades and knives to carefully cut open the gift to see what is in it.

2. Real tree or Artificial?
Well, most of my life we have had artificial. I only remember one year, while we lived in Virginia, that we had a real tree. We doused it in the spray snow foam. Wow, that was a mess! It was fun, but a mess to clean up later. I have to admit that I really don't enjoy putting the lights on the tree. I would much rather a tree that is pre-lit. The tree I have now is an artificial tree that was given to me. The first year I had it I carefully wrapped the branches with lights and then kept it that way and saved it year to year.

3. When do you put up the tree?
I put it up over Thanksgiving weekend. I would probably put it up earlier, but hold myself back. Honestly, if I don't get it done then - - I would be too busy to get it up before Christmas break.

4. When do you take down the tree?
Usually right before school begins again. Usually around January 3rd or so.

5. Do you like eggnog?
I used to say, "Absolutely NOT!" However, I have to change my tune now. Emily Biggs, one of my teacher friends, introduced me to her mother's egg nog recipe. I have to say it is THE BEST egg nog I have ever had. I don't know, the other stuff is far too thick and eggy to me. Is that a word - eggy? Probably not, but I like to make up my own words. It's fun. You know what I mean though - - thick and slimy. ugh. Well, I will have to post Emily's Egg Nogg recipe on my blog so you all can try it. Trust me - - it's amazing!

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
It wasn't one that I received but gave to my father. Christy and I wanted to buy something really great for my dad. We had pooled our money and were in search of the perfect gift at Target. Well, we found it - - a squeaky mouse. Christy and I were thrilled. It was this stuffed animal that had a squeaky ear when you pushed it. My mom thought, "Ok what is he going to do with this thing??!!" She warned my dad to be prepared. He was a good sport and we were tickled that he liked it. He still has it and pulls it out every year to use with his "Christmas Poem" about a little mouse that makes bad choices. The grandkids LOVE it!

7. Hardest person to buy for?
Ok. I totally have to agree with Christina, "Hands down, my brother Geoff!" He is the pickiest of us all. At least my brother David gives us pictures out of magazines of things that he likes.

8. Easiest person to buy for?
Probably my husband David. He is a gracious gift receiver. I know a lot of the things that he likes, so it's easy. Another person is my sister Christina, cause we have the same style for decorating and I know her interests.

9. Do you have a nativity scene?
Yes and no. Sad to say that the picture below is the nativity pictured below is my sisters - - but it is identical to the one I should have too. It is traditional for the uncles and aunts on my mother's side to purchase this nativity for all the nieces and nephews that get married. Anyway, my Aunt Linda went to pick mine up and they were out of stock and were not planning to get another shipment in until after Christmas. Now this was back in October that she was looking. That made absolutely no sense to me to be out of stock right before the holiday season. Isn't that when they would sell the most. Anyway, then she found out that they were only missing 2 pieces - - - what were they? Yeah. Mary and Joseph and Mary is holding the baby Jesus. So if you want a nativity without the key people, then great - - there ya go. Sad huh?

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Christmas cards? Am I supposed to be doing those? No just kidding. This will be my first year doing them cause I just got married. I felt funny sending out Christmas cards when I was single so I opted out. What would I do? Put a picture of me all by myself and write - - yeah remember me - - yeah I'm still single. Anyway, I will start them this year.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
Ummmm. Really - - to be truthful I don't really have any. I mean, yeah I have received things maybe that I would not have chosen for myself, but they were purchased out of love. I have to say though that I have the corner on FROGS. I receive at least 5-8 new frogs each year for Christmas. It is fun to see what new creative frogs there are out there. One of my students said one day, "Miss Hymas (cause I was still single) do you know how many frogs you have in here?" (our classroom) I replied that I didn't and they told me, "74. I counted them." My response was, "I'm so glad to know that you had enough free time to be counting that many frogs around the classroom."

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?

1. White Christmas
2. Holiday Inn
3. It's a Wonderful Life
4. Elf

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Usually the day after Thanksgiving. Although this year they had some great sales at JCPenney right before Thanksgiving so I went a little overboard for David, my husband. Ooops.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
I don't think so. Not that I recall. Do white elephant gifts count?

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Food. Need I say more? Lots of chocolate, but not fruit cake. ugh.

16. Lights on the tree?
I will echo my sister when she said, "Uh, YEAH! Are you kidding? Do some people really not put lights on their tree?!"

Colored or white? Definitely WHITE. Don't know why, but I prefer white.

17. Favorite Christmas song?
Can I go with groups instead - - Josh Groban, SheDaisy, Bing Crosby "White Christmas," Celtic Women
(just to name a few)

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
I have always lived near my parents, except when I was on my mission - - so at home. I don't really know what it is like to travel at Christmas - - except David and I are going to Disneyland for New Years. FUN!

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?
Of course, thanks to the song - - "You know Dasher, and Dancer, and Prancer, and Vixen. Comet, and Cupid, and Donner, and Blitsen. But do you recall? The most famous reindeer of all - - - Rudolph . . . . .

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
I don't have either one. I have a large cranberry bow on top. It matches my other decorations.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?
Again. I will echo my sister, Christina,
"Both. One gift Christmas Eve (almost always pajamas) and the rest on Christmas morning. The earlier the better!" And add in that David and I are trying something different this year - - well it is our first year together so can it be considered different? Anyway, we are going to have two Christmases - - our own Christmas Eve morning and then go to my family's house for Christmas Eve traditions and Christmas morning. We will see how that goes.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
When it is extra cold and there is black ice on the roads. Yikes! Drive carefully.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?
I would have to say my ornaments that I bought in Romania. I thought it would be a fun reminder - - I purchased them on my mission. It is great fun to pull them out and tell a story or memory from that time.

I also love taking each ornament out and telling the story behind it. This year, if it didn't have a story, David made one up. It was quite entertaining!

My tinkerbell from Disneyland. I am going to borrow Christina's picture of it though cause we have the same one. (Funny Story: Christy and I bought them at Disneyland the same year. My mom REALLY wanted one, but couldn't decide and waited - - then it was time to go. My dad was a bit impatient and so my mom just grabbed one. Not the one she wanted. She stewed about it for about 3-4 years until Christy saved my dad's bacon and found one on eBay. She got him out of the doghouse and back into my mom's good graces. The funny thing about it though, is that my dad had NO idea he was even in the doghouse.

24. What do you want for Christmas this year?
A husband. Oh wait. I've got one of those - - I'm good then.

25. Who is most likely to respond to this? Santa is watching so all of you better be nice:) Ummmm. Christina will send a message back, I'm sure. Also, Mindy. You both are great at responding! Me? I'm getting better. :)