Christmas survey, because I'm homesick
(Borrowed from Lexie)
Name: Karen
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
Hot chocolate (with mini marshmallows!). I don't think I've ever had egg nog.
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
Santa didn't bring our presents, just little things that could fit in our stockings--Christmas ornaments, earrings, small toys, and *always* a red delicious apple.
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?
We own white lights, but Mom prefers the colored ones so that's what we have on the porch and the tree. I think white lights look prettier, though.
4. Do you hang mistletoe?
Never have, alas.
5. When do you put your decorations up?
You know, I haven't been home so long, I don't remember... I think early December.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
Lefse! Though Grandma's mashed potatoes and gravy are a very close second.
7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child:
Playing monster-truck racing computer games with my cousins... The candlelight Christmas Eve service at my church... Walking in the cold, creaky snow around the grove and the railroad tracks by the farm...
No. I've got it. Every year, I'd help Dad set out the luminaria (white paper bags with candles inside weighted down by snow) Christmas Eve afternoon. I remember the year (it was so friggin' cold! and windy!) Dad let me light them for the first time when evening fell. As we'd back out of the driveway on the way to the farm the next morning, I'd always look to see if any of the candles were still lit. Sometimes one was.
8. When and how did you learn "the truth" about Santa?
One year we spent Christmas Eve at my grandparents' house in Moorhead. Me and Jen slept in the bed in the basement and our stockings were hung near the end of the bed. I was still awake when I saw Grandma's hand take the stockings to fill them.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
The tradition has been to open all our presents from family in the Twin Cities (my family plus Aunt Mary and co.) on Christmas Eve after dinner and before the church service, then drive out to the farm the next day to open gifts with Mom's side of the family.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
Step one: Assembly. Step two: Ancient hideous red garlands. Step three: Lights! Step four: Put up as many of our ornaments (both fancy and handmade) as the tree can bear without collapsing!
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?
Love it! Love it even more now that I don't have it!
12. Can you ice skate?
Yup. Oh, Centennial Lakes...
13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
I don't remember very many of my gifts when I was little, sadly. Though, I was very amused last year when Dad wrapped up an Etch-a-Sketch as my gift, then explained that my copy of Photoshop hadn't arrived in the mail yet.
14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you?
Warmth, family, candles, music, freshly fallen snow. Christmas ain't Christmas if it ain't white.
15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?
Krumkake! Rosettes are good, too.
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
After dinner, when we're about to start opening presents on Christmas Eve, Dad always gives everyone a cherry cordial. Every year. Even though he and I are the only ones who actually like 'em. Tee hee.
17. What tops your tree?
An old lighted star thing.
18. Which do you prefer: giving or receiving?
Giving, especially when I know it's so totally the perfect gift.
19. What is your favorite Christmas Song?
"Angels We Have Heard On High", with Jack rocking the organ and the choir singing the descant. "O Come, O Come Emmanuel". Garrison Keillor's version of "We Three Kings of Orient Are (Tried to Smoke a Rubber Cigar)" because it's hilarious. Also, the entire Mannheim Steamroller Christmas CD just makes the season for me...we'd always play it when we were putting up Christmas decorations and something tasty was in the oven. :)
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum?
I like them, but I hate, hate, HATE it when the curved part breaks.
Name: Karen
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
Hot chocolate (with mini marshmallows!). I don't think I've ever had egg nog.
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
Santa didn't bring our presents, just little things that could fit in our stockings--Christmas ornaments, earrings, small toys, and *always* a red delicious apple.
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?
We own white lights, but Mom prefers the colored ones so that's what we have on the porch and the tree. I think white lights look prettier, though.
4. Do you hang mistletoe?
Never have, alas.
5. When do you put your decorations up?
You know, I haven't been home so long, I don't remember... I think early December.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
Lefse! Though Grandma's mashed potatoes and gravy are a very close second.
7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child:
Playing monster-truck racing computer games with my cousins... The candlelight Christmas Eve service at my church... Walking in the cold, creaky snow around the grove and the railroad tracks by the farm...
No. I've got it. Every year, I'd help Dad set out the luminaria (white paper bags with candles inside weighted down by snow) Christmas Eve afternoon. I remember the year (it was so friggin' cold! and windy!) Dad let me light them for the first time when evening fell. As we'd back out of the driveway on the way to the farm the next morning, I'd always look to see if any of the candles were still lit. Sometimes one was.
8. When and how did you learn "the truth" about Santa?
One year we spent Christmas Eve at my grandparents' house in Moorhead. Me and Jen slept in the bed in the basement and our stockings were hung near the end of the bed. I was still awake when I saw Grandma's hand take the stockings to fill them.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
The tradition has been to open all our presents from family in the Twin Cities (my family plus Aunt Mary and co.) on Christmas Eve after dinner and before the church service, then drive out to the farm the next day to open gifts with Mom's side of the family.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
Step one: Assembly. Step two: Ancient hideous red garlands. Step three: Lights! Step four: Put up as many of our ornaments (both fancy and handmade) as the tree can bear without collapsing!
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?
Love it! Love it even more now that I don't have it!
12. Can you ice skate?
Yup. Oh, Centennial Lakes...
13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
I don't remember very many of my gifts when I was little, sadly. Though, I was very amused last year when Dad wrapped up an Etch-a-Sketch as my gift, then explained that my copy of Photoshop hadn't arrived in the mail yet.
14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you?
Warmth, family, candles, music, freshly fallen snow. Christmas ain't Christmas if it ain't white.
15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?
Krumkake! Rosettes are good, too.
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
After dinner, when we're about to start opening presents on Christmas Eve, Dad always gives everyone a cherry cordial. Every year. Even though he and I are the only ones who actually like 'em. Tee hee.
17. What tops your tree?
An old lighted star thing.
18. Which do you prefer: giving or receiving?
Giving, especially when I know it's so totally the perfect gift.
19. What is your favorite Christmas Song?
"Angels We Have Heard On High", with Jack rocking the organ and the choir singing the descant. "O Come, O Come Emmanuel". Garrison Keillor's version of "We Three Kings of Orient Are (Tried to Smoke a Rubber Cigar)" because it's hilarious. Also, the entire Mannheim Steamroller Christmas CD just makes the season for me...we'd always play it when we were putting up Christmas decorations and something tasty was in the oven. :)
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum?
I like them, but I hate, hate, HATE it when the curved part breaks.