Finally! I Was Feeling Like The Last Kid Picked At Recess!

Sharon sent me an email today letting me know she tagged me for this Christmas tag--she said something like you're the &%ittiest blogger I know, so I tagged you. It's fine. I can take it, I'm sure it was meant in a constructive way and I'll try harder. So Sharon, you mentioned little faith in my ability to complete this in a timely way too (Sharon, you mad at me or somethin? ;-) so here ya go!:

1) Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Do.Not.Care. It's what I get that counts, right?
2) Real tree or artificial?
After 40, I'm all about artificial parts trees!
3) When do you put up your tree?
Thanksgiving weekend--earlier if the stain just won't steam out!
4) When do you take the tree down?
I don't fight trees, it's mean and it's just too awkward on the pin.
5) Do you like eggnog?
Oh heck yes...beginning at 6 am all the way through New Years Eve (day)!
6) Favorite gift received as a child?
Velvet Doll, Green Apple Perfume & a radio like Sharon's (I'm a glutton)
7) Do you have a Nativity scene?
Of course!
8) The hardest person to buy for?
Always the last person on my list, usually on Christmas Eve day.
9) The easiest person to buy for?
Me. I can buy myself just about anything and I'm always happy to see it under the eggnogartificially homey-g tree!
10) The worst Christmas gift you ever received?
Toenail clippers--that my Johnny still to this day insists was a nice little practical gift we were given (not saying who). He says this with a loving smile on his face. As he clips clips clips clips clips clips.....
11) Mail or e-mail Christmas cards?
I can email Christmas cards?
12) Favorite Christmas movie?
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation!
13) When do you start shopping for Christmas?
When John's bonus arrives...so this Friday. We'll be the couple getting stuck in the front door because we're pushing each other down to run out and spend the moolah first. Pshh, that's always so embarrassing!
14) Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
I made a mosaic out of dyed toenail clippings--does this fit here?
15) Favorite things to eat at Christmas?
My Grandma Cleva's date bars. All of them. The whole dang batch! Now that she's gone, I make them myself, although not quite the same. But good enough. I bake them knowing I'm probably the only one that'll eat them. But enough eggnog goes around. And nobody notices.
16) Clear lights or colored on the tree?
Is this an eggnog pre-driving test or something?
17) Favorite Christmas song?
Mary Did You Know? sung by Shannon every Christmas Eve at our church service...it completes the evening. Last Christmas by the Beatles is a close second, it speaks to the drama queen in me.
18) Travel at Christmas or stay home?
Home, simply by default. I'll travel. Who wants to see us?
19) Can you name all Santa's reindeer?
Oh for sure--and Rudolph isn't up for debate, he IS part of the herd!
20) Angel on the tree top or a star?
Star. It was on sale.
21) Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Christmas Eve! Because Santa leaves the good stuff Christmas morning.
22) Most annoying thing about this time of year?
Back to that stupid 'stuck in the door frame' scene.
23) What is the "corniest" family tradition you do or miss doing?
No lie, we go to Christmas Eve service at church then head to Applebees. I've been busted--at school, Alex wrote a paper about it last year, not knowing it was 'odd'. And our friends laughed us out of the school. And THATS why I homeschool now. (Pam, don't you feel guilty now?)
24) Ugliest Christmas decorations ever invented?
I'm with Sharon on the big plastic blowup things in the lawn--especially the Simpsons. What and why? If Homer were something to look at, I could get on board....
25) Which looks the best...theme trees or homey trees?
Ours is homelyhomey, but if you've got an eggnog tree, I'll be over in a sec.
26) What does Christmas mean to you?
In all seriousness, the profound meaning of Christmas has been profound to me only these past few years, even though I've known the meaning for many. Although I've considered myself a follower of Christ for several years, when I think about it, now, the profoundness of Christmas is stunning.

Christmas! The day our Father gifted His love to us us and His desire for us to spend eternity with Him.

That gift, delivered by Mary, was no less than His Son. Given to us in the form of a human; a human who interacted with the regular Joe's, the lowly and sick, the children, the tax collectors, the untouchables, the ugly, the beautiful and the rich. It didn't matter then, it doesn't matter now, He loves you, He loves me. I'd say we were a pretty difficult bunch of folks to shop for, but he sure did get it right! xo

I'm going to tag now...but I think most of you have already done this. The one I think I'm certain probably hasn't maybe done it yet would be....my new friend Maddy. Maddy, have you done this too? Am I the only one who hadn't? Anyone who hasn't done this, please don't wait for the tag, do it!! Let us all know about it too.