Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel

Is, of course, technically not a Christmas carol. But I saw a billboard for, I am NOT making this up, "Chanukah on Ice" yesterday and I figured the saturation must be complete. So I was actually already in bed because I am utterly exhausted from a day that involved an embarrassing amount of me on the couch while the kids watched PBS and DVDs, but even in my weariness, sleep eludes. Then I remembered the day had been blog-free. Better to be productive than lying in bed all achy and wild eyed. I'll fill out Mr. B's little Christmas questionnaire. Which for you might not be any better than insomnia. Here we go:

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? wrapping, even though I am terrible at it and can never manage to cut the correct amount of paper.
2. Real tree or Artificial? I like real but we have a small artificial one. Our first tree as a married couple, as I mentioned in another post. Growing up we had some real years and some artificial.
3. When do you put up the tree? This year it was purchased and assembled before Thanksgiving, I think.
4. When do you take the tree down? We'll probably leave it up for awhile. Maybe until the baby comes.
5. Do you like eggnog? You know, I do. If I don't think too much about the egg part. I pretend it's runny pudding.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? This one is hard. I have very idyllic memories of Christmas mornings in front of the fireplace, but I can't really remember specific gifts. I had these two dolls I loved named Mandy and Jenny, but they might have been birthday gifts. I got a wooden doll house one year that I loved buying furniture for.
7. Hardest person to buy for? My mom, probably, because she deserves everything and wants nothing
8. Easiest person to buy for? the husband. A variety of things please him. But we really don't do gifts for each other.
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes. It's these little clay figurines that I think came from Peru. They came into the marriage with the husband.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail, but this year is in doubt.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I just in general don't like getting presents so this is a weird question for me. I am always touched when people try, it's just awkward for me.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Hm. I can't think of one so I'll steal Jamie's answer--"Little Women"
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? too late, every single year. Because the whole thing is unpleasant.
14. Have you ever re-gifted a Christmas present? No
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Peppermint bark, cookies,
16. Lights on the tree? Yes, white, simple.
17. Favorite Christmas song? Once in Royal David's City, Hark the Herald Angels Sing (because it's the first Christmas carol Harper learned to sing) and Angels We Have Heard on High (because Hudson just learned to sing the Gloria's this week and it is unspeakably cute)
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? home, then maybe a little travel
19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? Dasher and Dancer and Comet and Blitzen, Rudolph, Prancer, Cupid?, Donner?

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? We have a bow-ish kind of thing

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? morning
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? presents
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I have some painted eggs that I got when I lived in Hungary that I think are really pretty
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? I like the sweet potato thing my mom makes that is covered in pecans and brown sugar.
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? A free afternoon one Saturday each month to go see a movie or read a book or take a walk sans my little people. I'd also love a weekend away with the husband, but chances are slim that will happen before, oh, 2024.