'twas the survey before Christmas

1. Do you send out Christmas cards?
yes i do. who doesn't like a little happy in their mailbox?
2. How soon do you start shopping?
i'm not against finding special treats all year long, but i actively start my shopping at the end of October usually. i need to get everything in hand, because most of it needs to be wrapped, packaged & shipped out by December 15!
3. Who do you shop for?
my loved ones.

Decorations
4. Do you put up a Christmas tree?
absolutely!
5. If so, is it fake or real?
i love real trees but they are too expensive down here. mine is artificial--and it's a pretty nice one that was still far cheaper than even one real tree.
6. Do you like tinsel?
no! that stuff is worse than the needles! it sticks to everything.
7. Do you use homeade or storebought ornaments?
all of my ornaments are store bought. i think my Dad still has the ones i made when i was a kid.
8. Do you put Christmas lights outside your house?
no, i live in an apartment.
9. Do you put lights on the tree?
of course my tree has lights! it wouldn't be the same without them.
10. How about popcorn and cranberries?
no, i don't have any sort of garland-type anything on my tree.
11. Is there a wreath hanging on your door?
no. i was actually looking for one for my wall in my kitchen & couldn't find any that i liked. maybe next year.

Christmas Eve
12. Do you celebrate it?
yes. i always go to church on Christmas Eve. the latest service i can go to. it's so peaceful...
13. Do you hang up your stocking?
not on Christmas Eve. my stocking is up all season, hanging, waiting. if i am a good girl, though, Santa will come fill it up on Christmas Eve!
14. Does your family read "Twas the night before Christmas?"
i don't think i have a copy of that book actually. i always read "Jolly Old Santa Claus" on Christmas Eve. i have ever since i was old enough to read.

Favorites
15. Christmas Movie -
i have several favorites: It's a Wonderful Life. Elf. The Nativity Story.
16. Character from any Christmas Movie -
not really a movie, but i love Yukon Cornelius from "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer"!
17. Christmas Song -
O Little Town of Bethlehem. White Christmas.
18. Christmas Memory -
family Christmas parties at my Gram's sister's home every Christmas Eve.

This or That
19. Give or Receive?
give! i love to give gifts. and i always try to sneak in a little surprise or two to people who are completely unsuspecting!
20. Eggnog or Cider?
cider, please.
21. Red or Green?
a nice warm rich red.
22. Ham or Turkey?
i like either. in my family, turkey was for Thanksgiving, ham was for Easter, and Christmas could be anything!
23. Star or Angel?
i have a star.
24. White Lights or Colored Lights?
i love white lights outside, especially in the snow, but i only like colored lights for my tree.
25. Blinking Lights or Still Lights?
still. *please*. my grandparents had some that would blink, some that would chase, some that were still. it's a wonder none of us ever had a seizure! ;-)
26. Were you Naughty or Nice this year?
*ahem* i'm a good girl with just enough naughty, of course!

Presents
27. What do you want for Christmas this year?
to make the people i love smile. *really*. all the rest is bonus.
28. When do you open your gifts?
Christmas Day.
29. What's the best gift you've ever gotten?
i love all my gifts. i don't know that i really have a favorite.
30. What's the worst gift you've ever gotten?
i did get this sweater one year... let's just say that people who don't know you well should *not* get you clothes!
31. Who gives you the most gifts?
i don't really keep count. i know that i am *very* spoiled every year.
32. Have you ever had a secret Santa?
we did that one year where i worked. i knew who it was though. when you work in an office, you recognize people by their handwriting.
33. Do you like wrapping gifts?
yes! i love to give pretty packages!

Random
34. Do you put change in those red buckets?
yes, if i have some.
35. Do you burn a yule log?
i'm thinking they wouldn't really appreciate it if i did. there isn't a fireplace in my apartment. ;-)
36. Can you name all the reindeer?
i sure can: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blizten and Rudolph. even though my Gramp wouldn't acknowledge Rudolph because he said he was a sissy. and no, i didn't look the names up.
37. Do you bake cookies?
yes i do! mmmm... cookies....
38. Have you ever seen your mommy kissing Santa Claus?
i have not.
39. Have you ever gotten a kiss under the mistletoe?
no. no kisses for me. maybe because i've never had mistletoe.
40. Do you go caroling?
i have a few times, but it's not one of my hard & fast traditions.
41. Do you drive around and look at the Christmas lights?
not intentionally, but i love to see them while i am out & about!
42. Have you ever left Santa cookies?
of course! i'm not taking any chances that he won't stop at my house!
43. Have you ever sat on Santa's lap?
when i was a child. not so much recently.
44. Who do you celebrate Christmas with?
used to be just my family but now it varies.
45. Where do you celebrate Christmas?
at home or in California, the last few years.
46. Have you ever had a white Christmas?
not in the last seven Christmases. many before that though!
47. What part of Christmas do you look most foward to?
all of it. the preparations and the giving of gifts. the baking and the decorating. the Advent services and the wrapping. the Christmas shows and music. all. of. it.
48. Have you ever had your picture taken with Santa?
yes, also as a kid.
49. Does your family always take a picture at Christmas?
they might, but i'm not in it.
50. Have you ever heard the song "Thank God For Kids" by The Oakridge Boys?
i cannot say that i have.