Christmastime is Here!

By far, this is my favorite time of year!  Christmastime!  We have been busy decking the halls this week and getting ready for a Christmas party that we are hosting here on Saturday night.  

    

I'm trying to get the menu finalized and get it mostly done tomorrow so that come Saturday, I won't be running around crazy!  

While we were in Nashville at Mike's parents' for Thanksgiving, we drove up to my sister's on Friday so we could visit with them.  One of my sister's favorite shops was having special Christmas festivities that weekend (including Santa and wreath-making with live greenery...how fun, right?!), so Kelly, Amelia, and I went and got all sorts of goodies!  They even gave me a whole bunch of magnolia leaves and seed pods to use for my mantle.  How sweet!  :o)

Now, Kelly has a cat.   A one-eyed cat.  Named "Winks."  Amelia just loves Winks.  And, well, Winks does not reciprocate that love.  Poor Winks....had to hide under the Christmas tree the whole time we were there...

   

From the safety of the tree and presents, Winks kept an eye on Amelia the whole time.  And you know that must've been hard work, since she only has the one eye and all.

Before leaving town, we HAD to hit up one of my favorite spots.  Favorite spots of all time! 

 

Mmmmm!  A footlong, some baby burgers, and a brown derby!  Kelly's coming down in December...too bad she can't bring me some more...

Now, lastly, one of my favorite bloggers and my pregnancy buddy Sarah passed on this Christmas tag to me...

Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
Egg Nog!!

Does Santa wrap presents or just put them under the tree?
He wraps them!  However, "Santa" doesn't do the best gift-wrapping at my house. 

Colored lights on house/tree or white?
Definitely white.

Do you hang mistletoe?
YES!

When do you put your decorations up?
As soon as possible after Thanksgiving.  There have even been a couple years when the tree has been up at Thanksgiving.  I can't help it, y'all, I just can't.

What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
Oyster stew!  I crave it come Christmas!!

Favorite holiday memory as a child?
I was baptized by my Papaw on Christmas Eve when I was 8 years old.  Now, every year, I pull out the program from that service (it has a poinsettia picture on the front of it) and sit it out somewhere.  He also gave me a white dove for my baptism that I sit out at Christmas, too.

When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
A girl named Jennifer (I'll refrain from printing her last name...haha) told me at the lunch table in the 4th grade. 

Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
One year, Kelly and I begged Momma to let us open up ONE present on Christmas Eve.  After lots of begging, she said, "Go ask your Daddy."  So, we asked Daddy.  "Daddy???"  (Whenever we wanted something, we would always start off with and overly sweet and high-pitched "Daddy."  You could always tell when one of us wanted something!  haha! )  He said we could.  We went through that same routine every year thereafter...begging Momma, then asking Daddy.  :o)

How do you decorate your tree?
It's a big deal here at our house.  I love putting the tree up!  I do the lights since I am so particular, and we always have music playing.  I tend to keep playing "Santa Baby" over and over until Mike is about to go crazy, then we watch "Christmas Vacation."  Then, in true Clark Griswold fashion, Mike plugs in the lights.  And we take turns every year putting the angel on top.  Amelia gets her turn this year!  :o)

Snow.  Love it or dread it?
LOVE IT!  I wish we had more of it.  This is usually all we get....

 Not even enough to fully cover the grass...

Can you ice skate?
Only in a circle around the rink.  No twirls or anything exciting...unfortunately.

Do you remember your favorite gift?
Honey, yesss!!  I still HAVE my favorite gift.  Let me show it to you.  I pulled it out of the closet.

When I was six or seven, I asked for a white rabbit fur coat.  And, lo and behold, I opened up a box on Christmas morning, and there she was!  Years later, Momma told me she never had any intention of actually getting me a real fur coat, but she found one on clearance days before Christmas.  I looved this coat.  Sometime after the weather started warming up, I was still wearing this coat, and Momma told me I needed to leave it in the car while we went in to the grocery store so I wouldn't get it dirty (truth be told, it was probably because it was May).  Anyway, I made it through the store with nary a hair falling out of the coat, and what did I do at the checkout?  I leaned a tad bit too close to the conveyer belt and wripped a hole in the sleeve.  Momma just gave me that look.

 

But you really can't see it.  You have to hunt for it.  I still learned a lesson though. 

What is the most important thing about the holidays to you?
Making memories with my family!  I want my husband and my children to have wonderful memories when they look back!

What is your favorite holiday dessert?
Homemade bourbon balls, hands down!

What is your favorite holiday tradition?
Papaw and Granny would always make oyster stew on Christmas morning, and we'd all have that to hold us over till we ate The Meal at lunchtime.  I just crave oyster stew now on Christmas morning, and it just takes me back! 

What tops your tree?
An angel.

Which do you prefer, giving or receiving?
I love to find the perfect present for Momma and Kelly!  We all love to antique/junk, so it's such a thrill when we find that perfect gift!  My brother-in-law, Derrick, says you can go to a dumpster and pull out a piece of junk and we all three would go crazy for it.  He's just about got that right!

What is your favorite Christmas song?
Wow!  Too many to count!  I love "Go Tell It on the Mountain" and "Angels We Have Heard on High."  And "Up on the Rooftop..."  I could list dozens!

Candy canes.  Yum or yuck?
YUM!

What do you want for Christmas? 
A new sewing/embroidery combo machine.

Do you attend an annual Christmas party?
Yes!

Do you dress up for Christmas Eve or wear PJs?
We'll dress up for the Vesper's Service, then back home to our jommies!

Do you own a Santa hat?
No.  I never have, and I highly doubt I ever will.  haha!

Who do you usually spend Christmas with?
It has always varied.  But this year, we will be home!!!

Well, my Christmas trees and Christmas music are calling me!  If you do this tag, will you please let me know so I can come see it?  I have so many more things to post, as soon as I get another free minute, I'll be back!

 

 

 

Comments

[brandi]

i just had a Christmas party on Dec 1 for my bunco group.. so much fun, but yes... things can get overwhelming where you're running around trying to get every last detail done!! have fun! what is on your menu by the way, would love to hear the details of your shindig?

by the way, love all the pictures.... everything is so very pretty.

and loved the rabbit coat story. too cute!

cheers,
brandi

[Reynie]

Poor old Winks! Kitties get so much love from toddlers and it is never given back. Well, unless the toddler has something the kitty wants to eat! Can't wait to see more decorating and hear about the party. Hope it goes well!

[leigh of Tales from Bloggeritaville]

What a fun post. I did a sililar meme last year if you want to check it out.

http://lbratina.blogspot.com/2007/12/christmas-fun.html

I will redo this year though, with all of your questions.

[britt- sparkledvintagecharm]

such a cute post!! so fun!! I hope you have a fantastic day!! hugs!! xo Britt :-)

[Sandy toes]

What a fun post..I am doing this tomorrow! I love your answers and pictures..just great!
-sandy toes

[Mrs. D]

Love your mantle all decorated and cute!

[Nikki]

do you really already have presents wrapped and under your tree? OMG! I feel like such a slacker!!! :)

[Sarah]

I love the coat! And it is so much fun that you still have it! I would love to see Amelia in it!
Where is that Frosty Freeze? I might need to make a trip to get some good eats!!!!

[Cricket]

Hope your party goes of splendidly! I remember those fur coats....Fun reading, thanks for sharing.

[Shannon]

Your mantel looks great! I can't wait to see your other decorations!

That rabbit coat brought back so many memories because I had forgotten that I got one too when I was little!! I loved that coat.

Have fun at your party! You are probably a wonderful hostess!

[Kelly]

Your house looks so pretty - I love magnolia leaves as Christmas decorations.
That rabbit coat looks like something I begged for at that age! I love it!

[Stacey @ The Blessed Nest]

Your mantle is SOOO pretty!! Can't wait to see more pictures :). I did this Meme yest., and it was so fun! Really fun to read your answers, too! I've never had oyster stew--must be a southern thing? Loved the story of the little coat and the baptism!!

[Lindsey]

I had that same coat. Oh yes I did!!! And, oh, how I loved it. I can't believe you still have it:)

What a fun Meme! I enjoyed reading all about your Christmas festivities:)

[Elise]

That was fun! I may do this on my blog. Love your mantle-can't wait to see the rest!! Oh, and Amelia's room is going to be so pretty!!
Elise

[Janae Cairns]

That jacket is ADORABLE!! I bet you can't wait until Amelia is big enough to wear it to the grocery in May :) Your mantle looks great!
Janae

[leigh of Tales from Bloggeritaville]

Mine is up now.