Christmas Survey

Thought I'd follow Allison's lead on this Christmas Survey... Here we go!

Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
I do like a good nog, but I still think that Chocolate is always the best idea.

Colored lights on tree or white?
We do white lights on our tree, but I'm not anti-colored lights. On the outside, I would definitely stick to white.

When do you put your decorations up?
When I'm done with classes for the semester, or when I'm trying to avoid writing papers for class. I don't really have a plan, I just do things when I happen to have the motivation.

What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
Sweet potatoes/yams/whatever you want to call them. I like them the standard way, but I'm not opposed to marshmallows on top.

Favorite holiday memory as a child?
Candlelight Service on Christmas Eve with the Kneifel clan - most if not all of my cousins from that side were there. (I remember my cousin Jessica mutilating her candle during the service and then playing with the wax. Not sure why that stands out, but I must have watched her more than I watched what was happening in the service.) I was so excited to have everyone there. I wished that I could have every Christmas with all of my cousins, but it rarely seemed to happen at all after that Christmas. I must have been in 5th/6th grade? Not sure...

When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
I don't know if I ever fully bought into the idea of Santa, though I did have one Easter where I vividly remember seeing the tail of the Easter Bunny as he left our house in the middle of the night. I can still picture it - and I still think my parents may have had a hand in tricking me, though they claim no responsibility. And as far back as I can remember, I would sneak into my parents' closet to see what we were getting for Christmas... not sure about the answer to this question, I suppose.

Snow! Love it or dread it?
It's fun and pretty, but it does cause a lot of accidents. And I like shoveling as winter starts, but by the end of January, I'm ready for spring.

Can you ice skate?
Yep. I have to get used to it again every year, but I pick it up pretty quickly. As I've packed on the pounds, it's become a little more difficult to balance, but I think I can handle myself pretty well (except when I am on those dreadful entrance/exit ramps at the iced-over parking lots...)

Do you remember your favorite gift?
I had some good ones - bikes, CD/tape players, a Secret Sender, etc. But the gifts that I still remember and wish I still had were Precious Places. The most fun plastic dollhouses ever. They each came with a "key" that had a basic disc magnet in the end of it, and you could use the key to do various things. You could turn a switch in the chimney, and the lights would come on. The front doors had a magnet in them so you could "open" them with the key. All the people had magnets on their feet, so you could make them "walk". And the houses all connected with elevated sidewalks so the people could travel between homes. Over a few years, I collected a small town. Sad to say I have no idea where they are now. Probably lost in a move during my parents divorce. :-(

What's the most important thing about the holidays for you?
Time with family/friends, and a break from the daily grind to refocus on what's important.

What is your favorite holiday dessert?
Fudge - our family makes a Fannie Mae fudge recipe. I like to make a ton and force everyone I see to eat it with me.

What is your favorite tradition?
Don't know if I have any yet. All my family traditions from growing up have been squashed by my parents' divorce. Time to make some new ones... I guess I do like making fudge each year...

What is your favorite Christmas Song?
The Christmas Song. (a.k.a. "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire...")

Ever recycled a Christmas present?
Don't think so, but it is possible. I see nothing wrong with doing so.