1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Wrapping paper, unless it's some oddly shaped item. I wish I was a better wrapper, and/or had really cool wrapping paper. One year I did wrap everything in brown kraft paper, tied it with maroon ribbon and made the recipient's initial out of wire and beaded. Wow, I was fancy!. But if I had it my way, all of my gifts would look like Martha Stewart wrapped them
2. Real tree or artificial?
Until my brother miraculously acquired all of these allergies, we used to have real tree. I even remember the days when we would go out and cut down our own tree. But now, Dad has a small little phosphorescent tree and Mom has a fake looking torpedo of a tree. As for my house, we seem to not be putting up any decorations this year, which I'm a bit sad about. I think I'll purchase a fake tree after they all go on sale.
3. When do you put up the tree?
Typically just after Thanksgiving. I'm a strict adhere-er to the No-Decorations-Before-Thanksgiving Rule.
4. When do you take the tree down?
Mom always took it down, probably within a week or so of us going back to school.
5. Hot chocolate or apple cider?
Hot chocolate with whipped cream. Although I do like fresh cider, but typically in the fall, just after a hayride.
6. Favorite gift received as a child?
For a while when we were little, we would get a "family gift" from Santa -- something that the whole family could use. The first year Santa did this we got a toboggan. It was THE coolest thing ever. I think we even went out that afternoon to Huntington Hill and gave the ol' toboggan her maiden voyage. The next year I think we got a Sega Genisis, which my brother was more excited about than the girls (shocking!).
7. Do you have a nativity scene?
We did growing up. Mom bought a kit and hand painted each of the pieces, as well as put the stable together. It was kinda cool. My grandma, however, collects nativities, and I LOVE going to her house and seeing all of the new ones that she's gotten. She has one from New Mexico that's a nativity in a chili pepper, she has an Eskimo one from Alaska, a porcelain one, one out of mahogany, and one year for Enrichment I made her a glass etched nativity scene. I actually think that one stays up year 'round. My other grandma has a Lladro nativity that she got in Europe. It's absolutely breathtaking.
8. Hardest person to buy for?
Dad. He has everything he wants, or else he gets what he needs. This year I have him in the gift exchange and I got him this great book. It's all of the rules to almost every sport imaginable. Also, the cover is made out of Astroturf. Who wouldn't love that?
9. Easiest person to buy for?My sister. Pretty much, if I like it, she likes it.
10. Worst Christmas gift ever received?
My aunt used to buy us really heinous sweaters. She never seemed to be very stylish (she still wears sweatpants to nearly every event) and the sweaters reflected that. If I remember correctly they were always pastel colors, always had metallic thread running through them, and nearly always had a heart or bunny or other such thing on it; that wasn't cool in Bay Village.
11. Mail or email Christmas card?
Mail. I loved when we used to send The Johnson Family Christmas Newsletter. It was always very tongue-in-cheek. I loved sitting down with Dad and writing it. This year I did sent Christmas cards though. I was quite proud!
12. Favorite Christmas movie?
How the Grinch Stole Christmas, or Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
I typically don't have that many people to shop for (really, like 2 or 3, thanks to gift exchanges) so I do admit that I'm a bit of a late shopper. This year I might not even finish part of my shopping until the 22nd -- eep!
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
To the best of my knowledge, no.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Peppermint bark. Really, everything, but I do love peppermint bark.
16. Clear lights or colored?
Colored lights are not exceptable under any circumstances.
17. Favorite Christmas song?
Oh Holy Night, Once In Royal David's City, Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel, Carol of the Bells ... really I have great fondness for all Christmas songs. EXCEPT for that silly Paul McCartney one that they always play in the grocery. That one I HATE. Also, I have a new fondness for Ring Out, Wild Bells. I heard the story behind it, it's an Alfred Lord Tennyson poem that was set to music by a soldier (why are soldiers always writing Christmas Carols??). While I was at a Christmas Fireside a few weeks ago I heard a fabulous arrangement of if on the pipe organ (not typically a favorite instrument) that was breath-taking.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
We typically stay home for Christmas Eve and Day, and then travel later in the week between Christmas and New Year's so Pittsburgh to see the fam. This year I will be traveling across the country. It should be quite the journey!
19. Can you name Santa's reindeer?
Dasher and Dancer, Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cubit, Donner and Blitzen, and I recall the most famous reindeer of all...Rudolph the red nosed reindeer.
20. Angel or star on top of the tree?
We have this sort of silly looking Angel that Mom made, but I think when I have my own tree, it will be a star.
**Merry Christmas to everyone!**
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