Merry Christmas everyone!

I don’t normally do these things, but I figured it would be fun during my holiday travels back home.One of my blog favorites (and also hope to be someday neighbor-Just saying Elizabeth), tagged me in this Christmas fun. Be sure to check her out at Army Ever After.

1. What do you love most about Christmas time? Since I have lived away from home for the last 10 years, I love being able to spend time with family and friends I haven’t seen in a while. The food is always a perk.

2. Do you celebrate the holiday in style or is Bah-Humbug for you? I am kind of in the middle. I love the holiday spirit and decorating, but I am kind of lazy about it right now. I do really look forward to having a place that is stationary where we won’t have to travel so much during the holidays so we could actually enjoy the decorations. So I am sure I will feel different once that happens and we have kids. I imagine we will go full out then. I also don’t like opening gifts in front of other people, so that is always a fun endeavor for me. So the last few years I have really tried to focus on the “reason for the season” instead of all the glitz and glam of the holiday.

3. Are you leaving out anything for Santa this year so he remembers to leave you presents? I don’t even remember a time that I believed in Santa. I caught on real fast when my parents (who are divorced) told different tales of Santa that didn’t match up. My brother, however, believed for years. I will never forget that time when Dad, Risa (my step-mom), and I were in the living room watching through the fire place and using the phone intercom in the kitchen where Randall (my brother) was sitting. My dad pretended to be Santa on the intercom, and Randall’s reaction was just priceless. But I don’t really remember leaving anything out for him ever.

4. What is the one gift you are most looking forward to GIVING? {It can be to your kids, another family member, etc – remember to be discreet if they read your blog!}  We have a gift for my dad and step-mom that is going to be ROYALLY sweet. Hint on the Royals part…I will be sure to share at a later date. 

5. What is your all-time favorite Christmas movie? Since I talked about Holiday Inn and White Christmas last week, I also love Home Alone and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.

6. What is your all-time favorite Christmas song? I looooooove “Oh Holy Night.” My dad sings it every year as a solo at church, so it has that special meaning for me. I secretly want to do a duet with him someday on it. My favorite secular Christmas song is “All I Want for Christmas” by Maria Carey. It makes me want to dance and sing into my hairbrush.

7. If given the opportunity would you participate in an “Ugly Sweater” party and what sweater would you wear? Peruse one on the internet or even in your own closet and show us! I have done several of these over the years. But I would have to say this is my favorite because my BF and I made them out of wrapping paper and tinsel…

8. Have you started any Christmas traditions this year that you plan on carrying forward? We have some with our families, but Tom and I do not have any for us.  Again, we are ALWAYS traveling so it makes it hard to have traditions when your holidays never look the same year to year. We have some ideas of things we want to take from our families and things we want to start once we settle down somewhere.

9. It’s Christmas morning … what does it look like outside where you live? I don’t know about KY, but Missouri will most likely have snow. Right now there is a thick layer of ice everywhere.

10. You just found yourself standing under the mistletoe … who comes up to give you a kiss first? I would hope it would be my husband! But maybe it will be Crosby. He is always looking to score.

I hope you enjoy your holiday however you may celebrate!
If not, enjoy me humiliating Grace holiday style at the Jingle Job 5K last year at Iowa State!