Yes... This is Our Christmas Tradition

Over the past two Christmases, I have loved reading about all of your family's traditions. I can smell the aroma of fresh baked treats made by the hands of you and your children. The sounds of you caroling around the neighborhood and then finishing at a neighbor's home for hot chocolate and toddies are sweet music to my ears. Some of you go as a family to a tree farm in the country to pick out the perfect Frazier fir or spruce pine. Others fly across country to visit relatives where the snow falls magically from the sky.

A few have ended their posts with the question, "What is your family's Christmas tradition?"

You really want to know?

REALLY???

OK, this is what we do.

Every year, we pile in the car... go to Sonic and get the biggest Sonic Blasts possible (Yes, I know this isn't very Christmas-y.)... turn the Christmas music loud... and drive around town for the "Annual W***** Tacky Christmas Light Tour". Most of these lights are in this fabulous trailer park about ten minutes out of town. It takes about fifteen minutes to go through the whole thing, and it's just not Christmas until we take the tour. And we all yell, "Tacky Christmas lights! Tacky Christmas lights!" with glee when we arrive...

Of course I stopped in the middle of the road for this picture... 

And totally embarrassed J.

 There are about four of these donation mailboxes. 

This is the fanciest... The others are written on with Sharpies.

Lots and lots o' tacky lights...

And more and more...

Never knew the Seven Dwarfs were part of Christmas...

J made the very astute comment as we drove through the trailer park o' lights. 

"It's obvious that some of these people spend more money and attention on their lights 

than they do on their houses." 

(Before you judge, remember that this was from the mouth of a nine-year-old!)

By this time, Handel's Messiah was blaring out of the Frosty snow globe 

in the picture above this one...

Merry Christmas Eve Eve!
, Mike, and the boys

Christmas Edition of "Getting to Know Your Friends"

I've read a few of these on your blogs and thought I might put my two cents in!  So... welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your blogger friends. Okay, here's what you're supposed to do, and try not to be a SCROOGE!!! Just copy this entire post and paste into a new post on your blog, if you have one. Change all the answers so that they apply to you.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?

I love to buy gold and silver wired ribbon at Hobby Lobby (always 50% off!) and wrap with Sally Foster holiday paper.   As my mama says, "It's all about the presentation."  This year, however, my sister's family will get gift bags as their gifts really can't be wrapped.  BUT, I'll find some way to use the ribbon!

2. Real tree or Artificial?

Two "faux" trees:  one small one on a table in the dining room and a 9 foot in the great room.  Both are pre-lit.  Never thought I would go that route, but my husband is in a wheelchair, and it's just much easier to get it up this way.  I do have lots of Thymes Frasier Fir candles to get the smell of a real tree!

3. When do you put up the tree?

The Sunday after Thanksgiving - or a few days after that.  I like to have it up by December 1.

4. When do you take the tree down?

Immediately before I have to go back to school.

5. Do you like eggnog?

One or two cups is about all I can take during the season!

6. Favorite gift received as a child?

The Donnie and Marie Show stage with Donnie and Marie in their purple and pink outfits.  I also got the Farrah Fawcett doll who made frequent appearances on the show!

7. Hardest person to buy for?

My father

8. Easiest person to buy for?

Sadly, me...(I'm right with you, Jess!)

9. Do you have a nativity scene?
Three:  one that I made as a child, one china, and one that you can't move the figures around.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?

Mail is the only acceptable way in my book!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?

This weird velvet hat my cousin gave me...

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?

Love "A Charlie Brown Christmas" (That Linus is quite intuitive and insightful) and "The Year Without a Santa Claus"  (How about those Miser Brothers?!?!  Love their song!)  As for those for adults:  "Love Actually".

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?

Whenever the mood hits me.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?

I don't think so... unless it was for a White Elephant Gift Exchange.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?

Yorkshire pudding

16. Lights on the tree?

White on both

17. Favorite Christmas song?

I will listen to just about anyone sing "O Holy Night".

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?

We go to my parents', who live around an hour away, for Christmas Eve service, dinner, and gifts.  My sister and her family are also there.  We drive back home late that night in order to have Christmas morning at our house.  Then my husband's family (about 30 of them!) come over for the afternoon for a hysterical Chinese Gift Exchange.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?

Yes.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?

Angel on one and a silver bow on the other

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?

See #18.  Then all other presents Christmas morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?

Watching the news and seeing all those people who want to take down Nativity Scenes and Menorahs around cities and towns.  I don't know anyone who really hates Christmas or Hanukkah for goodness sake!

23. Favorite ornament, theme, or color?

My southern ornaments -and of course those made by my children!  Also, all my nutcrackers.

24. Favorite for Christmas Dinner?

We have started a tradition of having steaks for Christmas lunch/dinner... yum!

25. What do you want to do for Christmas this year?

Keep the true meaning in everything I do.  ALSO, not eat too much! 

26. Favorite Christmas tradition growing up?

Going to my grandparents on Christmas Eve.  Now that my parents are the grandparents, we have continued the tradition at their house!

27. Favorite tradition now?

Getting in our pjs, slurping Sonic Blasts (I know that doesn't sound Christmasy) and driving around looking at tacky Christmas lights.  They are THE BEST!!!

28. Favorite Christmas Memory?

1988 Debutante Season.  The Assembly was five days before Christmas, and the Cotillion was four days after.  It was such fun being a princess during the Christmas season!