I saw this over at Karen's blog so I decided to "steal" it.

Christmas Meme
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper all the way! Who likes to open a gift bag? Tearing at the wrapping paper is, in my opinion, the 'essence' of Christmas

2. Real or artificial tree? I love fake trees, less mess. Billy likes real because he says they smell nice (I think they smell like cat urine). We used to do real, then fake, then real again and now we are back to fake (base board heating scares me so we decided against a real one....I am secretly ecstatic!)

3. When do you put up the tree? When we had a real tree we would wait until the 16th or so. Now with the fake one we put it up the weekend after Thanksgiving.

4. When do you take it down? December 26th, sometimes a little later but definitely way before New Years.

5. Do you like eggnog? Ick, yuk, no way. The only one who likes it is Nate and then he only has it at his friend's house because I don't buy it!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? How could I choose? When I was a kid I loved all my presents. My mom took great care in picking out gifts for us. And now as an adult I love all the gifts I am given. My family is very thoughtful when it comes to gift giving. But if I HAD to choose I would say all the cute gifts my kids have given me over the years!

7. Do you have a nativity scene? No.

8. Hardest person to buy for? Usually no one. But this year Tommy, my 9 year old, is proving to be hard to shop for. He is at that age where they are getting too old for toys (and there is nothing 'new' out there that they don't already have) and not quite old enough for all the electronic gadgets that teens like.

9. Easiest person to buy for? Abby by far! I could go into Toys R Us and pretty much buy her whatever and she will be happy.

10. Worst Christmas present you ever got? I honestly can't think of anything!

11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Do people really email Christmas cards!!??? I mail mine, which are ready to go, I just need stamps.

12. Favorite Christmas movie? A Christmas Story, Santa Claus is Coming to Town and Frosty.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I just started. It seems like every time I go to the mall something happens and I need to hurry home. Of course if I had started in October like some of my friend's I wouldn't need to be at the crowded mall in the first place.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Nope, never.

15. Favorite thing to eat on Christmas? My mother is making spaghetti and meatballs, a family tradition, which happens to be my favorite food!

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Colored!!!

17. Favorite Christmas song? Silent Night, Josh Grobin does a beautiful version. His new Christmas CD "Noel" is awesome (thanks Louise!).

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Well, we just drive to my sister's a half hour away, if you call that traveling. But other than that, we spend the entire Holiday season at home!

19. Can you name all of Santa's Reindeer? Um, no, I can't......

20. Angel or star on top of tree? A tacky, all lit up with lights, silver star!! It's a beauty!

21. Open presents Christmas Eve or morning? Always on Christmas morning. Except when my mom comes over, then we open one gift each (my mom gets the kids their Christmas PJ's which they look forward to every year!)

22. Most annoying thing this time of year? Spending money I don't have.

23. Do you decorate your tree in any theme or color? Yup. The theme: tacky as all get out. Color: all of them!

24. What do you leave for Santa? Cookies and milk usually. This year we are changing it up a bit and leaving some Kahlua and milk and a Hershey bar (that's what Santa really loves!!). As for the reindeer, a carrot, to share.