Tuesday Tell All - Twelve Questions of Christmas

Real or artificial tree? Growing up we had both. I loved having more than one tree in the house. Paul and I always had real trees until last year. It's a pain to store, but I love how it's pre-lit and you can fluff it to the right shape.

Do you like eggnog? Yup! But it has to be the store bought, low-fat kind that I then mix with plain low-fat milk. Love it!

Memorable gift received? A Homemade Cabbage Patch doll that my Mom made. I am so mad that I don't still have it. It was the year that the dolls were all the rage. 1983 perhaps? I also loved the year that I got Strawberry Shortcake EVERYTHING!

Do you have a nativity scene? I have three and hope to have many more. The first one is an olive wood one I bought in Bethlehem while I was on study abroad there in 1995. I didn't have much spending money for the 6 months I was there and saved most of it for that souvenir. Imagine my absolute horror when I was pulling it out a couple of weeks ago and realized that the baby Jesus and manger were missing. I am SICK SICK SICK about it.

One of my other nativities is one we received piece by piece as a "twelve days of Christmas".

The last one I bought so the kids could play with it. One wise man is already missing a head!

The one I really want is by Jim Shore...gorgeous. I'd also love a Willow Tree one. There was THE MOST fabulous nativities in Rome in one store we went into. $$$$$

Hardest? Easiest person to buy for? Hardest is BY FAR Paul. He is picky. Easiest would be my boys. They love everything and are still young enough to forget what exactly it was that they wanted.

Favorite Christmas movie? I LOVE Miracle on 34th Street. I never thought they could improve on the original, but I love the 90's version with the actress from Matilda. I have to say that It's a Wonderful Life will always hold the top spot for me! Family Man is a great funny one too!

White lights or colored lights? White...for now. I love both, and grew up with colored.

Favorite Christmas song? WAY TOO HARD!! I was listening to Breath of Heaven by Amy Grant the other day and it really spoke to me. Not that I could ever compare myself with Mary and what she was going through, but I often feel like that. I am in love with Sarah McLachlan's Wintersong album right now.

Travel for Christmas or stay home? Stay at home. When we were in KY we went back to Utah every year. When we moved to Wisconsin and Paul was a resident...we stayed there every year. He was either on call, or we were too poor to fly, and our family was growing. I was devastated the first year, but it turned out so great. I loved the low pressure and really enjoying the season. Now we are closer to home (Utah) but have still stayed here (AZ). It is a really busy time for Oral Surgery and my kids are old enough that I like them to wake up at their own home Christmas morning.

Do you open presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning? We always opened our gifts from each other (siblings, grandma/grandpa) on Christmas Eve, and then "Santa" and Mom and Dad gifts were Christmas morning. That is a tradition I will continue.

Do you tell the Christmas story? Yes! We read it from the scriptures with ad-lib so the kids can better understand. I have been reading them a kids version to prepare them for the "real deal".

Favorite Christmas tradition? I'd love to say that it's some deeply spiritual tradition, but my favorite is still the Santa cookies that we made every year. I will have to blog about my ordeal with that the last few years, but it is the best memory for me.