christmas! christmas! christmas!

NOTE: i <3 xmas. so much that i'll probably tear up writing this. so just a warning, it may be incredibly cheesey.

Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
every year on thanksgiving i am thankful for my in-laws. and i swear, it's only because of the family egg nog recipe =P anyone who thinks you can BUY nog or that you don't like egg nog is sadly mistaken and invited to the jansens on christmas eve to be proven wrong.

Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
every little thing is wrapped. even batteries that accompany gifts are wrapped. and there is an equal amount of packages for both kids. because santa is fair.

Colored or white lights on tree/house?
i like the simple prettiness of white lights. but that's the decorator in me who wants a tree with ornaments in only 2 or 3 colors, so it is perfectly coordinated. in truth, i would be very sad if my parents' tree didn't have colored lights and all the homemade ornaments.
note: why do we stop making ornaments once we are adults and have some semblance of glue and glitter control?

Do you hang mistletoe?
ayup. as a newlywed, you need an excuse to kiss. no, really, i just like the eye roll i get from jp when i make him stand under it and kiss me.

When do you put your decorations up?
definitely not before december 1st....it usually depends on when i have time to clean first. this year, it was supposed to be last saturday, but i baked cookies instead. we'll see....

What is your favorite holiday dish?
mmmmm.....carrot souffle. potato dumplings. roast lamb. french onion soup on christmas eve. any and all cookies. chocolate covered cherries.

Favorite Holiday memory as a child
the year we got silly string in our stockings. we were told on christmas eve that there would be something in our stockings that we weren't allowed to use christmas morning. so we wake up, open our stockings and realize that it's the silly string. then our parents walk into the room and start spraying us with their own cans. we sat in stupefied silence until encouraged to spray back. everyone/thing was covered.

When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
in third grade, the class 'bad boy' announced it to the class. i have to admit i had my suspicions, but it was still sad. and i'm still upset i made my mother verify it. even though she asked me about 12 times if i REALLY wanted to know.

Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
first of all, i have to say that both my sister-in-law and mother-in-law lied on this question. since i've known them, i have given them their presents on christmas eve. so have my parents and brother. they open lots on christmas eve. don't be sucked in by their lies.
and i, too, open many presents on christmas eve. one from my parents, my brother's, and a whole bunch from in-laws while they are there.

How do you decorate your Christmas Tree?
well, last year we had a real tree. this year, no. we'll have a 3ft little faker, so i'll decorate it with mini glass balls. parents' tree is covered with quite the assortment of things that have been collected over the year. including tinsel. we don't do tinsel because of the cats, although my father-in-law claims "nothing says christmas like tinsel hanging out a cat's ass!"

Snow! Love it or Dread it?
love love love it. i share lorelai gilmore's magical snow feelings. the first snow is so gorgeous, and so are all the others. however, i will say that there is nothing worse than slush and city snow (the kind that just gets browner and browner as the season goes on).

Can you ice skate?
surprisingly well for someone who has agility issues. i can do spins and skate backwards and people are always impressed. i think i have more skills ice skating than walking....

Do you remember your favorite gift?
my favorite gift would have to be my map of long island. my grandma, mom, and her siblings all have one and mom managed to find prints for erik and i. she was quite taken aback when the both of us were nearly moved to tears - she just thought it was a cool thing. i think we saw it as tradition being passed down to us.

What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you?
spending lots of time with the family. seeing my sisters-in-law and doug and seeing how happy jean and joe are that their whole family is together.

What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?
well, pumpkin roll is just such a classic. but cheap chocolate covered cherries are up there too.

What is your favorite holiday tradition?
christmas eve at my parents with the whole gang. we'll be 15 this year.....

Which do you prefer, giving or receiving?
up until christmas eve, i prefer giving because i'm so wrapped up in shopping that i don't think about getting presents. but then once you open a couple....it's hard not to get excited. but the best feeling really is when you give the perfect gift to someone.

What is your favorite Christmas song?
anything classically caroled. if i had to choose... "god rest ye merry gentlemen", "carol of the bells", "ding dong merrily on high", "angels we have heard on high", "joseph bien et marie", "fum fum fum", "i saw three ships"....it just goes on and on. i can tell you what i hate too. this song makes me want to punch someone in the face (VERY un-christmas like). i don't even know what it's called but the chorus goes "last christmas, i gave you my heart. but the very next day, you gave it away. this christmas to save me from tears, i'll give it to somebody special." i shudder just to think of it.

Candy Canes?
yuck to the original. i buy the fruit flavored ones because i really like sucking on them until they get to a really sharp point and stab my tongue.

Fave Christmas Movie?
i have 3. of course, it's a wonderful life. because it is. and that movie is classically moving and who doesn't want a pool with a retractable floor over it? next, miracle on 34th street. because i still want to believe. finally, the grinch who stole christmas. because you can't get any better than dr. seuss and all the whos down in whoville (the tall and the small).