Spreading Monkbot Holiday Cheer
I know we've all gotten these "Getting To Know You" e-mails from friends.Well...I got this one from my mom today and thought it had just the right mix of sentiment and generic questions so that we could share about ourselves...without giving away any details too telling for an online vehicle.
So...just for fun...here are my "Getting To Know You" answers...
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
Hot Chocolate
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree?
Both
3. Colored or white lights on the tree and/or house?
Colored lights on the tree. We've never put lights on our house.
4. Do you hang mistletoe?
No, but I once stubbed my toe on a missile. Does that count?
5. When do you put your decorations up?
The day before any company arrives.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
At Easter it was G'ma Millie's gumbo. For Thanksgiving and Christmas, it has to be squash casserole.
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child:
I didn't have memories when I was a child...I was too young. My favorite memory now from my childhood is every Christmas morning...running past the living room with my eyes covered so as not to ruin any surprise until I could go wake up my folks and my brothers. Another good memory was sitting with Mom on this old itchy gold and brown flowered couch in the living room with all the lights out except the tree lights and listening to the light filaments tinkle and "sing" to us.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
What truth? What do you mean?
(Actually, it was when I had to help Mom make a castle for my brother, Beau...and it ended up coming from "Santa" the next morning.)
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
No...never!
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
With just me and my mom because all the guys skate out the door once the lights are on. Ha!
11. Snow! Love it or dread it?
What is this "snow" you speak of?
12. Can you ice skate?
I tried once...and...no.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
My bamboo hanging chair (which I still have). I had asked for it for YEARS before I finally got it. Other favorites are the dollhouse that Dad made for me when I was 2 and my Cherry doll with all the clothes my mom made for her. Oh...and my Shaun Cassidy album and Alice in Wonderland record player...and my innertube trampoline and moon shoes...and the stilts my dad made for me and painted my name on in red down the front of each one.
14. What's the most important thing about the holidays for you?
Christ our Lord and family
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?
The cookies Mom and I would make and then frost...and slap the boys away from until we could get them all made. Ha.
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
Loo looo looooo lo lo lo looooo loo loo loo loo loo loo loo. (This has to do with my brother, Ben. We're kind of freaks.)
17. What tops your tree?
An angel playing the violin that my Aunt Lyn gave me years ago.
18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving?
Giving...by FAR!
19. What is your favorite Christmas song?
Silent Night
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or yum?
Meh
Now it's your turn.
Copy the questions below, paste them in the comment box, and fill in your answers!
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree?
3. Colored or white lights on the tree and/or house?
4. Do you hang mistletoe?
5. When do you put your decorations up?
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child:
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
11. Snow! Love it or dread it?
12. Can you ice skate?
13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
14. What's the most important thing about the holidays for you?
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
17. What tops your tree?
18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving?
19. What is your favorite Christmas song?
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or yum?
---
Labels: Monkbot
posted by shelley @ 12/15/2006 04:17:00 PM
37 comments
37 Comments:
Shelley -- great idea... thanks for sharing
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
Hot Chocolate - made with warm milk (not hot water)
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree?
Santa wraps -- along with a special Santa's helper named "Baby Claus".
3. Colored or white lights on the tree and/or house?
White lights on : the big tree in the Living room, the garland on the stair rail and mantel, the wreath hanging on the front door and the dwarf spruces in urns on the front stoop.
4. Do you hang mistletoe?
No. But must do that one year ! Would love to catch a few more kisses.
5. When do you put your decorations up? Weekend after Thanksgiving. Although -- I address my Christmas cards in late October.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
Southern Cornbread Dressing
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child:
Helping my Granny, Elizabeth, prepare the holiday meals while laughing and listening to Christmas music
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
I love Santa -- his magic is still with me.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
Yes. just a small one.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
White lights. gold, red and clear balls, ornaments collected over the years, and gold ribbon wrapped through the tree.
11. Snow! Love it or dread it?
A smattering of snow is always fun to set the holiday mood. Although, snowfall in the South is a rare occurence.
12. Can you ice skate?
No. I was always afraid I would fall and look silly when I was young. I think I will learn one day -- am not as afraid to look silly now that I am older.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
I just remember my Granny and Granddaddy always making sure I got the things I needed and wanted -- chiefly their love, hugs and kisses.
14. What's the most important thing about the holidays for you?
Celebrating the birth of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?
Raisen/Pecan Pie(heated) with fresh whipped cream
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
Going to church for the candleight service with my family and hearing their sweet voices singing the Christmas hymns that I have loved all of my life.
17. What tops your tree?
An angel with strawberry blond hair that resembles my Granny as a young woman.
18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving?
Giving -- especailly a secret surprise !!
19. What is your favorite Christmas song?
hmm... so many
Come All Ye Faithful - hymn
White Christmas
I'll Be Home for Christmas
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or yum?
Yum -- but in moderation
Heading out to LA for the weekend, so I'll have to catch up on all the answers when I get back...but, here's mine.
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
Egg Nog @ Xmas; HC otherwise.
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree?
wrap the small ones; not the large ones.
3. Colored or white lights on the tree and/or house?White lights
4. Do you hang mistletoe?yes. real only.
5. When do you put your decorations up?1st weekend AFTER Thanksgiving.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Rice Dressing.
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child: Going to my grandmother's on Xmas day and hanging out with my two first cousins popping fire crackers.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? friends at school
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? sometimes.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? Traditional
11. Snow! Love it or dread it? Love it
12. Can you ice skate? heh. heh. what do you think?
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? dollhouse when I was 7
14. What's the most important thing about the holidays for you?
being with family.
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? Coconut cake
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Egg nog while decorating the tree
17. What tops your tree?a bow. only b/c my angel won't fit.
18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving? giving
19. What is your favorite Christmas song? His Will Was Done.
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or yum? Yuck.
Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
-Hot Chocolate. I've never tasted egg nog!!!
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree?
-Wrapped AND under the tree!!
3. Colored or white lights on the tree and/or house?
-Coloured on the tree. None on the house.
4. Do you hang mistletoe?
-Nope.
5. When do you put your decorations up?
-Um, I'm thinking of taking my teeny tiny tree out of it's box today....
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
-My mothers roasted carrots and parsnips.....mmmmm....
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child:
-Just the sheer excitement of waiting to see what Santa brought on Christmas morning. Ah, the innocence of childhood!
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
-I was 10, and the older girls in school took some pleasure in telling us young 'uns that they chose their Barbie's from a catalogue. :(
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
-I've sneaked a peek.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
-My parents tree is an explosion of tinsel and decorations my brothers and me made as children. My tree is a tiny metal thing with teeny decorations hanging from the end of each branch. Pre-decorated, so to speak.
11. Snow! Love it or dread it?
-Love it. As long as my feet stay warm.....
12. Can you ice skate?
-Another thing I've never tried.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
-Honestly, no.
14. What's the most important thing about the holidays for you?
-The fact that people make an affort to reach out to/contact people they might not talk to in the normal course of their day.
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?
-Sherry trifle. Try it!
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
-The annual Christmas parties at work. I work with a great bunch of people with stressful jobs, and it's nice to see people cut loose and relax.
17. What tops your tree?
-A gold metal star.
18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving?
-Giving. I rarely get gifts I want/need!!!
19. What is your favorite Christmas song?
-White Christmas. Closely followed by The Little Drummer Boy.
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or yum?
-Send me one and I'll tell ya!!
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
My daughter, when she was about five used the word eggnog to describe feeling nauseated – as in “I feel eggnog”. Hot chocolate for me – all the way!
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree?
Um – I believe that the elves actually wrap them. Santa has bigger fish to fry.
3. Colored or white lights on the tree and/or house?
Both -- colored lights on the tree – my preference is the big ones. We put up lights inside the house so we can enjoy them. We run them all around the ceiling.
4. Do you hang mistletoe?
It is a parasite!! (shudders)
5. When do you put your decorations up?
Me? Never. That is a husbandly duty. I lack a decorating gene, anyway. I think I have a squashed crepe paper wreath around here, somewhere.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
Posole – yum!
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child:
One year, when we had some sort of windfall there was extra cash. We were all given money to spend. I remember that year, we all pitched in to make the holiday extra special for my younger brother – fake reindeer prints, elaborate cover-ups, a midnight visitor. There was a wonderful sense of suppressed excitement and secrecy. I love the surprises of Christmas.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
I can’t remember – probably about five, but it was a distinct relief. I have Santa phobia.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
Absolutely!
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
Badly and with much debate.
11. Snow! Love it or dread it?
I love the idea of snow. Does that count?
12. Can you ice skate?
Ow! My ankles!
13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
A set of horse books by Marguerite Henry and a lovely English saddle. (I was completely horse-crazy.)
14. What's the most important thing about the holidays for you?
The birth of Christ. Taking time out to concentrate on those things that truly matter. People’s generosity, the utter humanity of the holiday, in all its forms. The blessings of family. Christmas hymns.
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?
Mandel bread and my father-in-law’s toffee and peanut brittle.
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service -- the glow of the candles and the lovely music.
17. What tops your tree?
(er – branches?) I have been looking for a good angel for a long time. One without fiberoptics, please.
18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving?
Giving!
19. What is your favorite Christmas song?
Any Christmas hymn. But I love O Holy Night and Breath of Heaven.
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or yum?
Yum! I love the crunch and pepperminty kisses.
Mind Doc...I found this and immediately thought of you!
Mind Doc...I share your tree top dilemma. I never found a good one...and Shel that fiber optic piece is priceless baby.
I bought a large metal star one year and in fell off...or seemed to LEAP off the tree and spin and turn and threatened the very lives of any one near. ...and ever since I have been on a tree topper hunt!
You just shouldn't have to strap on a helmet by your Christmas tree!
I LOVE surveys!!!!!!!
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
both
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree?
He justs puts them under the tree, the elves make the toys and do the wrapping.
3. Colored or white lights on the tree and/or house?
Definately colored....to me white lights are kinda boring, and you might as well of just string a couple of light bulbs on your tree.
4. Do you hang mistletoe?
nope
5. When do you put your decorations up?
This year we did it pretty early, but normally like a couple days before Christmas...we take them down around when Easter comes lol.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
stuffing (Thanksgiving) and goop (Christmas Eve)
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child:
Touching Taylor Hicks which was just a few months ago, but I think 14 qualifies you as a kid.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
ummm...ask Leejolem because I have no idea.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
Only some of my like aunts and uncles and cousin's gifts and stuff, but not any of my grandsma's or direct family's gifts.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
with ornaments, lights (colored), and garland...yes the kind of stuff Taylor made with Martha Stewart...
11. Snow! Love it or dread it?
Love it....when I'm not falling on it.
12. Can you ice skate?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
My American Girl Doll and a gamecube.
14. What's the most important thing about the holidays for you?
The Lord, family, and Taylor Hicks
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?
Ice-cream..... (is that even a holiday dessert)?
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
I lOVE going to church on Christmas Eve....we get to hold candles......CANDLES!!!
17. What tops your tree?
It depends....sometimes Tweety, sometimes an angel, and sometimes a star...
18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving?
both
19. What is your favorite Christmas song?
O holy night or White Christmas (performed by Taylor Hicks)
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or yum?
YUM!!!!!! (especially the cherry ones)
I need someone to answer two questions for me...
What is Posole?
And
What is Goop?
They make stuffing out of cornbread????
Goop is amazing...it's kinda like a chilly kinda thing....I think...with a lot of cheese in it...and you dip cheese in it.....OMG it's good!!!!!!
hickschick4soul....cornbread stuffing is the only kind i've ever had.
it's delicious!
I think Hickschick4soul should share her recipe for Goop!!! :)
I mean you dip chips in it lol......dipping cheese in it would be a little excessive....
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
~~ As a youngster, hot chocolate with marshmallows. Now, I likee the egg nog!
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree?
~~Wraps them! Ma-Maw and Mom painstakingly remove the wrapping without tearing it so that it can be used again and again.
3. Colored or white lights on the tree and/or house?
~~Colored
4. Do you hang mistletoe?
~~No
5. When do you put your decorations up?
~~As a kid, it was in conjunction with my youngest sister's birthday, Dec. 9. Now, whenever we get around to it. Some years we don't. This year, we have no decorations up at all.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
~~Dressing! Yams with marshmallows on top. Tiny sweet pickles and olives.
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child:
~~Us girls getting up at the crack of dawn, waking the folks, and huddling together on one of our beds while they went to "check if Santa had come yet." (In reality, I suspect they were taking the opportunity to make their coffee.) The joyful anticipation of that moment, the new light coming in from the windows--it's magic.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
~~I think it was just a gradual realization as I got older. Nothing traumatic, no big confessions. We still play along, though.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
~~No.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
~~Back with my family: Lots and lots of ornaments made by school-age children! Lights, a few "nice" ornaments. As a teen I worked at a Hallmark store and got into those ornaments, too.
11. Snow! Love it or dread it?
~~I'm with Shelley: Never heard of it! Though now I can't say that any more, since for the first time in my life, we had a white Christmas in Lake Jackson in 2004. With *real* snow several inches deep! It was my first time to see such.
12. Can you ice skate?
~~Despite the presense of the Galleria here in Houston (famous mall with an ice rink in it)...No.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
~~As a kid...I remember one year I got the whole Narnia set of books--I still have them! As an adult: The year James got Pixie for me. I got up and in my stocking found a picture of him holding this tiny, tiny puppy. It was classic.
14. What's the most important thing about the holidays for you?
~~Being together with family. The love. The feeling of safety and abundance.
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?
~~Pumpkin pie, or maybe pecan pie.
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
~~Back in family days...Catching Dad in a picture that makes it look as if he's nekkid. Okay, that sounds twisted, but my dad is one of those "always fully dressed" men. The only time he goes without a shirt is on Christmas morning, when he has just some shorts on. So we have these pictures were there's a blanket or the family dog across his lap. Oh, and giving dad a gift like socks but putting it in a box for say, tampons. Dad always makes this big show of horror while we fall out on the floor laughing. A man who lives with a wife and three girls must endure things like this!
17. What tops your tree?
~~A star. The latest one had blinking lights.
18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving?
~~Hey, I'll be brave and say they're BOTH pretty cool!
19. What is your favorite Christmas song?
~~Adeste Fidelis and its English version as well, Good King Wenceslas (I know all the verses), and Sleigh Ride
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or yum?
~~Yum! But only around the holidays.
Thanks for this Shelley! I've enjoyed answering and reading others responses! Ah, the memories!
--Q
Quossom-OMG I forgot to put pumpkin pie.....i love pumpkin pie (or how the monkbots say it-lurve)
Shelly-I will call Leejolem to see if she knows what it is, but if she doesn't I will call my grandma
The quest find the recipe for the goop...will I find it??? Tune in....
Sorry everybody....I'm trying...but I will find it...I promise....just having bad luck...but here are most of the ingrediants:
ground beef
cheese
red beans
onions
ketchup
And there is other stuff in there too and I am trying to find out how much of what u put in there and stuff so bear with me...
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
Egg Nog. With ice.
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree?
Always wrapped. It may be butcher paper, newsprint, or tin foil, but always wrapped. Ribbon optional.
3. Colored or white lights on the tree and/or house?
Both. As long as they don't flash.
4. Do you hang mistletoe?
No.
5. When do you put your decorations up?
Sometime in December. Everything comes down January 6th.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
Mashed yams with butter. Not to be confused with sweet potatoes with brown sugar and marshmallows.
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child:
Can't remember.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
I was about 7 or 8 when my older sister told me he wasn't real. I learned the truth from Miracle on 34th Street.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
No.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
Lights. Ornaments collected over the years, ornaments the kids made.
11. Snow! Love it or dread it?
Pass.
12. Can you ice skate?
No.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
Etch-a-sketch.
14. What's the most important thing about the holidays for you?
Birth of the Savior.
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?
Rosette cookies sprinked with powdered sugar.
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
On Christmas morning, the kids would get up, turn on the coffee pot, and they would check out the contents of their stockings while DH and I slept a little longer. Once the coffee was brewed, they would wake us up and we would gather around the tree. The Christmas story was read, then presents were opened. Now we're empty-nesters. We haven't all been together for Christmas since 1999... this question is making me sad.
17. What tops your tree?
A flimsy angel made out of a silver cardboard cone. At least once a year, she pops off the top, falls in the lower branches or the floor, and has to be set back up. For awhile I looked for a replacement, but now she's just part of the tradition.
18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving?
Giving, although I get alot of anxiety that the recipient may not like what I chose.
19. What is your favorite Christmas song?
Angels From the Realm of Glory if I'm singing it, O Holy Night if someone else is.
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or yum?
Meh. Take 'em or leave 'em.
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
Hot Chocolate. Chocolate trumps all!
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree?
Both.
3. Colored or white lights on the tree and/or house?
Colored.
4. Do you hang mistletoe?
No.
5. When do you put your decorations up?
A couple of weeks before Christmas.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
My Mom's sausage stuffing.
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child:
Big family dinners at my grandma's house with all the traditional foods PLUS all my Ukranian favorites!
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
I don't really remember, but I'm sure my older brother burst my bubble as early as he could.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
Yes. My family always waited until CHristmas Morning, and my husband's family opens ALL their gifts on Christmas Eve, so we compromise by opening one on Christmas eve.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
My husband puts on the lights (and then disappears....must be a male trait??) and the kids and I decorate.
11. Snow! Love it or dread it?
Depends on if I have to go out anywhere, and on how much. A couple of inches....sure! A couple of feet....not so much.
12. Can you ice skate?
Not very well.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
I remember asking for a piano one year for CHristmas (I was probably 5), and what I meant was a little toy piano. My parents bought me an organ! I was blown away.
14. What's the most important thing about the holidays for you?
Celebrating Jesus' birth and time with family and friends.
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?
Butter Tarts.
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
Candle-light chruch service on Christmas Eve.
17. What tops your tree?
A star.
18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving?
Giving.
19. What is your favorite Christmas song?
Gloria in Excelsis Deo.
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or yum?
I can take em or leave em.
Bonus Question....Favorite Christmas Movie? The Christmas Story-"You're gonna poke your eye out!!!"
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
-Hot Choc
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree?
-both
3. Colored or white lights on the tree and/or house?
-colored lights on the tree -- white & light light blue on the house
4. Do you hang mistletoe?
-nope
5. When do you put your decorations up?
- oh anytime after Dec 1st .. this year was the 9th
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
- dressing at Thanksgiving .. we are VERY casual Christmas Day .. Ham, rolls, potatoe salad .. no major Domestic Goddess stuff on Christmas
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child:
- Roy Rogers (yes, Roy not Dale)outfit & the guys across the street got Paladin (anyone remember him?)
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
- Caught my Dad --never told him --when my kids told me they did not believe anymore I told them "Ya know, kids that don't believe in Santa get nothing from Santa" they are 28 & 31... lolol they still believe
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
- Never ever
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
- with ornaments made by my kids in school as they were growing up
11. Snow! Love it or dread it?
- Loved watching it (we were stationed in PA) absolutely beautiful .. then was ready for it to go away..
12. Can you ice skate?
- tried once -- nooo way
13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
- after the Roy Rogers? .. probably my Little Drummer Boy musical globe from my son
14. What's the most important thing about the holidays for you?
- Family & remembering the reason for this wonderful season.. Now I play Shelley's "Oh Holy Night" to celebrate our Savior's birth.
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?
- I cannot pick just one
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
- My kids at home - Very precious to me
17. What tops your tree?
- A paper plate Angel my son made in kindergarden
18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving?
- Giving ... but hey.. the receiving is a ball too!
19. What is your favorite Christmas song?
- Oh Holy Night & Little Drummer Boy ... definately a tie
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or yum?
- not really a yuck but I don't eat them
My favorite holiday movie is Santa Clause is Comin' to town, Rudolpf, and a Year without a Santa Clause, and all the other movies like that
and mmmmmmmmm.....sausage stuffing.....
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
Egg Nog is just for Christmas, Cocoa is all year long
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree?
Always wrapped and set under the tree
3. Colored or white lights on the tree and/or house?
Both, but more white than not. It the darkness of December in Minnesota, white lights on things are essential.
4. Do you hang mistletoe?
Does a plastic mistletoe ball from Menard’s count?
5. When do you put your decorations up?
In October, my hubbie starts stringing the lights on the house and trees, pounding in the candy cane fence and star garden, and putting the huge sign and snowflakes on the roof, since we can’t predict when the cold weather will arrive. The inflatables, lighted trees and plastic figures come out of the shed right before Thanksgiving. Yeah, we’re one of “those” people…
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
I have no favorite Christmas foods outside of the cookies. My favorite dishes would be Thanksgiving-type foods.
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child.
Santa - visiting Santa and taking pictures, and then waiting for him to bring our presents. My parents really did a nice job with the Santa aspect of Christmas - not overdone or artificial, but very magical and sweet.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
I really don’t remember any big revelations, other than secretly finding presents in the hall closet of our apartment one December that were later from Santa. I was the oldest of four kids, so I was expected to keep Santa alive for my siblings. I do remember once being told, around age 10 or 11, that if you don’t believe Santa is real, then don’t expect any Santa presents.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
Yes! We get to choose one present. Lately, my parents have been having present opening on Christmas Eve, so family gifts get opened then.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
In a non-Kirby year, we have a beautiful tree up the weekend following Thanksgiving. Lights first, then garlands and then ornaments. Sometimes, we’ve had two trees; one more fun and kid-oriented in the basement and one in the living room with the more special ornaments. With an 8 month old 85 pound black lab, we don’t have our tree up and it is less than ten days before Christmas. For sure, my special ornaments won’t make it out of the Christmas box this year.
11. Snow! Love it or dread it?
Snow is the most wonderful part of winter. I can’t imagine living without snow. There’s a song I love by Taylor Hicks that starts out, “It’s funny how my life changes with the snow…” My life, my world, revolves around the season, since each season in Minnesota is so distinct.
12. Can you ice skate?
Yes! I love to skate. I prefer indoors and I love the smell of whatever chemical makes the ice frozen. Is that bad?
13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
I think it would have to be the huge castle my father assembled for my brother and I when we were around 4 or 5.
14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you?
Christ is the center of Christmas, of course, and the season wouldn’t be the same without the Advent Services and Christmas Eve service. So, I guess that family, friends and community are the most important aspect of Christmas.
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?
Cookies and candies, the homemade ones. Yeah, I have a big sweet tooth!
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
I love Christmas, but I know I love it most for the secular traditions that were born of a once-Christian culture: lights, trees, presents, songs, foods, etc.
17. What tops your tree?
A star or an angel…we have both and it just depends on how I decorated that year.
18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving?
Well, I love to receive, but I also love to give. I like to think that most people put as much time into the presents they choose for me and as I do for them.
19. What is your favorite Christmas song?
Caroling, Caroling by Natalie Cole
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or yum?
In a perfect world, I would live on candy canes.
Fun quiz! Thanks, Shelley!
Squee....I want to know more about this "Ukranian favorites."
HicksChick4soul....Ketchup???? Are you sure???
Tkls2myhrt...."Does a plastic mistletoe ball from Menard’s count?" Yes! ;)
Baby duck said, "A flimsy angel made out of a silver cardboard cone. At least once a year, she pops off the top, falls in the lower branches or the floor, and has to be set back up. For awhile I looked for a replacement, but now she's just part of the tradition."
Okay BD...that just cracked me up. We have ornaments like that. There is NO WAY anyone would pick them over beautiful ornaments in the store...but the sentiment is behind them so they are the most cherished ornaments. :)
I love this stuff, y'all. Great job!
Shelly-Ok so I kind of got the recipe....I got everything thats in it but not exactly how much of what. So here it is....kinda.....
Ground beef
Kidney beans
garlic powder
cheese (a lot because it has to be thick)
chili powder
A ketchup kind of sauce (but it doesn't taste too much like ketchup-trust me...I hate ketchup, but i love this stuff)
onions for flavor
TKls2myhrt- I know what song you are talking about-The Fall, one of my favorite Taylor songs
Oh yeah and you gotta eat the goop with chips.....(OMG I've been obsessing with this goop stuff)
HicksChick4Soul...thanks for sharing. :)
I'm a little skeered of the "ketchup kind of sauce" though. LOL ;)
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Peppermint Hot Chocolate
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree?
definitely wrap! We also get presente from Rudolph, Mrs.Claus, the Wise Men , the Shepherds, Frosty, etc...
3. Colored or white lights on the tree and/or house?
Colored all the way (as long as they are not frenetically blinking)
4. Do you hang mistletoe?
no (my husband hates kissing, he's such a bummer)5. When do you put your decorations up? usually about 1-3 weeks before Christmas
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?Goop, ham buns, smoky links in bbq sauce;Christmas am-scrambled eggs and smoky links made by my DH
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child:Christmas eve service w/candles and the excitement of walking in and seeing the presents on xmas morning
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
I was about 5 and was relieved.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?We open presents from each other on Christmas eve.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? We have a variety of ornaments. One from each yr when i was growing up , and the same w/bothof my girls. Also tinsel garland and lights. I have a penchant for ornaments that look like candy, so there's lots of that. (I have a gumdrop man that I got when I was 3 that hold a place of honor).
11. Snow! Love it or dread it?
Love it if under 6 inches
12. Can you ice skate? nooooooo!
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? The Monkees albu, Malibu Ken and Barbie and their Beach Bus.
14. What's the most important thing about the holidays for you?
Celebrating the birth of Jesus with my family 15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?
Any christmas cookies made by my mom
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Christmas eve candlelight service w/my family singing Silent Night
17. What tops your tree?A Tweety Bird angel
18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving?When I was young receiving, but now definitely giving
19. What is your favorite Christmas song?
Religious--Silent Night or Oh HOly Night
Secular--Grandma Got Run OVer by a Reindeer
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or yum?
Yum, while watching Rudolph or Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Loved reading all your answers. I will try to get the specific recipe for Goop (my Mom always says "oh, I just throw it together"). And yes, it is an old recipe before they had commercially available mexican sauces and it really has ketchup in it (but you can't tell).
Sorry to weigh in so late…I have been up since six and this is the first time I am sitting all day (9:34PM)
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
Scotch…but if I have to choose…Hot Chocolate with whip cream and cinnamon
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree?
Santa always wraps
3. Colored or white lights on the tree and/or house?
Now, this is a complex question…outside white peanut lights where always preferred, but I love the look of one lone tree away from the house done in the big old fashioned colored lights. Indoor, we have always had the “retro” look, large colored lights…to quote The Mighty Wind…”seems retro is very now…Now-tro if you will.”
4. Do you hang mistletoe?
I used to in High School and in college when there was a plethora of single men. Now, not so much.
5. When do you put your decorations up?
Scary…Thanksgiving weekend
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
We don’t really do traditional dishes at Christmas. But when we open our presents we always have champagne and shrimp.
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child:
Every Christmas Eve my parents had a huge party. The house was always busting with activity days prior. My favorite thing was to help my Dad run the errands. It was our job to get all the food, the booze and anything else. It seemed it was always rosy cheek cold out and we would go through town checking things off our list singing carols. Fun. I must remember to tell Dad that this is my favorite childhood memory.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
I was late to figure it out, 10 years old…I was sneaking around, looking for my parents gifts to me and hit the “mother load”. They had the door to THE closet rigged and that night grilled me. I refused to give up the goods, but they knew I knew. We played quiet until after Christmas morning. It was the first Christmas I slept in.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Yes.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
I am a tree decorating freak…right space and color light must be found for each treasured ornament. I usually do it alone.
11. Snow! Love it or dread it?
LOVE SNOW
12. Can you ice skate?
You betcha! I used to play lake ice hockey with the boys when I was growing up.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
Yup…My Dorothy doll and the Emerald City Follow The Yellow Brick Road I actually got the four main characters. That was awesome.
14. What's the most important thing about the holidays for you?
Peace, love and family.
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?
Cream wafer cookies…butter and sugar and yummmmmm
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
The Christmas Light drive with my sister
17. What tops your tree?
A Scottish angle, all plaid and wings
18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving? GIVING
19. What is your favorite Christmas song?
It’s not Christmas until I hear Bing sing White Christmas
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or yum?
Pretty while tree is up, then give to my Brother in-law to eat.
Shrew said, "1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
Scotch…but if I have to choose…Hot Chocolate with whip cream and cinnamon"
ROFL...unapologetic, Shrew...God love ya!
That totally cracked me up.
;)
Can I just say my hubby is a total poop? He listened for the 1st time today to a snippet of the TH CD. He listened to about 30 secs of DMA and said it sounded kind of "amateurish". I was going to share The Places I've Been (he's a country fan) with him and let him know it reminded me of him, but now I'm not sure I will. Anyway, I know this is totally off topic, but I had to vent, and I knew my Monkbot sistahs would understand. Off to bed , so I can finish Christmas shopping tomorrow
. Note to self--buy lump of coal for hubby!
Dear Shelley
thanks for the angel! I have literally been looking for years for a good tree-angel. When I was kid, we had this ethereal 1920's looking one, and she was lovely. I haaaate all of the ones that I have been seeing. To put you out of your misery, posole is a yummy red chile stew. It is made with pork and hominy and should be eaten with fresh tortillas. It is a holiday tradition in New Mexico, along with black-eyed peas for New Year's.
Posole
Shelley,
My grandparents on my Dad's side were both Ukranian (They have both passed away).
There are many goodies, but the wones I remember the best are pyrogis and cabbage rolls. I also seem to remember sone special sort of sweet bread, but I can't remember the name of it.
Ok I did some research, and the sweet bread, or babka (Seinfeld, anyone??) was actually an Easter tradition, and the Christmas bread was kalach. Kalach is a braided loaf, the three strands representing the Trinity. And this concludes your Ukranian cuisine lesson! ;)
Yum to braided sweetbread.
Squeebee! I'm Ukrainian, too! My paternal grandparents were first generation by only a couple of years (Saskatchewan in 1907) Where did your grandparents settle?
Yeah, I think Easter is the big food holiday, not Christmas. Except for halupchee (have no idea how it is spelled). My baba dared not show up to any family holiday without several pans of it. I could live on that food.
Cool, Theresa! Most of my extended family on my Dad's side settled in Manitoba, but my Dad was born in Victoria. Viva les Ukranian Monkbots!
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
Hot Chocolate. Egg nog in small quantities.
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree?
No gifts from Santa under the tree. Always knew this came from Mom/Dad,that came from Aunt Katie etc. Never felt deprived, so don’t feel bad for me. My mother had issues with her parents lying to her about things when she was growing up. Swore she wouldn’t lie to us about anything.
3. Colored or white lights on the tree and/or house?
Colored lights.
4. Do you hang mistletoe?
No, but I’ve always wanted to. I think it’s relatively hard to find real mistletoe.
5. When do you put your decorations up?
Right after Thanksgiving.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
Crab dip.
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child:
This is easy. There is this neighborhood in Montgomery, OH that has a tradition every Christmas Eve where they put up luminaries. One luminary every three feet up and down the street and up everyone’s driveway. Keep in mind this neighborhood is huge. Most beautiful thing you’ll ever see. It’s what I miss most each year.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
See question 2.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
1 or two gifts Christmas Eve. Husbands family opens them all Christmas Eve. This sounds really weird, but whenever we celebrate there I get really stressed out because of that. My back tightens up and it’s overwhelming because everyone is opening all their presents at the same time.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
Which one? Lol. Glass tree, toy tree, santa tree, winnie the pooh tree.
11. Snow! Love it or dread it?
Dread it. Living in MN we get a lot of it.
12. Can you ice skate?
Yes, but I hate it.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
Gun that shot ping pong balls
14. What's the most important thing about the holidays for you?
Avoiding sappy answer. If I don’t have a tree up and I don’t make cookies it’s not the holidays.
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?
Seven layer cookies
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
Driving around looking at christmas lights and seeing neighborhood mentioned in question 7.
17. What tops your tree?
Star
18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving?
I like both.
19. What is your favorite Christmas song?
The christmas toy. “It goes zip when it moves, bop when it stops. Whirrr when it stands still, I never knew just what it was and I guess I never will”
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or yum?
Yum, break off the hook, stab the straight part into an orange and suck.
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