don't be a cotton-headed ninnymuggin!!

thanks to mama4real for a little holiday idea. imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right? thanks mama!!

1. Have you started your Christmas shopping?

yes, and almost finished. first time in my married life i can say this. AND they are almost all wrapped. it's a record. of course there's not a decoration up in the whole house other than the lit tree, but i'm okay with that!

2. Tell me about one of your special traditions. Growing up we were a "Christmas Eve" family, meaning that we opened all of our gifts on Christmas Eve, and then traveled to my aunt and uncle's house on Christmas day. When i began spending Christmas with the hubster's side of the family (because of retail we never travel over the holidays) they were all pretty militant about Christmas Day. and don't even ASK to open just one. ain't gonna happen.

but once our kids got older, we shifted a bit so we wouldn't have to drag our ENTIRE christmas to meeka and pop's house. so we dress for church, the hubs makes special drinks (like sparkling cranberry ginger ale) for the family, and i prepare party hors d'oeuvres. and artichokes. fresh ones. with the dipping butter. mmmmm. we open gifts, head to church and then hop in the car to go to spend the night with meeka and pops.

there we enjoy a ferraro family tradition: bonia cauda. it's an italian dish made with heavy cream, garlic, butter and (don't gag) anchovies. it's acutally quite tasty and the hot creamy sauce is served with fresh (raw) veggies like cabbage, broccoli, carrots, celery, peppers, etc. and fresh baked bread. uncle randy always comes, too, and it's a fun fellowship with this small part of the family. the next day the rest of the kids arrive, and we huddle about 20 of us around the christmas table.

3. When do you put up your Tree?

usually thanksgiving weekend. last year i did it several weeks before because i knew i would be away at an advent retreat and i didn't want to stress.

i had my small group make ornaments for our blessing tree. our family liked it so much we kept it that way through christmas.

4. Are you a Black Friday shopper?

not only no, but HELL NO. i've only done it once and it was one of the most disappointing experiences of my holiday.

5. Do you travel at Christmas or stay home?

we always go to meeka and pops in gatlinburg. it's a little over an hour away, but there's no traffic christmas eve and we love to look at all the winter wonderland lights.

6. What is your funniest Christmas memory?

probably when the kids were really little and they slept in (like until 9) and they still had to run in and jump on uncle randy to wake him up. now we have to jump on them to wake them up!

7. What is your favorite Christmas movie of all time?

don't have to even think about it.

elf. elf. ELF, you silly cotton-headed ninnymuggin!!

8. Do you do your own Christmas baking, what’s your favorite treat?

i love to bake but find that time always gets away from me. i love the bars with the shortbread bottom and the carmely-pecan topping. mmmmmmm (can you hear my arteries clogging?)

9. Fake or Real Tree?

sad to say, fake. the hubster has a knack for picking out the charlie brown christmas tree and always balks about the pricetag. one year there weren't enough walls to hide all the bare spots, so that was the year we bought fake at the end of the season. i'm not a fan of fluffing or dragging the monstrosity up the stairs, but it does look good when it's up. this year i paid bamagirl to fluff. it was money well spent, i tell ya!

10. What day (as a mom) does the actual panic set in to get it all done?

i really try not to panic. i try to relax and enjoy the season. to let go of my expectations of the martha stewart christmas. last year i was so de-stressing that i got the 100 photos in, and just decided not to send out cards. oh well!
11. Are you still wrapping presents on Christmas Eve?

usually i do, but not this year if i can help it!! i would like to watch a christmas movie marathon all day. that would be awesome!

12. What is your favorite family fun time at Christmas?

as soon as everyone arrives just after lunch on christmas day, we all head over the the football field at the high school, about a 10 minute walk from the house.

we play a semi-touch/tackle game of football and shoot off model rockets. and take a bunch of pictures. it's a blast.
13. What Christmas craft do you like the best?

all of them? yikes, so hard to choose. i love to make jewelry, mostly.

14. Christmas music?

ohmygracious, i LOVE christmas music! i get in the mood around november 1, but can wait until the week before thanksgiving to start listening. several radio stations play wall-to-wall christmas music beginning at midnight thanksgiving night. it's pretty awesome. and i love, love, LOVE oh holy night. my mom used to sing it alcapulco (you know, without any accompaniment) and it seriously gives me chills.

15. When do you plan to finish all of your shopping?

we downplay christmas because we don't want our kids to think we're made of money, which we so, so SO are not! we try to keep the holiday real, so i'm wrapping up my shopping (ha ha pun intended) pretty soon. just have a few extended family people and a few white elephant swaps. it's all good.

so if you want to play along, please do. just let me know and i'll head over to your blog and check it out!