When I actually remember it is Tuesday, I follow Annie @Tuesday 4. There are 4 main questions and this week they are all about Christmas.
1. Is your tree up?
Yes they are. I have only two up this year.
How tall?
One is 7 1/2 feet and the other is 8.The den tree has colored lights and the living room tree has white lights.
Is there a color scheme you use?
Normally the den tree has humorous ornaments of every color in the world. The living room tree is more formal with gold, silver, bronze and copper. This year though, I only used lights and tree toppers. I am calling them art trees!
2. Got a menu for Christmas Eve and Day?
We typically have Chinese takeout for Christmas Eve. Christmas Day we have brunch and the menu is changeable.
3. When does it go up and how long does it stay up?
It goes up as soon after Thanksgiving as I can ge it up. Since we were out of town for Thanksgiving I had actually put some out earlier.
Everything Christmasy is down by the 31 with just some candles and mantel lights remaining.
4. What is your favorite Christmas memory.
When I was 5 I had mumps during the holidays and was unable to go see Santa. My uncle was friends with Loveman’s (former local dept store) Santa. Imagine my surprise when Uncle Bailey drove up to my house with Santa in the front seat. My sister and I had our own private time with the big guy.
When do you open your gifts?
We open our gifts on Christmas morning
If you feel like it, join in the Christmas fun!
This year, I have a 3' tree with all sorts of colors on it. I usually put my tree up the Saturday after Thanksgiving and take it down on New Years Day. But, the last few years, I do it when I can. No special meal on Christmas Eve but it is a replay of Thanksgiving on Christmas Day.
ReplyDeleteI am thinking of a smaller tree for the den next year (unless our kids are going to be here)
DeleteYour favourite Christmas memory is very, very special indeed. No decorating here. Christmas is going to be HOT, so salads and cold cuts will be the order of the day - and will make great leftovers too.
ReplyDeleteWe also open gifts on Christmas morning (assuming himself gets up).
Christmas is not going to be hot here, but it is supposed to be very warm. Our meal might change substantially to accommodate the mid 70's that are expected.
DeleteThe upside is it will be great for kids who get new bikes!
Your trees sound lovely! Is there a picture of your den tree with the humorous ornaments? Sounds fun! And what a fun memory to have Santa at your house.
ReplyDeleteWishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
I am not sure if I have a picture or not. But everyone has an elephant riding a unicycle ornament, right?
DeleteI've been to Burl Ives hometown near Newton, IL. That's me, going off on a tangent again. lol
ReplyDeleteI will remember this the next time I am near Newton!
DeleteAahhh, how lovely that you got your own private visit from Santa!
ReplyDeleteI am lucky I had a very kind uncle who arranged it!
DeleteOur tree is up and it’s a small one at only 3 feet high, but it works for us. No color scheme and it will stay up past New Year’s Day. We open our gifts on Christmas morning. We do have a menu planned for both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. What a neat story about Santa coming to see you the Christmas you had the mumps. I had them on my 9th birthday. I got. Skateboard and Mom let me ride it in the house since I was sick.
ReplyDeleteLuckily kids no longer get mumps or measles! It is funny how much more memorable childhood diseases are if they came wrapped around a special event!
DeleteMy first tree went up mid-November this year (Thanksgiving in Canada is October). It's about 3.5 feet tall, is pre-lit with colored lights and has your average non-breakable ornaments (cat and kid friendly) and ribbons. Colors are reds, greens, and white. The second, a $ store tree about 2 feet tall is on the bathroom counter. I added $ store colored lights and homemade ornaments. What can I say, I was bored with scarf knitting.
ReplyDeleteI never had a traditional Christmas Eve meal, but in the last few years my adult children have been asking for mac & cheese and hot Italian sausage. It's an easy meal so it works for me. Christmas Day ventures all over the map - this year it's chicken and dressing done in the slow cooker.
Christmas decorations go up earlier than they did when the kids were young. My daughter's birthday is December 5 and she would not allow for anything to interfere with her day. Now she loves Christmas as much as I do so it's not an issue - plus she doesn't live with me so that helps too. I usually start after Remembrance Day and everything will come down after New Year's.
My favorite Christmas memory as a child was simply waking up early and turning on the Christmas lights in the dark. It was quiet and I was alone, at least briefly and there was a sense of magic to it. I still enjoy doing the same thing even now.
When I was a kid I used to turn on Christmas carols, lie on the floor with my head under the tree looking up past all the lights and ornaments. If getting up off the floor were as easy was it used to be I would still do the same.
DeleteMac and cheese and sausage sounds great!
Enjoyed reading your answers and especially Santa coming to your house. I usually leave my tree up for at least a week after New Year's Eve. Sadly I often get sick because I overdo at Christmas and one year it was up until Feb. 3rd!!
ReplyDeleteI hope you do not get sick this year! Take some time to yourself!
DeleteMy tree at my house in Tuscaloosa is a tiny neon blue table top from Dollar General I purchased years ago. Visiting my daughter and son in law and hers is about three ft and was gifted to them by his family. No color scheme and I am probably going to purchase ribeye steaks for Christmas since daughter, granddaughter, and son in law like them. Maybe mashed potatoes also. I usually do a turkey but I am not bothering with that this year. Thanksgiving about killed me. May purchase a chicken for Christmas Eve. I do not know about vegetables maybe broccoli with cheese.. We have lots of ice cream for dessert. Cindy in the South
ReplyDeleteI was in Tuscaloosa last night for dinner. We met my BIL and SIL at Evangelines. Wow it was delicious!
DeleteEvangelines is delicious! I have not eaten there in a long time. I will have to go back soon! Cindy in the South
DeleteWow, how neat to have your special time with Santa when you were sick! that was really sweet!! We don't do any special meal on Christmas Eve. We do go to church and then come home and "wait for Santa" to arrive so we can go to bed and wake up in the morning and open our gifts. We don't put any gifts out until late Christmas Eve night, when everyone else is in bed (if there are others in the house besides us). Then it is a surprise in the morning to see all the gifts under the tree. When I was little, my parents would not let us into the living room on Christmas morning until everyone had made their beds, brushed their teeth, and Mom had her coffee. Then we would line up in the hallway youngest (me) to oldest, and sing Jingle Bells or some other Christmas carol as we "marched" out into the living room to see the gifts under the tree and what Santa had brought. It was great fun, even if it was maddening to have to wait for everyone to get ready! LOL. Merry Christmas to you and yours. Have a wonderful time!
ReplyDeleteI've seen several people mention Chinese takeout for Christmas Eve this year. I'm thinking we may have to give that a go this year ourselves. I'm not sure any of the restaurants will work with the timing of church unless we eat in the middle of the afternoon.
ReplyDeleteEverything is minimal here this year. Hubs helped very little and I just conserve energy. We'd do Chinese if plans need to dial back.
ReplyDelete