Five Question Friday

1. Do you open presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?

The kids get to open one present each on Christmas Eve; usually one that I've preselected, knowing that it will keep them busy and occupied for the rest of the night (instead of being all hyper and trembling with excitement, asking me again and again "Is it Christmas yet?"). Then on Christmas morning they have to wait until 5am (that's the law) and NOT wake us parents up while they open their stockings. When Dad and Mom finally drag their weary butts outta bed, that's when they can start opening their gifts from Santa and the parents. They always go straight for Santa's gifts because the old fart doesn't like to wrap presents (he told Mommy) so they can SEE what he gave them. I love knowing that its just killing them not to be able to open Santa's gifts and play with them while Mom and Dad are still sleeping. They can only ooh-and-aah and hold their gifts and jump for joy, but NO ripping them open or actually playing with them. Muahahaha! 'Cause Mom is evil like that.

2. What is your favorite Christmas cookie (or candy)?
Mom's fudge! While technically not a cookie or candy, its the best part of Christmas. And she always makes a TON of batches so everyone gets like four huge slabs of fudge! Ahhh, heaven. Next favorite is Nanaimo bars (say it Mom, na-NY-mo), then Ferrero Roche. Mmmmm... (I'm having a Homer Simpson drool moment here)

3. What's the worst Christmas gift you've ever received?
Know that I'm only writing this down because I know this person does not read my blog, otherwise I'd never embarrass them like that. BUT... one year I got an animatronic (ie: robot-like) CAT from Bunnie Schultz (Fred's wife). You know, one of those realistic cat toys that you'd get a 5 year old. It was huge, like the size of a real cat, with black and white fur (or hair, whatever a cat has) and when you rubbed its stomach or head it would purr; if you did something mean to it, it would hiss at you. The robotic head would turn to the sound of your voice and its eyes blinked open and closed, like a baby doll. The tail would jerkily flick and twitch. *shudder* So imagine me sitting there with this gift on my lap, frozen smile on my face, petting this creepy cat toy (trying not to wince or cringe), and listening to Bunnie as she went on and on about how she just had to buy it because it was so adorable and she wanted one for herself and how much do I love it and isn't it the cutest thing ever? I think Fred was embarrassed but I had to sympathize with the guy -- how do you tell your wife she's off her rocker? YOU DON'T! Hahah. As you can tell, Bunnie is like the world's hugest cat lover. At last count, I think they had four cats, possibly five!

4. Christmas song that you love?
Impossible to choose just one, so....
Happy Christmas (War is Over) by John Lennon and Yoko Ono
Mary's Boy Child by Boney M
Beautiful Star of Bethlehem by The Judds
Deck the Halls by SheDaisy
Santa Baby by Marilyn Monroe (Madonna, you poser copycat!)
Run Rudolph Run by Chuck Berry
Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee
Hannukah Song by Adam Sandler
Christmas Canon Rock by Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Merry Christmas, Baby by The Beach Boys

5. How many trees do you put up?
Usually just the one but last year I picked up a little 4' tree from Value Village for the sole purpose of it being a "kids tree", where they could adorn it with all their ornaments and decorations. (Leaving ME the big tree for my ton of purple ornaments, woot!) So we did that this year and put their wonderful little tree in the downstairs livingroom, and it looks absolutely adorable. Also, each kid (except for Ryder) has a little fiber-optic tree that Deanna got them. It all started with Deanna getting little Gunnar his "very own" fiber-optic tree one year, he must have been about five, and it was the highlight every year on our Christmas-decorating-day when he pulled it out of the box and proudly set it up in his room. Then along came Ardan and when he was old enough, Deanna got him his own fiber-optic tree as well. They would fall asleep every night just staring at their "baby trees" with the ever-changing colors. Then we had Lena and once again, Deanna carried on the tradition and she got her very own fiber-optic tree (hers has clusters of white snowflakes, though, "so its much better and prettier, right Mom?"). I've no doubt that Ryder will be getting his own little tree soon, when he hits that same age. He's content right now with his "ultimate teeny-tiny" tree -- one of those ones the size of your hand you pick up from the loonie store. This way he can carry it around with him ('Ha HAH, you guys can't do that, so HAH!')