A little Christmas survey to put you in a festive mood. Or at least keep you from doing work for a few minutes.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I like gift bags for most occasions, but you will rarely see me use gift bags at Christmas. There’s just something magical about wrapping and unwrapping.

2. Real tree or artificial? Real, because my husband insists! The only thing I lament is that I can’t put it up and take it down at my leisure.

3. When do you put up the tree? The first weekend of December, which is usually about 3 weeks before Christmas.

4. When do you take the tree down? The week after Christmas. I like to have everything cleaned up at New Year’s… a fresh start!

5. Do you like eggnog? I love eggnog. And apparently my son does, too. He occasionally asks for some “nog”.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? The ones that Santa left under the tree, unwrapped, were always pretty exciting. I remember waking up in the middle of the night and creeping out to peek at the tree. A Cabbage Patch doll, a bike, a musical keyboard! Too awesome.

7. Do you have a nativity scene? I have three! Willow Tree (yum), Little People (Andrew’s), and Veggietales (adorable).

8. Hardest person to buy for? Kyle’s aunt and grandma

9. Easiest person to buy for? My mommy

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Huge underwear? Haha. I love my grandmas.

11. Mail or e-mail Christmas cards? Oh, mail, please! I LOVE Christmas cards. LOVE.

12. Favorite Christmas movie? So many. My current favs are It’s a Wonderful Life and The Polar Express, but I think my all-time favorite is White Christmas. I have it memorized. I even have the DVD commentary track memorized.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually in September. The bulk of my shopping is done in November, but I still love going out shopping during the month of December.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Not that I can remember.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Same answer as always: my mom’s taco dip. She makes it in a bundt cake mold so it comes out looking like a pretty wreath. Also, I have wonderful memories of Christmas food when I was a child, especially my papa’s bean salad.

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? I always choose colored lights. Colored lights on the tree, the house, the banister, and the decorations. It just feels more like Christmas to me.

7. Favorite Christmas song? This is an impossible question to answer. “White Christmas” by the Drifters, “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” by Dean Martin (only this version), “Breath of Heaven” by Amy Grant, “Jingle Bells” by Bing Crosby, “Happy Holiday” by Andy Williams, “Little Drummer Boy” by Josh Groban.

18. Travel for Christmas or stay at home? Home! I used to wish I could travel for the holidays, but not anymore. I love being so close to family.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeers? Yes, but is “reindeers” a word?

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? A huge gaudy monstrosity of a star. But I’m still on the lookout.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? BOTH!

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? The weather is usually TOO warm. But actually, it’s been about 24 degrees when I get to work and 50 when I leave, which is not bad. Any warmer and I start to get irritated.

23. What I love most about Christmas? The child that she delivered would soon deliver her (and me). I LOVE Christmas!