Because I LOVE Christmas

I grabbed this little survey from Stacey's blog. I am so excited that the beginning of holiday season is upon us! I love everything about Christmas, it is defiantly my favorite holiday...besides my birthday of course : ) So here is a little about what Christmas means to me.

What does Christmas mean to you and your family?

Christmas to us is all about family, happiness, giving, and the kids! There is nothing better than than seeing and hearing the excitement in Kay's voice leading up to Christmas. NOTHING! It makes the holiday so much more fun, and honestly I want her to look back on her childhood like I do mine, and have the BEST Christmas memories possible. I love the shopping, the gift wrapping (its a slight obsession), and gift giving. Seeing the look on others faces when they get something they really wanted is priceless. The music that fills the air, the smell of yummy candles burning, the decorations...I love it all!!

Have you got some traditions?

We have lots of traditions! It really starts the day after Thanksgiving. We watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Every year since I was a little girl I have watched that parade on TV. Every single year! So I made sure that every year once I had Kay that I would continue to do that same, and she loves it! We set the tree up the weekend after Thanksgiving..no sooner, no later. Last year, we all dressed up in our finest Christmas attire and went to see the The Nutcracker Ballet downtown and plan to do so every year in December (so this is a new tradition). We always go to my grandmothers house a few weeks before Christmas to bake cookies. We always drive around and look at Christmas lights, and of course we always go see Santa!

Christmas Eve we always spend at my grandparents house, eating, drinking, and being merry! We also exchange gifts. Its nice to have all the cousins, aunts, uncles, and kids together...and at our house, there is never a dull moment!! For example; last year we had italian christmas music blaring and my crazy aunt Julie was dancing around like she was a contestant on Dancing with the Stars! Hilarious!

After we are home, Kay will put a trail of "reindeer food" (oatmeal, sugar, cinnamon, and last year we left some carrots too ; )) leading up to our house so the reindeer's know where to go. She leaves her letter to Santa, cookies and milk out and we read The Night Before Christmas!

Christmas morning is always spent at our house, opening gifts, and hanging out in our jammie's. My parents usually come over, and we just hang out playing with all the new stuff, opening toys, etc. Then we head to the in laws for dinner and gift exchanging with them in the evening.

What will you cook?

Well in my family, Christmas Eve is all Italian and always has been!! We have a traditional italian meal with spaghetti and meatballs, eggplant parmesan, a huge garden salad, bread...lots of bread, and an assortment of yummy italian cookies and other deserts. Christmas day however, is more of a traditional holiday meal, usually with a ham, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, that sort of thing, and at my in laws we usually have tamales!

Who will you spend it with?

We spend it with most of our families. Christmas eve is with my parents, my brother, my grandparents, cousins, some aunts and uncles. Christmas day is with the in laws; my DH's parents, his brothers and sisters and their kids!

Got a favorite Christmas memory?

That's really tough! I have lots of great Christmas memories...but really every year since Kay has been around has been extra special!

How are you decorating?

Our tree for the last 3 years has been decorated in purple and gold. We will probably stick with that this year and maybe switch it up next year. I haven't been really able to decorate outside much because of our ongoing construction, but I always have a wreath on the door and lots of decorations inside!