Christmas...

I was tagged by Septembermom for this Christmas meme...

Have you started your Christmas shopping? Yes - it's done! (Maybe just part of that whole pregnancy nesting instinct.) Actually, most of the items I made. Here are some photos to show for all the hard work...

Remember all those shirts I made?

Photo from my high school/college friend - we're going on 10 years of gift exchanges between our two families. She's the one friend I have stayed in touch with all these years. It has been really nice reconnecting with a few other high school friends this past year, too.

The playgroup boys - some of the kids could not make it today but getting three toddlers to sit for any length of time to take a photo - challenging...(Left to right - Cooper, Joseph, T Rex)

T Rex showing off his shirt - it is a little different than the others - I opted to do buttons for the others as I was sure these mini-lights would be easily removed and choked on. He always gets the one first one of a project so I can improve as I go along.

Knitted Projects...

Pair of scarves for a mother and daughter.


T Rex's toddler scarf - he LOVES it! I already gave it to him - he badly needed it!

Pot holders - for my cousin and aunt - my aunt LOVES potholders - not sure why but now she'll have some Christmas ones to add to her collection.

Tell me about one of your special traditions? Here are a couple. Baking goodies for the neighbors. My mom and sis are coming over this weekend to do so. We always over-do things - remember the plum jam incident? So, we're trying to strategize a little better this time so we're not on our feet for 12 hours straight. As you can tell, I can't really see my feet all that much any more!

Another tradition, T Rex Dad and I have always watched "A Charlie Brown Christmas" before we head to bed on Christmas Eve. We've also started watching "Polar Express" the week leading up to Christmas.

Are you a black Friday shopper? Depends. In years past I used to go with my sister and we'd leave early and be back before anyone was awake so we'd just go back to bed. This year, my mom, sis, and I went to the antique store on black Friday. We spent 3 hours there and then had a nice relaxing lunch. I must confess, I did do a fair amount of online shopping on black Friday, including taking advantage of an online cloth diaper company's sale - we're ready to give those cloth diapers a try now!

When do you put your tree up? Usually after mid-December but the past couple years have brought us putting it up earlier due to hosting Christmas gatherings. We prefer to wait until all of us have celebrated our birthdays before making the switch to Christmas.

Do you travel at Christmas or stay home? All our closest family live here so we never have to leave town. Nice...

What is your funniest Christmas memory? That's a tough one - probably the year my sister thought she broke her gift while trying to break into her gift prematurely.

What is your favorite Christmas movie of all time? A Charlie Brown Christmas

Do you do your own Christmas baking? What is your favorite Christmas treat? Yes, I do all my own baking. Favorite treat - peppermint bark - but I don't make it. I prefer to receive it!

Fake or real tree? Fake - I get really sad when it comes time to throw the tree out. And I'm totally paranoid about the tree catching on fire.

What day, as a mom, does the panic set in to have it all done? Never had this happen. No panic - yet.

Are you still wrapping gifts on Christmas eve? Generally not but it has been known to happen from time to time.

What is your favorite family fun time at Christmas? Christmas eve time with T Rex Dad's sisters and their families. And then the quiet time afterward. We enjoy the excitement but also relish the calm. We like to be mellow when at all possible.

What Christmas craft do you like best? I always have to do a gingerbread house. And I love putting together my Christmas baskets for friends and family. I wish I had a photo to show but they usually turn out lovely.

Christmas music - yes or no? And if yes, what is your favorite song? Yes - definitely Christmas music. But not too early - has to wait until after Thanksgiving. I love Handle's Messiah. I once sang it in youth choir and found it to be one of the most powerful experiences of my life. I also love "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" - I want to teach it to T Rex for next year!

When do you plan to finish shopping? Done. I've never been finished this early before. T Rex Dad is also finished. Could we apply nesting instinct to him, too?

(Don't forget to cast your vote in my pole and leave a comment on the "Stocking Pole" for a chance to win a prize. For an extra chance of winning you can participate in this Christmas meme. Prize will be something I've knitted - you can pick or I can surprise you! Just a few more days left...)