Favorite for Christmas dinner? fish and chips.

I must admit, at first I thought it'd be odd to eat this for Christmas dinner, but you know what? I'm kind of liking the idea more and more.

Nothin' says lovin' like a good hearty meal of fish n' chips, that's for sure. And don't skimp on the malt vinegar!

TheGeneral, if we start posting Christmas Vacation quotes we'll effectively take over the entire thread.

"Squiiiiiiiiiiiiirrel!"

I had that on VHS years ago but I lost it. I'm going to Wal-Mart later today and I might just pick this one up.

wow! everyone has so much to say!
I will say this: I don't believe in Santa Claus or flying reindeer!
But I do believe in Jesus and how he was born at Christmas and that he was born so that he could die for the sins of the World!

Merry Christmas, everyone!

right now I feel like reminiscing (or boring everyone else ) with our family's favorite Christmas memory.

It wasn’t boring at all. I love hearing holiday stories.

11. Do you have a nativity? what??

A nativity is a model of the stable where Jesus was born and includes baby Jesus, his parents, and perhaps other people creatures from the Christmas story. Ours has Jesus, his parents, and an angel.

7. Hardest person to buy for? My dad, because he has this horrible habit of buying gifts for himself, and leaving us nothing to buy for him!

My dad does exactly the same thing! He’ll say something that he wants and then before we have a chance he’ll buy it. I think he has already gotten himself something for Christmas, his birthday, and maybe other things. I think we are going to get him something anyway.

Artificial. We used to have real way back when I was little, but my mom got tired of the needles being everywhere. Also, I think my brother kept chewing on it as a baby...

We used to get a real tree when I was really young. I don’t remember much about it except that my cats used to drink the water. Now we have an artificial tree and our cats (different cats than before) chew it and lick it. Babies and cats can have a lot in common.

Oh, and I like to buy little things for my pets. Not that they care, but I like to do it...

We either buy presents for our cats or make them cat nip toys. We wrap them in tissue paper and try to get them to open them. Sometimes they skip unwrapping the and just go right to playing, sometimes they ignore them, and I think one or all of them ran away from them one year. This year my mom and I want to make them a cat tree, but we aren’t sure if there will be time. (We need a little help from my dad and he is pretty busy).

We should have a favorite Christmas memory question....

Good idea. I’ve been thinking of adding some supplemental questions. Here they are:
26. Do you have an Advent wreath? Yes!
27. Favorite Christmas memory? I really don’t know. I received first communion on Christmas. That was kind of special.
28. Other story / memory about Chirstmas? I don’t really remember this but I’ve heard the story a lot. One year when I was fairly young, it rain a lot at Christmas time so our Christmas tree had to be bought in the rain. Soon after I got really sick (I have asthma and I had a server episode). My parents called the specialist and he asked them if they had a real tree. When he found out they did he told them to get rid of it. All of the rain had caused the tree to mold and mildew. I am severely allergic to mold and mildew and that set off my asthma. So, if I’m remembering the story right, on Christmas Eve my parents were undecorating the Christmas tree, getting rid of it, buying an artificial tree putting it together, and decorating it. We have had an artificial tree ever since.
29. Favorite Christmas tradition? Our Advent wreath ritual.
30. Any other random tidbits about Christmas, you want to share? My aunt sells Avon and our Christmas gifts usually come from the Avon catalogue. When we go to open the present from her we always make some comment about its being the tacky gift of the year. To be fair, we have received some gifts from her that aren’t tacky, but we have received enough tacky ones to warrant the dread at opening her presents.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? we don't usually put ever. This year we have a yoshi on my request.

You're gonna think I'm stupid but I only just realized your avatar is Yoshi

LoL Shadowlander, classic scene. I find myself quoting that movie throughout the entire year. No other christmas comedy comes close!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper
2. Real tree or Artificial? Real
3. When do you decorate the house? December 12th. The day my younger brother died.
4. When do you take the decorations down? All depends
5. Do you like eggnog? Not really
6. Favorite gifts received as a child? N/A
7. Hardest person to buy for? Dad
8. Easiest person to buy for? Brother
9. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? N/A
10. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Don't really have a day
11. Do you have a nativity? Yes
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? It's a Wonderful Life
13. Favorite Christmas book? Christmas Carrol
14. Favorite Christmasy dessert? C Creations
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Anything
16. Lights on the tree? Colored or white? yup, coloured
17. Favorite Christmas songs? Lots
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Nope
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas Morning
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? To many people shopping
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Theme? N/A
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Anything
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? A gun, a knife, and some chocolate. Ain't I easy to please?

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? A gun, a knife, and some chocolate. Ain't I easy to please?

Aw darn it, Ti. My list of goodies for you was apparently way off.

- a grappling hook
- a wetsuit
- an infrared night scope
- a lifesize, working trebuchet
- a periscope

Sigh.

Hey I would enjoy any one of those also. The gun, knife, and chocolate were just what I thought of off the top of my head. If you want me to think a while I could come up with quite a bit.

we have fish because everyone in the family likes it. seeing that i hate lamb and beef. while my little sister and brother don't like chicken.

A gun and knife are you crazy? lol. I forgot are you aloud to have a gun in America? without a license?

Thanks Ppal for telling me what a nativity is. No we don't have one but i think my grandma has.

26. Do you have an Advent wreath? Yes
27. Favorite Christmas memory? Mom used to decorate the house on Christmas Eve after all of us kids went to bed. When we went to sleep that night, the house looked ordinary except for the tree. When we got up in the morning, there were candles in the window, the nativity sets were out, and the whole house was decorated. I liked the magical feel of it when I was little. Mom stopped doing that when we stopped going to bed at eight.
28. Other story/memory about Christmas? We used to have a dog, a Saint Bernard that was twice as big as most of us. Her first Christmas at our house, we had some cookie ornaments that she tried to eat off the tree. The poor gingerbread man lost both his legs before we got her away from the tree.
29. Favorite Christmas tradition? Attending the candlelight service on Christmas Eve.

ILF, I have often been referred to as "crazy", though personally I think I'm normal.

I'd also like a set of NVGs for Christmas.

My favorite Christmas tradition is probably putting up the decorations on the 12th of December.

my brother just put up lights on our front porch! It looks SO cool, especially since he put a blue string of lights on the top and white ones on either side! *stops to smile* I love Christmas lights!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both. More wrapping paper but we frequently use gift bags as well.
2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial, almost every year. A couple of times we have had a real tree but the babies eat the pine needles and usually manage to get into the water as well, so we usually use our tiny little fake one.
3. When do you put up the tree? Anytime between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. This year we decorated on the 6th.
4. When do you take the tree down? As soon as Mother can convince us to.
5. Do you like eggnog? In my house it is a crime not to, so my answer is yes.
6. Favorite gifts received as a child? That is hard! Um... I've loved so many gifts!
7. Hardest person to buy for? My father because he so rarely wants anything.
8. Easiest person to buy for? My "twin" sister (she's not really my twin but everyone thinks she is). She has such a variety of interests that it is very easy to get her something she'll like.
9. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Probably the pebbles from our driveway my younger brother gave me.
10. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I think the earliest I've bought a Christmas present was February.
11. Do you have a nativity? Several, all having been broken at some point or another.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? I haven't watched that many... Does LWW count? We first watched it in the theatres near Christmas, and then we received the DVD for Christmas the following year and watched it that day so it has always seemed like a Christmas movie to me...
13. Favorite Christmas book? Does The Christmas Shoes count? If not, then perhaps The Christmas Carol.
14. Favorite Christmasy dessert? Fudge
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Coffee cake, it's a family tradition to have it for Christmas breakfast.
16. Lights on the tree? Colored or white? Colored, but all our other lights are white.
17. Favorite Christmas songs? Joy to the World (another family tradition)
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Home.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? I don't think I'd even heard them before reading this thread.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Our youngest child opens one present Christmas Eve (our new lamb) and we open the rest in the morning.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Nothing?
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Red bows amidst green garlands and white Christmas lights
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Creamy mushroom soup, fish, whatever I'm served
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Muck boots! Also a beautiful Medieval gown (which is what I'm actually getting). I'd love a hundred other things, but I'll stick with those.
26. Do you have an Advent wreath? At church
27. Favorite Christmas memory? Every Christmas is wonderful, I can't pick a favorite memory though perhaps the one that stands out the most is the Christmas I was sent to bed while we were opening presents for being disobedient. That's not a favorite memory though.
28. Other story/memory about Christmas? Hm, most of my memories are related to our Christmas traditions.
29. Favorite Christmas tradition? Every Christmas Eve we all gather near the tree with our blankets and lambs and settle down on the floor while our youngest child (youngest who is able that is) opens the present which contains our new Christmas lamb. Usually that child keeps the lamb for that Christmas, but sometimes there is swapping. Then we all decide which part we want to play in the Christmas story and (as there are more children than parts) we practice the Christmas spirit by giving into the other's wishes. Daddy then reads Luke 1 and 2 with each of us saying and acting out our parts as we come to them. When Daddy says, "Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night," we all scramble into our blankets with our sheep as pillows and say goodnight (we're the shepherds you see). After Daddy and Mother go upstairs to their room, we whisper and giggle and talk about our lives as shepherds in the fields. In my memories there is always a sky full of stars above us and a camp fire nearby though in reality we were in the living room.
We eventually go to sleep and what feels like a few minutes later a brilliant light fills the air (caused by the flipping of the lightswitch), jerking us from our sleep as Daddy's powerful voice states, "Do not be afraid for I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: You shall find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloth, lying in a manger." By now, we are awake enough to realize what is going on as Mother and Grandma chime in, crying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, goodwill toward men!" My brother wisely says, "Come, let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." We all pick up our lambs and follow the angels to where the baby Jesus lay while sing Joy to the World. After that we open presents and eat coffee cake and have a wonderful time.
It's funny, every year we do the same thing and yet every year it seems so new and wonderful. I can't imagine Christmas without playing one of the shepherds and all that.

I hope ya'll don't mind the long story!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both
2. Real tree or Artificial? We had an artificial one for a couple of years but now we get real ones. I like them more though the needles can be a bother
3. When do you put up the tree? Different every year but usually around the week before Christmas
4. When do you take the tree down? When the tree is bare from loss of pine needles we take it down
5. Do you like eggnog? Love it
6. Favorite gifts received as a child? I don't really have one--they were all wonderful
7. Hardest person to buy for? My dad
8. Easiest person to buy for? My younger sister (being an artist like me i usually know what she needs and what she would like)
9. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? um I can't say I remember (thankfully )
10. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Around early December
11. Do you have a nativity? We had two porcelain ones but one set broke so now we only have one set, i am making another one out of paper mache for our room
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? It's a Wonderful Life, The preacher's Wife, does Little Lord Fauntleroy count? it ends with Christmas
13. Favorite Christmas book? Treasures in the Snow (not exactly a Christmas book but it starts with Christmas)
14. Favorite Christmasy dessert? Ice cream, chocolate chipped cookies
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? I like different kinds of salads and fried chicken
16. Lights on the tree? Colored or white? Colored
17. Favorite Christmas songs? Silent Night, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Good King Wenceslas, Emmanuel, The First Noel, What Child is This, Mary's Little Boy Child
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay at home
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? I don't believe on Santa and so I don't know hardly anything about him so i don't know any of his reindeer
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel (made it myself)
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Usually Christmas eve, though sometimes Christmas morning
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? All the advertisements and signs in the streets that take away the true meaning of Christmas
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I like deep red and deep green anything
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? I don't have a favorite, I like it all
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? I want quite a bit of things what I want the most is to make this Christmas special for someone else
26. Do you have an Advent wreath? Nope
27. Favorite Christmas memory? Well I guess that the sweetest memory that I have of Christmas was when my mom was eight months pregnant with our sixth. With five small kids and another on the way we didn't have much that particular Christmas. We had a tree and a simple dinner and then my parents brought out some special cookies as a treat. It didn't matter much the there were no presents and decorations, we all loved each other and that was present enough. I always think back at the Christmas and smile. It reminds me that decorations, dinner and presents don't make Christmas, Love does
28. Other story/memory about Christmas? I remember being sick with the flue (actually all six of us were sick) for Christmas once. It was Christmas eve and we still had no tree. Suddenly my mom came in and said that she had bought a tree. We were so excited. Forgetting the command to stay in bed we rushed to ooooo and aaaaa at the tree. We had it all decorated just in time for Christmas dinner
29. Favorite Christmas tradition? Getting together after dinner at the tree with the big lights turned off and singing Christmas carols

As promised some time back:

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Yes. Gifts bags are easier but wrapping paper is more economical.
2. Real tree or Artificial? Now, artificial. For a while we had real trees, and they smell so nice. And the following summer they were great for the campfire .
3. When do you put up the tree? Growing up, we put it up on my father's birthday (December 18). Now, sometimes it's earlier but is always in December.
4. When do you take the tree down? Shortly after January 1, or (if a live tree) depending on how fast the needles are falling.
5. Do you like eggnog? In moderation, and "diluted" a bit with regular milk, sure!
6. Favorite gifts received as a child? That's a tough one....and it's been a few decades.
7. Hardest person to buy for? My parents, who insist we shouldn't buy them things, but we still do.
8. Easiest person to buy for? My niece. She likes those "build-a-bear" make-your-own stuffed animals.
9. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Again, it's hard to recall. The most humorous was likely the tiny plastic hippo I got one year from my younger sister because I sang I Want A Hippopotamus for Christmas a bit too much.
10. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually October, unless I'm traveling and something strikes me as a fun gift.
11. Do you have a nativity? Yes.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Probably A Christmas Carol
13. Favorite Christmas book? ditto
14. Favorite Christmasy dessert? Any pie, or any chocolate
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Fresh roast turkey. Yum!
16. Lights on the tree? Colored or white? Colored
17. Favorite Christmas songs? Too many to name! Joy to the World, O Holy Night, Silent Night, O Come All Ye Faithful, Mary, Did You Know? and It Came Upon A Midnight Clear come to mind. In a lighter vein I do like Celtic Woman's Christmas Pipes and Rusty Chevrolet by Da Yoopers.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Traveling to loved ones' homes.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Probably, if I dig up the old poem from the deep recesses of my brain.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Growing up, we opened the bulk of the gifts Christmas Eve after church, and the next morning we would see what had been left in our stockings
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Hearing beloved Christmas carols as musak in stores after Halloween
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Some ornaments we received years ago have since acquired sentimental value. No prominent theme.
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Turkey, potatoes, dressing, etc, topped off with pies of various flavors (hmmm, I just had lunch and I'm getting hungry. )
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? A copy of Randy Alcorn's book Heaven.
26. Do you have an Advent wreath? no
27. Favorite Christmas memory? I previously reminisced here.
28. Other story/memory about Christmas? A few years ago my parents and some siblings and their kids met at my brother's house for Christmas. The kids had some of those Nerf dart guns and we had a truly massive battle all over the house. Even my dad (age 83 at the time) got into the act.
29. Favorite Christmas tradition? There are many, but there's one tradition I've enjoyed alone for a long time, especially now that I'm no longer living with my parents. If the sky is clear the night of Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, and I'm at their house, I like to walk down the road, away from all the lights, and take in the spectacular night sky there. It's usually cold (this is Minnesota after all ) and the snow crunching underfoot is the only sound. I like just to take a few minutes under the glory of Orion and the winter sky to contemplate the wonder of the Incarnation. How's that for geeky.

Well, Stargazer, at least the mosquitoes (the state bird of MN ) are dormant! Orion is the best thing to see in a telescope while the Pleiades are the best in binocs. How far away from civlization are you? And the winter constellations are definitely the best to look at!