Christmas-y Tag!

"O Come Let Us Adore Him!"

Hello all! How are you enjoying the Christmas season? I love this time of year when we reflect upon the birth of Jesus Christ, and are filled with joy and peace! ^_^

     It's also lovely to listen to beautiful Christmas music and shop for Christmas gifts for family! I'm so excited to watch everyone open what I got them! *grins*

As for what I've been doing lately ... I turned nineteen two days ago, on the 17th. I had a lovely time celebrating with my family ... with salmon on cheddar gluten-free rolls, popcorn salad, and scrumptious gluten-free chocolate cake with raspberry filling! <3 It was all delicious.

     Then we watched a family movie together. A Princess for Christmas; it was by no means my favorite movie, (and I wouldn't exactly recommend either); but it gave us a few laughs, and there was a sweet wedding at the end! ^_^

       I received some lovely gifts ... among them, Cinderella's Dress by Shonna Slayton and Golden Daughter by Anne Elisabeth Stengl!!! EEP! So exciting! They look so beautiful on my shelf! <3

*Ahem* Now to the purpose of this post. I was tagged by the lovely Deborah O'Carroll for the Christmas-y Tag!

Rules

• Post the picture on your blog (Um, what picture?)
• Answer the questions
• Tag up to 12 bloggers
• Make up 10 questions for the other bloggers

Questions

1. What is your favorite Christmas treat?

I don't really have one. But this year my mom and I are planning to make a gluten-free, chocolate cherry pudding cake! It sounds fun, and looks like it would be delicious with vanilla ice-cream! So, we shall see!

2. Are there any special traditions that your family has to celebrate Christmas?

Not really. We always set up our beautiful nativity set, and read the passage in one of the gospels (Luke perhaps?) about when Jesus was born. On Christmas Day, the younger children are usually up quite early, eager to open their stockings! Then we have a pleasant breakfast, open gifts, hang out as a family ...

3. Do you enjoy getting presents for your friends and family? Do you buy your gifts or go the homemade route?

Yes, I do! I have made homemade gifts, but usually just buy some things ... as I'm not very creative! But it's always fun picking out things you think your family members will like, and then watching them open them! *smiles*

4. Is it cold where you live? Have you ever had a white Christmas?

Not particularly. But cold enough. I doubt I'll get a white Christmas this year; however, when I lived in Minnesota, we definitely had them! (My siblings and I did NOT relate to the song: "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas ..." We were sick of snow. Haha.)

5. What’s on your Christmas list this year?

Why books of course! What else?? *winks* I have a whole list of books I want to collect on my blog post: A Tour of the Bookshelf ... so I'm hoping my family will take note. hehe. *grins* I also always enjoy things like chocolate, favorite movies, earrings, homemade gifts, and so on.

6. What’s your favorite Christmas song?

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Alan Jackson // Silent Night // Joy to the World // Mary Did You Know // We Three Kings // Do You Hear What I Hear? // O Holy Night // Little Drummer Boy // Let It Be Christmas by Alan Jackson //

7. What is your favorite Christmas memory?

I don't think I have a favorite ... My childhood Christmases when there were a few different parties with lots of relatives and friends are pleasantly etched in my heart. Also, my seventeenth Christmas I spent in my "home" state; stayed the night at my grandparents with my uncle, aunt, and cousins and had a lovely Christmas dinner, exchanged gifts. It was so fun! ^_^

8. What are you reading in December? (Anything festive?)

I recently finished The Westward Christmas Brides Collection by nine various authors! It was very fun to read a bunch of short, Christmas stories during the season! Most all of them were quite touching and sweet. Now I'm just reading The Tenth City by Patrick Carman; and am so excited to read Lady Maybe by Julie Klassen next! Then Minding Molly by Leslie Gould hopefully ...

9. Are you an organised little elf or are you still shopping/preparing on Christmas Eve?

I'm usually pretty organized and prepared! It's my nature. Haha. This year I wasn't planning to do individual gifts for my family ... then I decided to ... so I stopped at a store and bought gifts for all nine of my family members in one shopping trip. *grins* It was nothing extravagant, but I really can't stand shopping around for hours. I prefer to know exactly what I'm getting, and pick it up quickly.

10. How early do you start to get into the Christmas spirit?

After Thanksgiving/start of December? It depends. I'm definitely feeling it by my birthday! *smiles*

11. What’s the menu for Christmas Day?!

Chocolate? *grins* Maybe chocolate dipped pretzels. Chocolate cherry pudding cake. Candy canes. I don't know what we're having for the main meals. I'm just excited for chocolate! *winks*

12. What makes it FEEL like Christmas for you? (Weather, specific tradition, food, smell, person, etc.?)

Christmas music. Family sneaking around with packages and wrapping things in festive paper. Shopping with mom and sisters for gifts. Planning, along with the general anticipation for a joyful, cozy day with family.

13. If you were to start a new Christmas tradition, what would it be?

Erm ... I don't really know. Well, I've always thought it would be lovely if the Christmas story was read on Christmas evening, with everyone gathered around. ^_^

14. What Christmas movies do you like to watch this time of year or what’s your favorite?

This isn't a Christmas movie, but I love Felicity: An American Girl Adventure, which ends in lovely Christmas-y feelings! ^_^ And so excited to watch the Christmas specials of When Calls the Heart and Call the Midwife this year!

Tagging

Whoever would like to do this post, consider yourself tagged by myself! ^_^ And as I don't feel like coming up with new questions, just answer the ones I did (or just ten of them!)

(All pictures found on Pinterest.)