Christmas Questions

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper and real ribbon.

2. Real tree or Artificial? I love the look and smell of a real tree but don't love the sinus infections it brings me...so artificial.

3. When do you put up the tree? 2 days after Thanksgiving. I shop on Black Friday so I wouldn't have the energy for decorating!

4. When do you take the tree down? A couple days after Christmas. I want it back in the attic for New Years

5. Do you like eggnog? Sorta

6. Favorite gift received as a child? American Girl dolls (back before they were super popular!)

7. Hardest person to buy for? my Dad or Husband. (What is it with IT guys?)

8. Easiest person to buy for? Addie or my sister

9. Do you have a nativity scene? yes. And Baby Jesus had a little incident the other night...I need some super glue.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Probably a Geode from 'Santa'. It was uncracked and I thought it was a lump of coal so I was pretty devastated until my parents told me what it was. Then I was excited. LOL

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Home Alone (the first one) or Elf

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Black Friday

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I don't think so.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Christmas M&Ms and ham.

16. Lights on the tree (colored or clear)? White!

17. Favorite Christmas song? Carol of the Bells

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Everyone is pretty local...so we don't really have to travel.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Yeppers!

20. Angel, star or ribbon on top of tree? A star and some berry sprig things

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? My family always opened gifts Christmas Eve and then we just did Santa on Christmas morning. My husbands family did everything on Christmas morning. So, I'm not sure what we will do with Addie.

22. Favorite children's Christmas song? Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

23. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Jerky people out shopping. Oh, and trying to figure out what to get my husband. (I have this year though!!!)

24. Favorite ornament theme or color? I like vintage-y stuff...and apparently this year its all Red, Green and white. I have a general snowman theme to my decor...but this year I made a Santa themed tree as well.

25. Turkey or ham on Christmas day? Ham

26. What do you want for Christmas this year? I'm having a hard time coming up with anything.

27. Does anyone in your family dress up as Santa? No.

28. Age you discovered who Santa was? First or Second grade. But I was okay with it because I figured it out by seeing the Barbie Dream house that Santa brought me in my parents trunk before hand.

29. Eggnog, hot chocolate, or apple cider? Hot Chocolate

30. Traditional colors (red and green) or other colors? Traditional

31. Do you have any Christmas decorations on your roof? not this year

32. How does Santa get into your house? Chimney or magic key? Chimney

33. Do you prefer gifts or gift cards? To receive: either...to give? Gifts.

34. Favorite children's Christmas Cartoon? Well, for a Cartoon I'd have to say Charlie Brown Christmas...but I had this Babysitters Club Christmas movie when I was a kid and I watched the heck out of that thing.

YOUR TURN!! Let me know if you do this on your blog so I can come see your answers!

Babyproofing Christmas

As the exciting Christmas season is approaching, I'm finding myself worried about all my 'precious' Christmas decorations. So, here are a few of the things I'm planing to do to baby proof Christmas!

The Tree

Obviously we need to talk about the tree. I've had a couple people tell me to just not put a tree up! But, I'm the crazy lady with 3 Christmas trees. I can't just NOT have a tree! Our main tree is in the family room and in Christmas' past I had it loaded up with glass ornaments and fun berry sprigs. (I tried to find a picture from last year but I only blogged/took pictures about baby stuff then...awesome.) So here is my game plan:

• Put up the tree
• Use shatterproof ornaments on most of the tree and all the lower portion
• Use ribbon instead of ornament hangers on the lower portion (maybe all of it)
• For our 'special' ornaments, keep them up high so she can't reach them.
• Either wait until Christmas Eve to put the gifts out or put them under the tree in the front living room. (Addie doesn't really go in there)

I've also heard of people putting the tree up inside of their pack n play/play yard and this would also prevent little ones from getting into the gifts. Also, if you have a modular baby gate/fence you could put it around the tree for the same effect.

Breakables

We have a few breakable things I like to set out. Usually these are the nativity scenes and a couple snow globes. This will probably be the last year I will use these for a while. But here are some ideas I have for the future:

• Have you seen the Little People nativity? It may not be as beautiful or elegant as the ceramic ones you can find but it is cute and child friendly. This is also a wonderful tool to teach your little ones about the Christmas Story. Playmobil and plush options are also available!
• I usually put Christmas stuff all over the house...but I think I will simplify once Addie is walking around. I'll use decorative pillows, plush snowmen, etc. to create a fun and child friendly atmosphere. After all, I don't want to have her remember Christmas as the time she heard 'No, don't touch that' over and over.

What have you done in the past to baby proof Christmas? What worked and what was a total flop?