My Christmas Favorites

Alright, everyone. I'm a little slow to get this figured out. Laura has started a Christmas favorite post for December. Every day there will be something new.
This post will remain at the top so don't forget to scroll down to check any other daily posts I make.

Dec. 1 - Favorite Christmas Song - O Holy Night


Dec. 2 - Favorite Christmas plant or flower - Poinsettia. Every year our church sells them. This year I bought one called Plum Pudding. Mine never live long but I keep on trying. It looks pretty good so far, right?















Dec. 3 - Favorite Christmas Smell - I love the smell of Christmas cookies baking. Every year, the girls and I take a Saturday to make up a bunch of Christmas food. I'm not sure when we'll fit it in this year, but I'll make sure to post when we do.


Dec. 4 - Favorite Christmas Decoration - Our Stockings
I wanted to say my tree but Laura has banned that, then I was thinking of lovely blue lights (which I think are pretty) but I have decided to go with the stockings. I have made all of our Christmas stockings. They are made of felt with sequins attached. Some people have had 2 made for them because they have gotten ripped and the holders have broken off. Now the kits have bigger stockings so they get more in them. The pictures show Chelsea and Shaelyn's.






































Dec. 5 - Favorite Christmas Color - I love any of the colors if they have the sparkles in them - black, red, silver, green. Just make sure they sparkle.



Dec. 6 - Favorite Christmas Drink - Egg Nog. This was a tough one. I love wassail too but I'll stick with egg nog. Wassail is somewhat like a hot apple cider, but better. If you want a recipe for wassail, go to Laura's.


Dec. 7 - Favorite Christmas Movie - This was a tough one. It depends on my mood. I love The Nativity Story for the true teaching of what Christmas really is but if I want to laugh, I'd have to go with
Elf.


Dec. 8 - Favorite of Santa's Reindeer - I guess I'll go with the obvious choice - Rudolph. Who can't help but love the underdog that saves the day?









Dec. 9 - Favorite Christmas Candy - Chocolate Truffles
If you like chocolate, you'll love these. They're so good and easy to make.
3 cups (18 oz) chocolate chips
1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
1 Tablespoon vanilla
Heat chocolate chips and condensed milk until chocolate is melted. Stir in vanilla. Chill for 2 hours or until mixture is easy to handle. Shape into 1 inch balls. Roll in coconut, cocoa, sprinkles or whatever is desired. Sooo good.



Dec. 10 - Favorite Christmas Saying - Luke 2:7


And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. And she wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
I think I've always loved this because it was one of the first verses I memorized as a child and I loved being able to say it with the Christmas Story.


Dec. 11 - Favorite Christmas Ornament - My Reindeer Family

I got this ornament the year we adopted Shaelyn. This is a clay type ornament that can be personalized. Each reindeer has one of our names on it and I think it's just so cute!









Dec. 12 - Favorite Christmas Cookie
These are what we bake up every year.
2 sticks oleo
1 cup powdered sugar
2 1/2 cup flour
1 Tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon vanilla

Cream oleo; add sugar in small amounts at a time. Add flour, milk and vanilla. Turn out on a board and knead for 30 seconds. Roll to 1/4" thickness. Cut with cookie cutters. Bake on greased cookie sheet for 15-25 minute at 325 degrees. Watch closely. They should be almost white. Frost with a powdered sugar frosting and decorate with sprinkles or whatever desired.

I'm probably going to bake some of these up this afternoon with Chelsea and then the family will decorate them together on Sunday afternoon. (One of those traditions, you know)













Dec. 13 - Favorite Christmas Decorating or Style - I love the classy look of gold and silver with tinsel but for now my tree still has to be with the kids ornaments and the homemade things.

Dec. 14 - Favorite Christmas Animal/Creature - I'm really not too sure on this question. I guess for now I'm going to say reindeer. I love the lighted ones that are outside but I'm going to keep looking around. I might change my mind on this one!

Dec. 15 - Favorite Store at Christmas - Target.

I love this store during Christmas season and all through the year. No matter when I go there, I always find something to buy. They just have everything.





Dec. 16 - Favorite Christmas present ever received -
I have a felt nativity scene that I made. Somehow, my baby Jesus got lost. Last year, Chelsea and I made a new set. (You can see the baby Jesus here).














Chelsea was about 5 or 6 and she made a new baby Jesus out of paper and glued it onto a piece of wood. She wants to throw away her old baby Jesus, but I just love the thought that went into this one. Now we just have two of them!













It was such a cute thought.




Dec. 17 - Favorite Christmas present ever given -
I think last year when I surprised Dave with a new golf bag. His older one had the bottom falling out and I found this one on sale. I loved it because he didn't put it on his list and I came up with the gift all on my own.

Dec. 18 - Favorite Christmas Activity - It has to be spending the day shopping with my sisters. It's just great to be together and we have sooo much fun. Do you remember my post?


Dec. 19 - Favorite person to buy gifts for - It has to be Shaelyn because she's the youngest. There's so many things out there for a little girl; coloring things, any Disney princess items, dvd's... the list is endless. It just gets harder the older people get. Their wish lists get more expensive.

Dec. 20 - Favorite way to wrap a present - I love the look of presents with ribbons and bows but I'm just happy to get the paper on them. It takes a long time to wrap a lot of gifts and stockings. I never have enough boxes and my family won't let me use cereal boxes. (although they are allowed to use box from alarm clocks and other used things!)

Dec. 21 - Favorite time of Christmas - I love Christmas Eve when I am with just Dave and the girls. We have to go to Dave's side of the family first, but then we come home and do a birthday cake to Jesus, read from Luke 2 and open our own gifts.

Dec. 22 - Favorite part of Christmas Dinner - We always spend Christmas Day with my side of the family. Laura wrote about the raisin sauce that we have with the ham. It's absolutely "to die for" but I also love the rolls we get from Steenstra's Bakery. They are called Bread Ends and they have the best flavor.

Dec. 23 - Favorite Christmas Celebration - I like being with my immediate family on Christmas Eve. We first go to Dave's side of the family but then get to come home and do our own. We read the Christmas story and have a birthday cake to Jesus. Then we sing "Happy Birthday" and open our own gifts.

Dec. 24 - Favorite Christmas Place - I love being downstairs with a fire going and watching it snow like crazy. There's nothing better than being snuggled up in a blanket, all toasty and warm and watching a good old-fashioned snowstorm!

Dec. 25 - Favorite Christmas Verse - I've used this as my favorite saying, but here it is again, "And she brought forth her firstborn, a son. She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn." Luke 2:7

Dec. 26 - Favorite Christmas Tradition - This is a new tradition that was started a few years ago. My side of the family gives out Santa letters to people who were kind of naughty this past year. I know it's hard to believe, but I have been the recipient a few times. This year, Katelyn received one for acting like a blonde, Andy got one for not informing Santa of his new address and Ann & Dad got one for having to run off and getting married so quickly. These cause plenty of laughter!

Dec. 27 - Favorite Christmas Lights - I love blue lights. We have plain white on our tree but I like seeing the outside of houses with the blue.

Dec. 28 - Favorite Christmas Memory - Last year, when we got together with my side of the family, Laura received a stuffed opossum. She had planted a dead squirrel on Cheri's van in October, so Cheri went to EBAY and found an opossum to give in return. It was so hilarious! This year, she got a stuffed squirrel.

Dec. 29 - Favorite Christmas Leftovers - We always have ham for Christmas dinner. At night, we have buns with the ham. They always taste good - if we're still hungry after snacking all afternoon.

Dec. 30 - Favorite time to take down the decorations - We always do it the day after Christmas. By that time, I'm ready to have my house back to normal and looking clean again.

Dec. 31 - Choose your own topic - I think Laura pretty much covered everything there is to say. Thanks Laura for hosting this. It was fun!!!