I’ve been ‘tagged’ by my friend, Bridie, over at Bridie By The Sea to answer some Christmas-themed questions.  It’s a lovely post to write because a) It doesn’t take me long to write (for a change!) and b) It’s made me feel even more excited about Christmas.  Thanks Bridie!

What’s your favourite Christmas Movie?

My favourite Christmas-themed movie has to be ‘It’s a Wonderful life.’  I cry every time I watch it.

My favourite movie to watching during the Christmas holidays has to be ‘The Sound of Music’.

Have you ever had a white Christmas?

I’ve experienced a few white Christmases but then I grew up in the North East of England so it’s a bit colder up there! I remember one particularly white Christmas a few years ago when we were heading up to my mum’s for Christmas and we had a nightmare on the roads, including snow drifts on the M1!

Where do you usually spend your holiday?

It varies! Since getting married in 1998, we’ve tried not to have a strict pattern. We like to keep people guessing! Over the years we’ve been to my mum’s, my sister’s and Richard’s mum’s house.  I love spending Christmas at home, though, with as many of our family to share the day with us as possible.

What is your favourite Christmas song?

My favourite Christmas pop song would have to be Fairytale of New York -The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl. (Mind you, nowadays I can’t help thinking about Kirsty’s tragic and untimely death in 2000 when she was hit by a powerboat whilst diving in Mexico – not a very festive or cheery thought).

I love listening to all my Christian music albums at Christmas time too, such as Bebo Norman’s wonderful Christmas album ‘Christmas…From the realms of glory’.  ‘Come and worship’ and ‘Born to die’ are two of my favourite songs from that album.

Do you open any presents on Christmas Eve?

We do! Well, we don’t actually open them because we never wrap them in the first place. It’s become a bit of a family tradition to buy the girls a new pair of pyjamas to wear on Christmas Eve.

Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer?

Ermmmm! I won’t cheat and Google it. Here goes: Rudolph (!); Donner (do you spell it like the kebab?); Blitzen; Prancer; Dancer; Chancer? Was I close?

What holiday traditions are you looking forward to this year?

We have quite a few traditions:

• New pyjamas for the girls to wear on Christmas Eve.
• Richard cooks breakfast on Christmas Day (Salmon, Scrambled eggs and Bucks Fizz).
• Going to Church on Christmas day.
• Hanging stockings and leaving mince pie and sherry out for Father Christmas and a carrot for the reindeer.
• Christmas Lego tradition. For the last three years, we’ve chosen a Lego set to build together as a family. Read about it: HERE.
• Mulled wine & mince pie party. For the past two years, we’ve hosted a Christmas party for our neighbours and invited them to our Church Carol service beforehand.
• Kate Rusby Christmas Concert: For the last four years we’ve gone to Kate Rusby’s Christmas Concert in Nottingham the week before Christmas. Kate is a folk singer and has the purest voice. Her Christmas concert is absolutely wonderful and gets us in the mood for Christmas. It’s a sore point in our household that we didn’t get tickets this year! Don’t ask!
• Christmas walks. We usually like to get out in the fresh air and go for a long walk or visit a National Trust property.
• Christmas project. We usually have some kind of big house-related project at Christmas time like clearing the loft or sorting the garage. We haven’t thought of one yet, though.

Is your Christmas tree real or fake?

It’s fake, but we’ve always had a fake tree and I prefer it that way.  We had the same tree for years but since building a new extension with a vaulted ceiling our little old tree looked ridiculous.  This year we bought an 8.5ft Christmas Tree in the January sales and decorated it at the weekend. We love it!

What is your all time favourite holiday treat/food/sweet?

This is such a tough one! I guess I’d have to choose the entire Christmas dinner! I absolutely love cooking Christmas dinner. The first year I cooked Christmas dinner for Richard and myself, I could hardly bear to eat it because I was so pleased with how it turned out!

Christmas Dinner 2015

Be honest, do you like giving or receiving gifts better?

I honestly do love giving presents, especially when I’ve made them myself or they have sentimental value.  For a number of years, I used to order photo calendars for our families with pictures of the kids on and I used to love watching them open these custom-made gifts.

What is the best Christmas present you ever received?

I’ve had some lovely gifts over the years. Growing up, one of the best presents I got was my first bike (HERE). Nowadays, I’d find it hard to choose – It’s often the simple things such as new clothes or a nice handbag or make-up bag.

What would be your dream place to visit for the holiday season?

We’ve already had a dream holiday during the holiday season. In 2001, before we had kids, we went to New Zealand for Christmas and New Year and it was incredible.  We toured the North and South island and a family friend invited us to Christmas dinner whilst we were staying in Wellington. I remember having a walk in the hills overlooking Wellington after our huge meal.

Are you a pro present wrapper or do you fail miserably?

I go through phases, depending on my mood and how organised I’m feeling!  This year I’m adopting an ‘if it’s covered, it’s wrapped’ approach to gift wrapping! Gift bags are a wonderful invention!

Most memorable Christmas moment?

I have loads from my childhood. I can vividly remember going to bed on Christmas Eve and being so excited and filled with wonder when I heard the sound of bells ringing in our garden. The next morning I was wide-eyed when I spotted sooty footprints on the carpet and noticed some of the mince pie had been eaten and the sherry was gone!

What made you realise the truth about Santa?

I realised when I didn’t get a Mr Frosty Drink Maker! I specifically asked Santa for a Mr Frosty Drink Maker when I visited him in his Grotto on Stockton High Street and I didn’t get one! There were a few years prior to that when I had my suspicions, but I didn’t want to risk a ‘presentless’ Christmas!

What makes the holidays special for you?

Remembering the greatest gift I’ve been given, Jesus Christ.

Spending Christmas with my family and loved ones.

*****

Thanks so much Bridie for nominating me for this tag. Just thinking about Christmas prompted me to play the Bebo Norman Christmas album on Spotify whilst writing this post.

My nominations for this tag are:

Charlie at Mess & Merlot.

Louise Hegarty at Birds & Lilies

Katie at Mummy in a Tutu

Louise Smith at With Love From Lou.

Once you’ve finished the post tag, nominate 3 or 4 more people and spread the Christmas Tag love.

Don’t forget to copy me into your post tweet so I can pop across and read your answers.

Over to you!

What special Christmas memories to you have? Do you have any Christmas traditions? Where will you be spending Christmas this year? As always, I’d love to hear from you.