Christmas This or That

Happy Wednesday, Friends! I don’t know about you but it’s time to get FESTIVE around here! I’ve been making my Christmas list and checking it throughout the day to make sure all the gifts arrive in time for Christmas. We have matching Christmas pajamas our elf, Sparky, is bringing next week. We’ve made Red Velvet Whoopie Pies, delivered neighbor gifts, and are a week into our Advent Calendars. We’re squeezing all the holly jolly-ness we can into a house where we’re still unpacking. In honor of all the merry excitement, I found a really festive Christmas This or That I thought would be fun!

Naught or Nice? Nice 🙂

Elf or Home Alone? The nostalgia behind Home Alone just does something to me. I like Elf, but if I have to choose I’m going Home Alone ALL THE WAY!

Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? Christmas Eve has become a really sweet tradition in our house. For years we packed all the Christmas presents up and made our way to Missouri to spend the holidays with my family. I have some REALLY sweet memories of doing that many years with baby Ebby Lee, baby Nixon, and even baby Bowen. But we stopped several years ago because we wanted to make our own family traditions that our kids would look forward to and want to one day join in with their own families. And just like that a new Christmas Eve tradition was born. Typically we go to a late afternoon/early evening Christmas Eve service, then we drive to Dallas to eat a really nice, fancy steak dinner. We drive around just a bit checking out the lights in Dallas and then are home to get ready for bed before Christmas the next day. Tab’s parents and anyone else who might be in town join us. It’s become a really sweet tradition our family looks forward to all year long. This year Tab has a Christmas Eve football game so we’re all packing it up and flying out on the 23rd to join him! Our plans this Christmas Eve are to head to a football game and then a Christmas Eve service followed up by a fancy dinner. We’re just moving the location of our favorite traditions.

Cookies for Santa or Carrots for the Reindeer? We leave cookies out for Santa, but nothing for the reindeer. 🙁

Gift giving or gift receiving? When I was a kid, RECEIVING all day! hahaha! But now as an adult giving is so much more fun.

Wear an Ugly Sweater or a Santa Hat? I think most ugly Christmas sweaters are so ugly they’re cute so give me the sweater!

White Lights or Multi-Colored Lights? We go with white lights all over and throughout our house.

Glove or Mittens? GLOVES!

Christmas or New Year? Christmas! We have lots of traditions we’ve created around Christmas Eve/Christmas Day but New Year’s Day is a bit different. For years and years we got to celebrate at a bowl game {always so much fun!}, but this year we have zero plans. The kids might have some friends over to hang and that’s it.

Stocking or Santa Hat? Stocking!

Mariah Carey or Michael Buble? I’m going Mariah! All I Want for Christmas, Baby!

Travel or Stay Home? I would say stay at home, but what’s the MOST important to me is having our family all together. Last year we left mid-Christmas afternoon to head to a football game and this year we’ll be traveling over Christmas. Whether traveling or at home, the whole goal is our family is together.

Ribbons or Bells? I tend to use ribbons before I decorate with bells.

Real Tree or Fake Tree? FAKE!

Sugar cookies or Gingerbread? I’m not a fan of gingerbread, but I love a sugar cookie!

Gift Bags or Wrapping Paper? I’m gift bags every other day of the year but I feel like Christmas presents must be wrapped.

Presents on Christmas Eve Night or Christmas Day Morning? Christmas Day Morning…this was a point of contention in our early marriage. Often times those holiday traditions hit hard and we both felt strongly about our own family traditions. Tab’s family had something they call, “Christmas Tree”, on Christmas Eve night where they exchanged gifts and did most of the present opening on the 24th. My family didn’t open any presents on Christmas Eve so I was appalled at that suggestion. {ha-that might be a strong word}. We settled on letting the kids open the gift exchange the four of them do with each other.

Secret Santa or White Elephant? We had Secret Santas in high school and I always had so much fun with that. It was fun to keep your “person” a secret plus we snuck around to drop off the gifts. Plus you knew exactly who you were buying for so you could make it extra special.

Sleep In or Up Early? Usually our kids sleep in until around 7:30 on Christmas morning. And Tab and I are both very thankful for that. We tend to procrastinate all those Christmas Eve projects for the big day and we have to be up way too late.

Snow or No Snow? Um…Christmas Snow is absolutely magical. 🙂

If you’re feeling a little Bah Humbug, I urge you to seriously consider your answer on those questions. I’m certain you’ll be in the Christmas Spirit in no time. 🙂

Happy 18 Days Left Until Christmas!

XO