Merry? I don’t think so

The day started off pretty well, but then again Christmas day usually does.  Opening presents was ok – nothing too special when there’s not really any excitement and everyone pretty much knows what they’re getting anyways.  Right after is when it started to go bad.  My mom’s sick (and I think she’s passing some of the bugs my way since my throat is sore), so she wants us to help with the work.  Not my ideal, but I can handle helping out with a bit.  So I figure I’ll finish watching a show on TV, and then help out.  But no, everything had to be done right away.

If she’d told me she wanted stuff done by a certain time, fine.  But she didn’t.  And for me, Christmas Day should be for relaxing and spending time with family.  Not doing random crap around the house.  And definitely not rushing around doing that crap.  So I go do some of the stuff she asks.  One of which is taking my clothes that are in the basement drying up to my room.  Then she comes up to my room where I’m putting all the clothes away and gets all sarcastic with me for “helping out”.

Now I am sitting up in my room, by myself, while my parents and brother visit with my grandparents.  And that is completely fine with me.  Because I am not in the mood to socialize now.  The only downside is that it is 3:00pm, I didn’t have breakfast, and I’m kind of hungry.  Guess I’m doing a bit of fasting today.

Christmas Quiz

Saw this on Radelle’s blog (I creep…oops!) and thought it looked like fun.

1.  Christmas tree up yet?
No, but then again I can’t complain since I never help my parents put it up.  It’s kind of lost its appeal from when I was a kid…although that might be because I can’t lie comfortably on the hardwood underneath the tree anymore. 

2.  Any Christmas decorations up yet?
Nope.  Not even Christmas lights.

3.  What are you asking for, for Christmas?
I’m being kind of greedy again, but then again it’s almost expected when my parents, and brother, and aunt/uncle, and grandparents, and even some friends keep asking me what I want!  So I’m asking for speakers for my computer, and some PostSecret books, and some gift cards, and a hoodie from MEC.

4.  What do you usually do on Christmas Eve?
I don’t really have any traditions.  Although I do remember my brother and I opening our ornaments from our parents a few years on Christmas Eve.  This year it looks like I’ll be spending part of the day with Jason and his family/friends, and then coming back home to spend some time with my dad’s side of the family.

5.  What do you usually do on Christmas Day?
First thing my parents, my brother and I open our stockings and then our presents.  After that, it usually varies.

6.  Do you own any Christmas clothes or jewelry?
Not that I know of…

7.  Do you use white or coloured Christmas lights?
Yellow on the tree, and then red, green, blue outside. 

8.  Do you bake Christmas cookies?
My mom does a lot of Christmas baking.  I used to help when I was younger, but not so much anymore.  This year I might try a bit more.

9.  Do you buy presents for your whole family?
I buy presents for my parents, my brother and my grandparents (on my dad’s side).  As a family we get something for the 2 cousins on that side.  We used to draw names on my mom’s side of the family, but that got to be too hard with people living all over the world.  I think the best “present” with them is that the people who can’t make it to the Christmas dinner usually call so we can have a quick chat.

10.  Is there a Santa Claus?
Yup.

11.  Favourite Christmas Carol?
I don’t have one specific favourite.  My mom has some awesome tapes that just put me in a really good mood.  They’re a tradition – they get pulled out every year.  I especially like the songs “Angels Among Us” and “God Bless the Child”.  Not really Christmas Carols, but they always remind me of Christmas when I hear them.  And I always play them over and over.

12.  Would you rather it be a white Christmas or a warm Christmas?
White Christmas.  It just fits better.  And then it means I can snowboard during the break.

13.  Was last year a good Christmas?
I don’t think I’ve ever had a “bad” Christmas.  Nothing about last year stands out overly much.  But I spent Christmas day with family, so I suppose that’s all that matters.

14.  Which Christmas colour do you like better: red or green?
Both!

15.  Do you get a real Christmas tree, or is it artificial?
We’ve had the same artificial tree as long as I can remember.  I don’t think it would be the same with something else.

16.  When you get older, will you get a real or artificial tree?
I really think that’s going to depend on my circumstances.  I think I’d like to get a real tree that I can plant after Christmas.  Because I imagine the scent would be absolutely amazing.

17.  Do you hang stockings?
Of course.  I’ve had the same stocking since I was a baby too.

18.  When opening presents, does your family all open them at the same time?
We take turns.  I enjoy seeing what everyone else got and their reactions.  Especially when they really like something!

19.  What is usually in your stocking?
Lottery tickets, an orange, and some kind of book.  There’s other stuff too, but those are the traditional ones.  :-)

20.  Do you get up early on Christmas day?
Not really anymore.  As a kid I’d remember waking up at 4am just to sneak out and look at the presents.  Then I’d be up by 7am to open them.

21.  Does your family eat breakfast before or after opening presents?
Because I’m such a sleepyhead now, everyone usually eats before I even get up.

22.  Do you have a favourite ornament you hang on the tree?
It’s a tradition in my family for my parents to get me and my brother an ornament every year.  Something that relates to our interests or activities from the past year.  And they all get put on the tree (it’s getting pretty full by this point!).  So it’s really fun to just look at the ornaments and remember stuff from my childhood.

23.  What Christmas movie do you like to watch the most?
I don’t always watch a Christmas movie.  But I enjoy “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”.   And “The Santa Clause” is always good for a laugh.

24.  What do you like better, Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?
I’d honestly have to say the anticipation of Christmas Eve.