christmas meme hoopla

I wasn't tagged, but Andrea at Lifesong came up with this hoopla {she doesn't like using the 'm' word}. Here are the rules:

1. List 12 random things about yourself that has to do with Christmas
2. Please refer to it as a 'hoopla' and not the dreaded 'm'-word
3. You have to specifically tag people when you're done. None of this "if you're reading this, consider yourself tagged" stuff is allowed...then nobody ends up actually doing it. The number of people who you tag is really up to you -- but the more, the merrier to get this 'hoopla' circulating through the blogosphere.
4. Please try and do it as quickly as possible. The Christmas season will be over before we know it and I'd like to get as many people involved as possible.
5. If you want to -- please give me, Andrea, some link-love as the 'Hoopla-Creator'. I love new blog-traffic.

So, here are 12 Christmas things about me:

1. I can only stand Christmas music in snippets. I loathe hearing Christmas music before December 1st.

2. I love to give gifts but don't like the commercialism of Christmas. This is something I really struggle with. I take lots of time and consideration on each gift. this usually stresses me out because i have to get the perfect gift.

3. I have not lived at home in over 5 years, yet this is the first time I've decorated my house for Christmas.

4. Growing up we always had a real tree that was flocked. I loved going to the nursery and picking out a ginormous tree, bringing it home and decorating it. However, I've been turned on to the convenience of a fake, pre-lit tree. no vacuming or watering required!

5. I like houses that are lit up and decorated for the holiday but I'm not putting any on my house. I'll be doing good to get a wreath on the door...

6. I have never had eggnog, but the thought of it seriously grosses me out.

7. I often wonder what Christmas will be like in the future when I (hopefully) have a husband and kids of my own...

8. It is a longstanding tradition that the alumni join my high school's varsity concert choir to sing the Hallelujah chorus and The Lord Bless You And Keep You at the annual christmas concert. I'm surprised, but not entirely, I have the entire Hallelujah chorus memorized (the tenor and alto parts)

9. growing up, we always had three christmases. christmas eve with the whole family at mimi & papa's house, christmas morning with our immediate fams at the parentals' house, then we would go to nana's (my great grandmother) that afternoon for another big meal and more presents. now that nana is in the nursing home, we just have two. but we always end up at mimi's again christmas afternoon.

10. one christmas tradition we've had as long as any of us grandkids can remember is dillards bags. you know how they have those giant bags you have to buy for like 35 cents? well, every year my grandmother goes and gets them for the whole family to carry their loot in christmas eve. it sounds stupid, but it's just become a part of our christmas...

11. I hate hate hate hate, double hate, loathe entirely (10 biddy points to the first person to name that movie!) christmas shirts and sweaters. don't ask me why, i just DO...

12. another family tradition is for the whole gang (like 30 or more of us) to go to a movie on Christmas Day. It's so fun to go to the theatre and half the people in there be related to you haha

So there you have it. 12 Christmas-y things about me. Now here's the part where I would usually say "if you want to participate let me know so I can come read your blog" but since that would be breaking the rules, I won't - this time anyway. I'm tagging Kara, Awesome Tall Girl, Mary Pat, Toni the slacker, and my twinkie....and anyone else that wants to do it!