"Christmas Hoopla"!

We finished up our Christmas baking today and worked on some other projects. Tomorrow we have to wrap our presents for each other and then we should be all set for Christmas.

Mom tagged us for the "Christmas Hoopla" so we'll try to come up with 12 things. Here are the rules: List 12 random things about yourself that have to do with Christmas. Please refer to it as a 'hoopla' and not the dreaded 'm'-word. 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. 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. Please give Andrea some link-love as the “Hoopla-Creator!”

1. Laurie ~ We are both 37 years old and we still get a stocking at moms house on Christmas morning. (usually it is over filled!) We still fill one for mom too.

2. Chris ~ Christmas eve at my grandparents house was always my favorite part of the holidays. The house was always packed full and you didn't have much room to move. Grandma and Grandpa usually had to unwrap their way out of their pile of presents.

3. Laurie ~ While growing up Kim and I got to pick out our tree. One year someone a few blocks from our house was selling trees. Kim and I walked up the hill, got the tree and walked back home with it. We thought it was so cool that we got to pick our own tree. (some of the trees we picked out were dandies!)

4. Chris ~ Our stockings when we were kids always had an orange in one of the toes. (the stockings were two footed. I probably could have worn it when I was little)

5. Laurie ~ Mom always put a stuffed animal in our stocking at the top not wrapped. Chris still makes sure I get a special stuffed animal every year for Christmas.

6. Chris ~ I used to do my last minute shopping with my dad and uncle every year. (it was actually when we started our shopping) I do so much better now then I did back then.

7. Laurie ~ We always had a great Christmas when we were young. One year Grandma (Super Lou) bought all of us watches for Christmas. Have you ever heard five kids run around the house saying my watch says it such and such time?

8. Chris ~ My cousin used to sneak me shots of Southern Comfort on Christmas eve.

9. Laurie ~ We got engaged on Christmas Eve of 1992. (before we went to Chris's grandparents house for dinner)

10. Chris ~ I stuck my dads car keys in an electrical outlet one Christmas eve. (what was I thinking?) All of the power in the house went out and I was told that Santa wasn't coming since he couldn't find our house without lights on. (He came anyways!!!)

11. Laurie ~ We got to pick out an ornament from a Christmas store to put on the tree every year. (we still get an ornament every year from mom and usually one from Chris's mom and dad)

12. Chris ~ I take my favorite mother-in-law to get her tree, put it in the stand for her and make sure it looks nice and straight every year. (no wonder I am her favorite son-in-law)

We know that we are supposed to tag someone but it is so close to Christmas and every one is so busy we will understand if you can't get it done before Christmas. We are tagging Ann from A Mother's Minute and Pea from PEA's Corner.