I’m worried that if I talk about Christmas too much, I’ll get sick of it before it even arrives. So here are my short and sweet answers to this week’s holiday edition of Ten on Tuesday.

1. When do you put up and take down your Christmas decorations?
Since this is our first Christmas in our new home, I can’t say that we have any set time yet. This year we put up decorations the first weekend of December, and we’ll probably take them down a week or so into January.

2. What do you do to simplify the holiday season?
I’m still working on this one, but we really only buy gifts for our immediate families. So far I haven’t gotten very good at getting my shopping and wrapping done early. I gave up on Christmas cards this year because they were stressing me out too much.

3. What do you do to remind yourself and your family what the Christmas season is all about?
Church helps a lot, and so does Bible reading. It’s also nice to have friends and family who will keep me in check when I start to become negative.

4. How do you spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day?
Christmas Eve is spent at church and then home to sleep, and Christmas Day, so far, is almost always at my parents’ house. Breakfast, stockings, gifts, lounging, dinner, movie. If I’m working (like I was last year), we adjust.

5. What is your favorite Christmas tradition?
When I was a freshman in high school my dad and I decided to go shopping together for my mom. We haven’t missed a year since then. Actually our shopping day was today, and along with knocking a bunch of things off our lists, we got some quality time in and I got treated to lunch and ice cream. :)

6.  Did you do the whole Santa thing growing up? What do you like/not like about continuing the tradition?
For a few years, but apparently my parents told me the truth about Santa before my friends found out. I somewhat hazily remember getting in HUGE trouble for spilling the beans to one of my friends, who had a freakout when I told her. Sorry for that, Mom.

7. What is your favorite Christmas cookie?
My favorite cookie is the chocolate chip. Is it a Christmas cookie? I don’t know, but I don’t really care.

8. How do you take your egg nog?
With a side of vomit. So, I’ll pass.

9. What is your favorite Christmas carol and why?
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. It’s hauntingly beautiful, and the words get me every time. I love how it relates the longing the Israelites felt for a deliverer when they were in captivity, to the longing the Jews had for their Messiah to come, to the longing we Christians feel now for Jesus to come back and make all things right.

10. When was the last time you had a white Christmas?
I’m pretty sure it was five years ago in 2004, and that was a miracle.