Five Question Friday

Today I thought I would participate in Five Question Friday, hosted by My Little Life.  This week's questions are about the holidays, and I thought it might be fun to share a little bit about my family's traditions. 

1. What's on the top of your holiday wish list and why?!
To be honest, I'm so blessed to have the things I need and even most of the things I want that I don't really have a lot of things on my wish list.  One thing that is on my list, though, is a set of those really big wind chimes that make such beautiful low tones when the wind blows them.  I have wanted some for years, but I've never bought myself any because they are so expensive!  I just hate to spend that much money on something that I really don't have to have.  I want the windchimes to hang on my front porch so that, when the kids and I are outside enjoying the nice weather, we can also enjoy the beautiful chiming sounds.  :) 
2. What is your favorite Christmas gift from the past?
One of my favorite Christmas gifts from the last few years was my Bosch mixer.  I had been trying to use my old mixer (a hand mixer) to make my homemade bread, and the poor little thing just wasn't able to do the job.  I didn't want to try to hand-knead the bread either or I knew I'd never take the time to make it.  I loved the Bosch mixer, and I still love it!  My favorite just-for-fun gift is the beautiful ring that my husband gave me last Christmas.  I had a plain gold wedding band to go along with my engagement ring, and I had wanted a gold band with diamonds in it.  Last Christmas, Scott gave me just the very ring I had been wanting!  Since we've been married for almost 20 years, I think I waited long enough for it, don't you?  :)
3. If you had life to do over, what would you be when you grow up?
I would be the same thing that I am right now--a wife and homeschooling mom!  There are some things I might re-do here and there, but thankfully the "big" things are things that I would do the same way even if I could do it all over again.  I would marry the same man and have the same children.  I would live in the same place.  I might homeschool a bit differently if I could start that over again since I now know what "works" for us and what we really learn a lot from and what we enjoy.  Instead of spending the first few years trying things out, I'd start right from the beginning doing what we do now.  In fact, I enjoy homeschooling the kids so much that I would probably start from the beginning years again just to have more years teaching them! 
4. When do you put up your tree?
As a child, I don't think we had a particular time that we put the Christmas tree up.  Since I've had my own home, though, my husband and children and I have always put up our tree the day after Thanksgiving. 
5. What is your favorite Holiday?
My favorite holiday is actually Thanksgiving.  I love Christmas because I love the decorations and lights.  I also love celebrating Jesus' birth.  Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, though, because we always get together with family and just enjoy being together and eating together without all the fuss over presents. 
I would love for you to leave a comment telling what your favorite holiday is and why!