Commenting Challenge: Christmas Ideas and Favorite Meal

I’m participating in Jenna’s 4th Annual Commenting Challenge this week!

Things got a little crazy around here, and I skipped a day. Oops! So I’m combining days four and five today!

Day Four’s topic: Christmas Gifts.

I would like to say that I’ve thought ahead this year. But I haven’t. I bought the kids’ first gifts in July last year (and Caedmon’s big gift). It was cake from there. This year? I still have no idea what to get for him. And a birthday to hurdle before then. I have a ton of ideas for Honor. So maybe they’ll balance each other out.

Coming from a large family, gift-giving at Christmas was probably a little different than what some are used to. We always knew that Mom spent the same amount of money on each of us, but the little ones might get several little things, and the older ones got just a few things that were more expensive. We always had a gift to share, whether it be a movie, a game, or something we could all play with and enjoy. I like the idea of sharing, even with a gift.

Now that we’re older, we draw names. With seven of the siblings and three brothers-in-law (for now), it’s just too many for everyone to buy for. So, usually sometime in the summer, we designate someone to draw names for us. Just yesterday my sister, Curly, texted everyone and said, “I’m tired of waiting on you bozos. If nobody objects, I’m gonna draw names.” See? We love each other. We have a $25 limit that most of us stick to. We’ve started doing the same for the cousins. Those without kids are free to buy for the nieces and nephews if they choose, but they don’t have to. And usually, we elect someone to choose a gift for Mom and Dad, then pool our resources to get it.

Day Five’s topic: Favorite Meal.

This is so hard for me. Because I in some ways, I don’t care about food that much. In other ways, I love too many things to choose just one. It depends on what mood I’m in, really.

When we go home to visit, I love to go to MarketPlace Grill and get the Tostada Florentine with a side of sweet potato fries. They’re not really meant to go together, but, um, I don’t care. I also adore the tableside guacamole at Mojito’s. It’s meant to be an appetizer, but I order it for my meal. And I don’t share. I also love going to Hugo’s for a cheeseburger. So. good.

At Chuy’s, I order anything I can pour creamy jalapeno ranch dressing over. Or I just eat it with a spoon. Last time we were there, I had to fight Honor for it. “Dip my chip!” Yes. If you don’t ask for it to dip your chips in, you’re missing out.

At home, I don’t know that I have a favorite meal. One that I don’t have to cook sounds perfect. Or clean up after. I don’t care what it is, really.

From my childhood, I would have to say that Mom’s fried deer steak with green beans, rice, and gravy is just about the best. I think all of my siblings love that meal, too.

But dessert…well, I still couldn’t choose my favorite dessert ever. I would totally settle for just about anything from The Cheesecake Factory, though. You can’t go wrong there. Red Velvet, Key Lime, Godiva, I could eat them all. Maybe I could just have a meal of desserts? Some days, that would be completely perfect.