Cristy Edwards

Name: Cristy Edwards

Age: 44

Family: Husband, Slim; children, Tyler, Kelsey, Kaily and Tessa

City of residence: Sites. We don't really live in a city. We are 15 miles from Maxwell in the hills. It is a slice of heaven.

Occupation: Partnership in Louis Cairo's restaurant

Favorite aspect of the Christmas season: Giving to people having a hard time or down on their luck.

Least favorite aspect of the Christmas season: It is the anniversary of my son's death.

Favorite holiday tradition: Cutting our Christmas tree. It is so much fun and something I really look forward to.

What Christmas tradition would you like to start? We started last year, everyone making and bringing a homemade gift, putting it under the tree and drawing numbers, then stealing others gifts. It was fun and the gifts were so unique. We had drawings, fudge, blankets, ornaments and earrings.

What are your pre- and post-holiday routines? Pre-holiday I shop for our Christmas families we adopt through Hi-4H and the restaurant. My middle daughter rides out back and cuts boughs for our fence and gathers pine cones. We also light our huge outside Christmas tree. Post, I can't wait to put it all away the day after Christmas is over.

What is your favorite holiday dish? Jello Pretzel Salad.

What is the strangest dish that appears on your holiday table? Probably to most people the Jello pretzel salad, but it's a side Gramma made and now my mom does it. I really look forward to it.

Is there a dish that you always avoid? Mashed potatoes.

What is your favorite memory of Christmas? When my older girls were little Raggedy Ann and Andy. Also, some Christmas elves would get Christmas magic and get into everything. Some mornings they would be hanging off the top of the Christmas tree. Another time they hitched a ride to my uncle's in Windsor. Of course they always got into the family feast.

What is your earliest memory about Christmas? Staying at my Nana and Grampy's and waking up to a teddy bear the size of his easy chair.

Have you been a good boy/girl this year or will you be receiving a lump of coal? Probably both! I guess I'll find out.

Christmas trees: White lights or colored lights? Of course always white.

What is your favorite Christmas carol? "Little Drummer Boy."

Which is your favorite reindeer? Rudolph. Love that deer.

What are you most thankful for? Without a doubt, my family. Both biological and chosen.