Christmas Eve

We have started a little tradition in our house on Christmas Eve. We call it a "Family Party".

Growing up I have very fond memories of Christmas Eve. My dad is one of 5 & all of his siblings (and his parents) have at one time lived in the same town with us - a few of them were always nearby. I remember taking the gifts for each family & heading out to deliver them - often caroling at the door when we got there; and ultimately all of us ending up at one home. We would have some Christmas-induced over-excited playtime with our MANY cousins, some good eats & then head home in time for the Christmas story from the Bible & Twas the Night Before Christmas before heading off to bed. They are some of my warmest childhood memories...

I wish sometimes that I could offer the same type of memories to my children, but we don't have any immediate family in the city we live in (Graham's parents & sister, & my brother live about an hour away) & my parents (& 3 other siblings) live 3 hours away. We try to go to my parents to spend Christmas there every other year & the years in between, we stay home Christmas Eve, then head out to my in-laws on Christmas Day - after present opening of course.

I have learned to enjoy our smaller, calmer Christmas Eve - but it is still strange for me.

First, there is FOOD...
We do an "appy" spread and leave it out for a while - you know keep going back for more until we're going to burst!

Gotta love that holiday food!!

Uhhh, ya... that food is just for the 4 of us. Yowza!

Then the kids get to open their "Christmas Eve gift" - which is always new pajamas. Luckily, they haven't figured out the pattern yet, so it still holds some suspense from them - I forsee some conflict in this department in the future, but it certainly solves the "Christmas morning pictures in your ratty old pajamas" dilemma :)

This year is another extra special one because it's Brynlea's FIRST Christmas! Averie & Evan were both August babies so by their first Christmas were still sort of "baby lumps" - you know, cute & cuddly but not much excitment there. Brynlea is a March baby so she is 9 months old. BIG difference & MUCH more fun! :)


And not a creature was stirring...
*shhhh* Merry Christmas everyone!