Christmas Eve

I've mentioned before that Christmas Eve is quickly becoming my favorite part of the Christmas festivities. The main reason is that it is stocked with traditions, one of which is that we exchange gifts to and from each other on Christmas Eve. The kids each spend their own money on presents for each other, all from the dollar store, so they are all on about the same level. We take them shopping and they eat get to go into the store by themselves with one parent and choose exactly what they think the other person will like. Then they come home and wrap the presents themselves, and can hardly wait for the other kids to get to open them. It's the best, I tell you!!
Well anyway, this year we were invited to Christmas Eve dinner with two good friends and the kids were so excited about this invitation. It was a lot of fun, and we really enjoyed a fun night playing pipe chimes and doing a White Elephant gift exchange. We started and ended early over there so that we would each have plenty of time to do our own Christmas Eve traditions at our own homes.
So we came home and started the family gift opening. As usual it did not disappoint! The kids just love those little presents! And they LOVE watching the others open the ones that they picked out and bought. Lots and love and generosity and excitement...it's the best I tell you!

Bryan and I also give the kids each a gift from the two of us, and they give us the little presents that they make at school and scouts. This year I made aprons for all of the kids, and they were all pretty excited and surprised by them ("you've been in sewing these for US??"). We also got them each a fun book. Nothing big - just things that we knew they'd love.





After we're done exchanging gifts from each other, we open the box that is always delivered the week before Christmas from Santa - the one that says "Open on Christmas Eve." Santa always hooks the kids up with their beloved Christmas Eve pajamas!! Then it's off to read the Christmas story from the Bible, cookies out for Santa and food for the reindeer, and off to bed they go. We're all ready for a fun Christmas morning now!!