Christmas Eve

 When I was growing up, my mom let us open one present on Christmas Eve and so natually, I have carried on that tradition with my kids.  When we were growing up, we always opened up the presents from my dear Aunt Diane (my mother's sister), my kids have decidied to open the presents from Grandma Nelson.  My mother-in-law always gives each of her grandchildren a pair of jammies and then a $10 bill.  My kids love to open the new jammies so they can wear them the next morning for Christmas.  We have been saving a little while now for a trip to Disneyland, and we have a Disneyland Jar where we place change and the money our kids earn in there.  So, the kids choose to put the money from Grandma in the jar. 

Later that day, we enjoyed a nice dinner at On the Border and then went to a Christmas Devotional with some friends.  Then we came home and read "How the Grinch Stole Christmas", "The Night Before Christmas", and then of course the Christmas story out of the scriptures. A couple of years ago my sister made some cute Christmas puppets which help us retell the story as you can see from the pictures.

We then left milk and cookies out for Santa along with his "magic key" so he can get in.  Unfortunately, the key was accidentally dropped on the concrete by someone who will remain un-named, thank goodness for tape, I guess I will be buying a new magic key next year.  After that we all settled in for a long winter's nap.  A long winter's nap for the kids and then Mike and I watched "It's a Wonderful Life" as we do every year before turning in for the night.  We did not want to stay up too late, did not want to intrude on Santa's schedule.