Christmas Eve

Some of the girls of Christmas Eve last

Every year my husband and I host the Christmas Eve open house for our family and friends. Some years some guests may be people we don’t know, but someone else in our group knew would have no where else to go. We look forward to these unexpected guests.  One new addition this year is Tucker.

Since it is an open house, family and friends come and go throughout the night.  Some stay the night and celebrate Christmas morning with us. .

The kids are tempted by all the gifts under the tree.  They must ask a zillion times when they can open the gifts. I cannot wait for the girls to get here.  Come on already.  I am as excited as they are.

We celebrate with the feast of seven fishes. We want to cover all bases so sushi is included as an appetizer to ensure this. It might as well be called the feast of seventy fishes.

For the past, who knows how many years, we celebrate with  family and friends,  lotsa delish food,  Christmas party crackers (we pick up the confetti and little toys for months to follow) and, of course, drinks.  We end the night with tequila shots.  It is usually a very fun, festive time.

Although we have different friends and family come and go over the years, they will forever remain in our hearts on this special night  We do have a jolly ole time,  but we never forget the reason for the season.

Love & hugs to all.  Enjoy your night.

Not just a Nativity

Today Ava and I  set up our nativity scene.  She loved all the figurines and explanation for each.  For me it brought up memories of Christmases past.  Times of putting up our nativity in my childhood home with my mother and grandmother.  I loved to play with all my grandmother’s nativity pieces, some of which I still have today. The little wax lamb on the right is from my grandmother’s scene.  The pieces in the picture are from my mother’s nativity. 

It also brings up memories of my MIL’s house on Christmas Eve.  We all  stayed until midnight so one of the grandchildren could put baby Jesus in the cradle.  It was not an easy feat with a total of eight small children, gifts still to be put together and placed under the Christmas trees and eight very hyper kids waiting for Santa.  We did it out of our love for a very caring woman, grandma Marra.

These are some of the memories I hope to pass on to my grandchildren so on Christmas they will experience the meaning of giving, sharing and loving.  Although it may be bittersweet, it will be forever in their heart.  Your holiday may not include a Nativity scene, but memories made during time spent with family is tradition in itself.

Placing Baby Jesus

She decided to draw a glitter picture for the Baby Jesus.

Liv slept through all of this, but she will be in on it next year.  What will we be doing tomorrow?

Stay tuned for our Christmas tree hunting this weekend….weather permitting