Christmas Traditions

The dishes were set on the tables with care in hopes that Grandma and Grandpa soon would be there.
  While growing up my parents were very traditional in our family's Christmas Eve celebration. We don't do everything exactly how they did, but it did make for magical Christmas memories, so we've tried to follow suit.

I am very aware that this is not a flattering picture of me.  Normally I wouldn't post it, but since I had a whole evening of seriously unflattering pictures, it seemed the honest thing to do.

Abe introduced us to the tradition of Christmas crackers.  You pull the ends apart, it makes a little firework sound, and you get a little toy, paper crown and joke.  The crowns come in handy for the wise men in the Nativity.

Ham and potatoes for dinner with my mom's Christmas dishes.  When my mom passed away almost 14 years ago, these dishes were the only thing I really, really wanted.  I treasure them and we've put them to good use over the years.

Elinor and Emi have a sweet bond.  They were pretty tight last night.

Cannon and Takara took their roles as Joseph and Mary very seriously.  And they were ADORABLE!  Bethany played many roles throughout the Nativity.  Here she is as the donkey.

Here she is as the manger.
Peter was baby Jesus.  It was his one and only chance in life to be baby Jesus and I'm sorry to say it, but he did a terrible job.  He would not hold still and fussed a lot.  I understand the actual baby Jesus probably squirmed and cried as well, but it just wasn't working for me last night.

Cannon did take a break from his role as Joseph to accompany us singing "The First Noel".
That's an image I'd like to remember in my old age.

Here is the two-headed angel of Elinor and Emi appearing to Bethany and the other shepherds.  Can you tell that Faith recently watched Home Alone for the first time?

The wisemen (Clark, Grandpa Cannon, and Uncle Dev) saw the start in the East.

"When they saw the star, they REJOICED with exceeding great joy"

They fell down and worshiped Him presenting gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Bethany read her "Twas the Real Night Before Christmas" poem she penned last year.  Two years in a row means that it's a legitimate tradition now.

Abe read our family's favorite Christmas story,  A Christmas Bell for Anya.  It's a tear jerker, but it has a very special place in our hearts, as we first heard it shortly after we lost our Tessa.

There aren't many things in this life better than singing Christmas carols with your family on Christmas Eve.

After all the spiritual traditions it was time for the the fun.  Grandma Cannon always picks out super cute, comfy pajamas for the little ones to open Christmas Eve.

George may or may not have taken a pair of scissors and performed an experimental snip on his new pajama pants last night.
The big kids get cold, hard cash from the Grandparents.  Everybody is happy.

This year we surprised Grandma and Grandpa with some Christmas jammies of their own!

I got matching jammy pants for the ladies as well.
Nice photo bomb Clark.  And you say you don't want to be in pictures.  I'm not buying it.

Elinor had practiced "Frosty the Snowman" and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" for us to sing in preparation for...

...Grandpa reading "The Night Before Christmas".  The edition he is reading is the very one he read to us every year of my childhood.  Years ago my sister found the same book and bought copies of it for all of us.

  Traditions are so comforting!

Not necessarily festive, but very cute to have a houseful of Ninja Turtles.

A sweet little guy-- 4 1/2 months old on his first Christmas Eve.  I love a baby at Christmas time.

And lastly, Faith lost a tooth yesterday.  She was wise enough to realize that asking Santa and the Tooth Fairy to come on the same night would be too much.  Hopefully all responsible parties will remember to do their jobs tonight.