Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Christmas Traditions

My family and I are looking for a great Christmas Eve tradition. We've got one that we've held on to every year since the kids were born. I open up our book of The Night Before Christmas and read it out loud with the whole family. It's nice. It's sweet.

We aren't satisfied.

It's not as if we haven't tried things in the past - we have! We've done the Christmas Eve church services in nice dress and have watched "It's A Wonderful Life" with pillows flooding the floor of our living room by the tree. We've opened Christmas presents because we couldn't wait 8 more hours and we've gone to bed early hoping the morning would arrive sooner than later. But what now?

We're tired of trying to think of something to do. We want something solid. We want something that is anticipated with excitement! We want . . . we want . . . we want your ideas!

Please?

5 comments:

Emily said...

My parents always bought us all new PJs (including themselves) we got to open on Christmas Eve. It wasn't just plain 'ole PJs either...they were pimp - like with footies or fun socks, etc. It may not be what you're looking for...but we anticipated it with much excitement and enjoyed spending the evening together in our new fuzzy PJs of some sort watching A Miracle on 34th Street. I really wish this was still a tradition. I plan to carry it on...after early church service, of course.

Emily said...

Oh...for the kids...we always played hide the candy canes in the tree...and then we got to eat one...because we were never allowed to eat one prior to Christmas. As we got older they hid other things in the tree (gift cards)...but still candy canes...again...the tradition has been lost. :(

Jane said...

We have always made home made pizza's on christmas eve with Clark and Colin. Everyone gets their own pizza crust--making it is sure fun. Then, each gets to make their own homemade pizza with just the toppings that they like. We sit on the floor with a blanket and eat. Afterwards, in our pj's and no shoes, we drive around looking at all of the christmas lights. It has been such a special tradition for us. The boys anticipate it all december long!

TA-TA said...

Wait until Christmas Eve to hang your stockings and make cookies for Santa. We tend to make them so far in advance that they are boring by Christmas.

What about driving around looking at lights and then coming home to home-made hot chocolate. I have a divine recipe if you want it.

With your musical family, it seems like caroling should be a part of the evening.

When all else fails... start hosting an Aunt Carol style Christmas Eve party at your house (for the brave and bold only!).

As for us, we're still working on that too. We did/do the pj thing... although I didn't pick any up for Tim and I. I don't know if kids look forward to it, but I find it fun. As they get older, we might let them open their gifts from each other or some thing. We'll see.

Unknown said...

best wishes from the Short Family. Chris