Christmas Eve--Our favorite night of the year!

This is the party that we all love and look forward to all year! We go to Nonna's about 4 and she has a nice sit down dinner with Prime Rib! We have backed potatoes and spinach salad and of course have to have the horseradish with it, too. After we are so full, we head downstairs and the kids put on the nativity. After they are ready, Eliza plays Silent Night on the flute and Sam reads the Christmas story from the book of Luke.

Claire as Mary

Gabe as a Shepherd


I think Jakey was a wiseman this year!

Grace as the Angel

Patrick as Joseph

Buzz

Claire

Andy as the baby Jesus

Jack

After the nativity we play a game with gifts. We each bring a $5 gift and play the "white elephant" game with it! The kids love it and it gets pretty funny! This year the coveted gift was the "gopher". It was a little contraption that help you reach hard to reach places. Jack ended up with it and I don't think he could have been happier!

Jack and the "gopher"

After the fun, we go back upstairs and have a little "talent" show. Mostly the kids just have the same thing prepared that they did for breakfast with dad. However, Sam did his poem, too. This year is was "Santa for President"! It was so great! How clever!

Andy sang a song

Michelle and mom enjoying the show

Sam reciting his poem

After our family finishes up with the talent portion, we get out the spread and people start to come. We've done this as an open house since 1985. It's amazing that this tradition has carried on and has become a part of a lot of Christmas Eve celebrations for many of our friends! It gets a little crazy with so many people in mom's house. But there is usually a ton of food and treats! Even the kids have said how much they love Christmas Eve at Nonna's. Really, it wouldn't be Christmas without this party! We just love being together and sharing with others. The past few years the lady across the street has come and celebrated the whole thing with us. Mom doesn't understand how she can possibly enjoy all the noise and confusion, but there must be something that makes her enjoy the atmosphere here with us. Sarah's inlaws and my inlaws have come been coming over the past several years to enjoy the program. This year the program was mostly Sam reciting his poem for everyone. We like to sing and share. Isn't that what it's all about? Well, it is for me! This is how my family has been celebrating for almost 25 years. Although it has evolved a bit, especially since our family has grown, I hope we can do it for years to come.

Grace and Claire in their new jammies

My boys loving their cozy new P.J.'s

Matt even brought some new jammies for Lizzie!

Tiff and Sar