Christmas Traditions--Christmas Eve

Ah, Christmas Eve the Day in which any child under the age of 15 runs around shouting "Tomorrow is CHRISTMAS!!  I can't wait for CHRISTMAS!  You will never guess what I got YOU for CHRISTMAS!!"  It's a fun filled day, in which we make sure all the kids are ready to go to evening service, all gifts are bought and wrapped, ready and waiting to go under the tree as soon as the kids are in bed.

It's that day when Christmas music is played nonstop (The only day that there is more Christmas music played would be Christmas).  The kids eagerly talk about where we are eating out that night, and trying not to tell everyone what they got for everyone. :D

The morning of Christmas Eve is never the same, there are times when we do nothing that morning, where as other mornings we decorate cookies or the tree.  Sometimes we've even watched one of the movies we have yet to watch.

But it\'s the evening of Christmas Eve that we can always count on being the same.  Every year everyone gets dressed in their best Christmas clothes, we all load into the van and head out to eat.  Where we eat all depends on what mom and dad want and how much time we have, we've done Jason's Deli, Cajun Town, and Fuzzy's Pizza, like I said it all depends on what mom and dad want.  :D  But no matter what for us children it's a treat and we always look forward to it enjoy the time out immensely!

After that (or sometimes even before that) we go our church's Christmas Eve service, where we get to sing Christmas hymns, listen to bible passages, and a short sermon from our pastor.  It's my favorite part about Christmas Eve (the only thing better was when Christmas was on a Sunday a couple years back. :D )  Afterwards there is some visiting with other church members, and then on then on home we go.

Once we get home, after our traditional stop at Central Market, all the youngers get ready for bed, while the olders finish evening chores.  Then we all gather around dad and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate while he reads "The night Before Christmas" and "Texas Night Before Christmas".

After he is finished we all open on present and to a point we all know what we are going to be getting--A Christmas tree Ornament.  Everyone gets one, so that we are "All grown up and have our own house with our own tree we will be able to have ornaments all ready to put on the tree.  Mom and dad get one so that when we move away their tree won't be bare."  :D  It's always fun to see what we are going to get, for my 16th Christmas I got one from there I was born, another year I got one that looked like a scroll and had a verse on it that means a lot to me.  Each year they are different, but they almost always match.  Two years ago it was cowboy Santas for everyone, where as last year it was animal themed, and three years ago it was Texas themed.

Then everyone under the age of 16 heads to bed after putting out hay, cookies, peanut butter and a beverage.  Then mom and dad relax while eating the eatable stuff put out for "Santa and his reindeer".  Then mom and I will stuff stockings.  After that everyone heads off to bed except for me and one or two other sisters who lock ourselves into my room and finish wrapping the gifts.

Then it's off to bed with "visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.”

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!