'Twas the Night Before Christmas

Like most people, I suppose, I cherish family tradition. Like most married people, I suppose, I really cherish the family traditions that I grew up with. It's been a process for me over the many years to let go of how I think Christmas Eve should go and embrace how it does go.

We are so lucky to live in the same town as some of Jay's family. Most years, at least one of Jay's siblings has come to spend the holiday with their parents and there has always been a Christmas Eve gathering there. For awhile, I desperately attempted to hold on to some of the traditions I grew up with, namely reading the scripture account of Christ's birth by candlelight and finishing the evening with ginger ale, crackers and cheese, but, in years past, we usually don't return home until after 10 pm and our little kids have been too tired for anything more. It was hectic enough trying too keep them happy enough to open their Christmas Eve pajamas, a tradition Jay and I started together that neither of us grew up with, and set out their stockings for Santa.  Plus, I realized that I was the only person eating the crackers and cheese and drinking the ginger ale. Apparently, smoked cheese is an acquired taste.

While I mentally let go of my expectations again this year, I realized something. We have really, really awesome Christmas Eve traditions. My kids look forward to going to their grandparents house every year. It's become the tradition, not the thing that interferes with the tradition. Not everyone gets to grow up with a family talent show, take a whack at a piñata dangling off of Grandpa's gardening tool or try to find an almond in rice pudding for a prize (Sam got it this year. I have never managed to get the bowl with the almond in it. I'll have to eat more than one bowl next year. Won't be a problem because I crave it and Vaughn and Patty only make it once a year). This year did not disappoint.

Forgoing the traditional ham dinner, Karen, Patty and I decided on a mexican themed meal. Karen made posole, Patty brought tamales, Jay made his famous chile verde and I brought a 7 layer dip with chips. It seemed a small affair this year as it was just our family, Vaughn, Patty and Delanie and Jay's parents but my sister, Maureen, was there as well and it felt festive. Especially when the program started.

Everyone had been asked to bring a talent to perform and no one spoiled the fun by pretending to forget. Henry started the show with a bang with a rather fitting song whose meaning and appropriateness was lost on him. He just liked singing, "Somebody snitched on me!"  My Nikon was acting up again.  Something is wrong with the autofocus and most of these pictures are just blurry enough to bug me.

This video is long but really worth watching.  Henry is so funny and cute.  We just need to get those "s"s and "r"s articulated!

Karen followed by bringing out percussion instruments for everyone and we played and sang along to Jingle Bells.  No picture as I was busy rocking out with my wood blocks.

Seth and Sam's piano teacher didn't have them learn any Christmas pieces and instead sent them both home with books below their level so that they could work on sight reading.  Seth chose The First Noel for his talent.  His posture is killing me.

Patty brought this harp thing that makes it easy for anyone to play because you just strum where the note says to play.  All my boys enjoyed taking a turn.

Vaughn told a very funny story that was a play on God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen that had to do with someone switching the signs on a ladies and gentlemen's restroom.  So funny.

Jay shared the history behind the less familiar carol Good King Wenceslas.  With the backstory, we all enjoyed singing it while he played the guitar.

Maureen and Sam played two duets.  One for his talent and one for hers:)

I admit that I inserted a beloved tradition of my own family.  It wasn't really a tradition but something we did for a few years after we got married and still took turns going to our parents homes for Christmas.  When it was at my house, we all sang Handel's Hallelujah Chorus because we finally had more than one tenor and one bass.  With Maureen there to play the difficult accompaniment, it was the perfect year to have Jay's family give it a go.  We did great!

Jay's dad performed a few magic tricks with a string and later read Twas the Night Before Christmas for the kids.

Delanie performed Feliz Navidad on her trombone.

Then, came the pinata.  Really, a pinata makes any event a success.

Look at Daniel's face.  He was so overwhelmed.  Mostly because it was already 2 hours past his bedtime.

We got home and everyone found their Christmas Eve package.  It was pajamas!  Surprise!

Most years I try and follow a color scheme or some other kind of theme but this year, I just got what I thought people would like.  Daniel got some bronco fleece footies, Henry a pair of Angry Birds bottoms.  Sam's pajamas had the helmets from every NFL team and Seth's were thick fleece with a chalk drawing of a football play on them.  Jay was Batman.  Maureen and I were simply ravishing in blue.

I get goofy around my siblings sometimes.  Posing for pictures.

I tried the camera again, thinking it might work but it still didn't.  Grrr.

Phone photo option

I remember taking this picture of Daniel in the middle of the night last year during one of his Christmas Eve feedings.  As he no longer wakes up during the night, I took this the next night (when I remembered).  Look at how much he has grown!  Of course, Henry saw me struggling to get a picture of a still Daniel with his stocking next to him and wanted to show off how still he could be.  It helps to be six-almost-seven!

The stockings were laid out, WAY too many cookies with a large glass of milk were left and visions of sugarplums (or toys. Or mini football helmets. Or basketballs) danced in their heads. I went to bed happy knowing that our night before Christmas was laden with happy traditions for my boys...and me.  Maybe someday, I'll reintroduce smoky cheese and ginger ale.  Maybe then, they'll be ready for it as well.