If you've never been to NORAD's site on Christmas Eve, I highly recommend it. The latest scientific equipment is used to track Santa's whereabouts as he circles the globe. The boys follow his progress all day.
In the late afternoon we head to Nanna and Grandpa's for our annual Christmas Eve dinner: ham, potatoes, homemade rolls, olives, salad, etc.
After dinner is the Christmas pageant. This year the Caboose and his cousin 'Boo' were Mary and Joseph.
The whole gang:
This year we added in the story of Christ's birth in the Americas. We had our very own Samuel the Laminite, complete with angry crowds throwing balls of tin foil at him - who missed most of the time!
At the end of the Christmas pageant, the wise men bring in one gift for everyone. (There is a whole process by which that one gift is selected. It usually takes a good chunk of the morning to decide which gift will be opened.)
Another Green family tradition is our Christmas Eve birthday cake for Jesus. As a kid I never struggled with the commercialism of Christmas, it was just a really great birthday party - complete with birthday cake! (Diamond thinks this tradition is a bit odd, but he's always a good sport!)
After cake is the annual the Pajama Hunt. The kids have to solve riddles, complete obstacles, or like this year, follow a treasure map, to find their new Christmas jammies. (Thanks to Ginger who always organizes this part.)
With new jammies on, the boys are ready for their picture in front of Nanna and Grandpa's tree.
Then it's time to head home. Driving home from Nanna's is one of my favorite parts of Christmas Eve. We always take a long drive, admiring all the lights and trying to spot Rudolph in the sky. This year BB#2 swears he saw Rudolph's body. "Now I KNOW Santa's real!"
At home the boys set out cookies and milk for Santa. But they also leave out water and carrots for the reindeer. (They usually put out some Ranch dressing too!)
Then it's off to bed.
Christmas morning the boys are instructed to not wake us up until at least 7:30. We usually make it to about 7:00. Then we head down to see what Santa left for us.
Favorite presents this year include: BB #1: binoculars, Swiss Army knife, popcorn machine, Nuggets shorts. BB#2: Spy Gear, Nuggets shorts, popcorn machine, Bronco's pendant. Caboose: Spiderman car, Spiderman airplane, Batman Castle
Nanna & Grandpa stop by in the late morning so the kids can show off their new wares. Then it's back to Nanna's for more presents and leftover ham sandwiches.
5 comments:
You are going to laugh when you see the pj's my son is wearing...red with snowmen (got to love children's place) and is that a batcave Caboose is opening??? If it is we had one of those delivered to our house too!
Fun times! Your family has a lot of great traditions! Glad you had a good Christmas!
Okay, it's kind of scary but I am starting to think that B and Heidi look A LOT ALIKE!!
Why yes, the Caboose did open the batcave - an entirely new genre of toys for us. Good eyes Krista!
Cheryl, they really do!
It is an incredible time of year! I'm so glad that both you and mom and dad live so close so that we can share it together!
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