Our Christmas Eve morning tradition has become letting the kids exchange their gifts to each other. It's something they look forward to each year and it's so fun to see their excitement not as much over getting to open a gift, but instead over getting to see the other open what they picked out. It's taught them a lot about the joy of giving. They both put a lot of thought into what to give the other. I'd decided not to include Charlotte again this year -- but she had other ideas. :) As soon as Madeleine & Harrison pulled their gifts to each other out from under the tree, Charlotte went and helped herself to one as well. :) So, we let her open a gift too which ended up keeping her occupied most of the day -- her new Leapster Phone.
The rest of Christmas Eve is pretty laid back at our house. I'd chosen a menu for our Christmas Meal that allow me to do a lot of the cooking ahead of time (and freeze some) so the only big thing on our agenda that day was to make cookies for Santa. This has become a fun tradition as well and it's fun to see how much the kids enjoy it -- more every year. :)
This was the first year that Charlotte got to join in and I think she liked it.
Time to decorate! Madeleine's decorating skills are good -- she spent a lot of time this year working on making them just right.
Mommy did a few as well. :)
After our traditional Mexican food dinner, it was time to get ready for Santa. First, we sprinkled Magic Reindeer Food on the yard.
Then we set out Cookies and OJ for Santa.
We read The Night Before Christmas, but Charlotte didn't want to cooperate, so no pics. I did get it all on film though. We've had the same book that we read from since the first year we had Madeleine.
Lots of hugs and kisses then off to bed. Amazingly enough, they went right to sleep that night -- everyone was out before 9pm. Matt and I watched our usual Christmas Eve movie before getting to bed so Santa could come!
The rest of Christmas Eve is pretty laid back at our house. I'd chosen a menu for our Christmas Meal that allow me to do a lot of the cooking ahead of time (and freeze some) so the only big thing on our agenda that day was to make cookies for Santa. This has become a fun tradition as well and it's fun to see how much the kids enjoy it -- more every year. :)
This was the first year that Charlotte got to join in and I think she liked it.
Time to decorate! Madeleine's decorating skills are good -- she spent a lot of time this year working on making them just right.
Mommy did a few as well. :)
After our traditional Mexican food dinner, it was time to get ready for Santa. First, we sprinkled Magic Reindeer Food on the yard.
Then we set out Cookies and OJ for Santa.
We read The Night Before Christmas, but Charlotte didn't want to cooperate, so no pics. I did get it all on film though. We've had the same book that we read from since the first year we had Madeleine.
Lots of hugs and kisses then off to bed. Amazingly enough, they went right to sleep that night -- everyone was out before 9pm. Matt and I watched our usual Christmas Eve movie before getting to bed so Santa could come!
1 comment:
You always have the most yummy looking cookies. I'm serious, we are having a cookie decorating party for Christmas 2012 and you are going to teach me all your tricks. The last time I tried to make cookies I had to borrow a roller from Drew's play kitchen! :)
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