Christmas Eve {2012}

The boys were soooo excited for Christmas. Although I'm pretty sure the anticipation of a parent is just as exciting. We kept it simple during the day and then broke out the festivities that night. Fondue on Christmas Eve is a must and the boys loved it. The food and the "swords." Looking through my pictures I've decided that by next Christmas I'll 1) learn how to use my external flash and 2) dress up my table for Christmas Eve dinner. Keeping it classy with plastic this Christmas Eve. 

The boys get their Christmas jams on December 1 {when Dido, our elf, pops into town} so on Christmas Eve they get their ornaments. They were beyond thrilled to get train ornaments with moving wheels. We face timed a bunch of family which made us kind of feel like we weren't that far apart. 

 

A nativity puppet show and a plate of cookies for Santa ended our night. The boys were so curious how Santa was going to get through our fireplace screen {of course by pushing the magic button inside the fireplace, which only Santa can see}

Then Cameron and I got to work and were beyond giddy with excitement. We then crashed on the couch and watched our traditional Christmas Eve movie "Family Man."

Letters To Santa {2012}

Weston talked, I wrote {except he handled the "w" in his name}. Hilarious. He thought Santa would need to see the train tracks. Good thinking. 

Christmas Eve {2011}

We were going to head into the city on Christmas Eve but the kids weren't feeling that great... I needed to know where bathrooms were at all moments so the city was out. Next best place.... Bass Pro Shop :) That place is actually awesome and we had so much fun looking around, visiting Santa, doing the Santa activities, shooting guns, etc. etc. 

 

Our fondue Christmas Eve tradition got scratched with too many upset stomachs so I made Ina's Tomato Soup on cinnamon rolls. Soup is a fav around our house so it was a hit. Then we did all the fun Christmas Eve things: puppet nativity, opened a few gifts,  watched the Grinch, read Christmas stories, and set out cookies for Santa.  It was so fun seeing how excited Weston was. 

Our elf, Dido, brought our Christmas jammies December first so they could wear them all month. Tonight they opened their ornaments. A truck for Weston and a baby in a stocking for Holden.

I think the part about Christmas that fascinated Weston the most was that Santa was going to eat the cookies he left out on the plate. He seriously couldn't stop talking about it. His nightly conversation throughout the month went something like this. "Santa down chimney, eat cookie, apple for rudolph, presents in stocking, go Brayden's house, go Evan's house, fly away."

Cameron and I loved our Santa duties.... except for when I decided to finish up the tee-pee Santa was giving the boys and was sewing and spray painting till 2 am. Sigh. We watched Christmas movies and Cameron dozed in and out of conscience on the couch.

I made a bunch of ornaments this year which was really fun. Our tree evolved over the month and I loved how it turned out. I have a lot more to add so I'm seriously working on things through 2012 so by December 1st our tree will start full! 

Sequin ornaments here

and the garland here.

Can't wait till Christmas morning! 

Dido

I'm so excited for Christmas this year because Weston pretty much gets it. I think a few things got a little unclear when I mentioned the flying reindeer and chimneys. Then we started talking about Santa and how he brings presents to good little boys. I asked him what he wanted, figuring he wouldn't really have a response. No, no, I was wrong. He immediately said, "Backhoe loader, garbage truck, train, digger, firetruck." Clearly he gets the present part. 

We read our elf on the shelf book last night and introduced him to his new elf friend that is going to be watching his every move. I was explaining how we needed to give him a name and was giving him a few ideas.  He said no to everything and then he finally said, "Elf Dido." Not quite what I envisioned but I am hoping that Dido is our miracle cure for tantrums. I had to laugh today when he said, "Dido, drinking milk tell Santa good boy." Hilarious. 

Christmas Eve {2009}

My family's Christmas Eve tradition for as long as I can remember involves fondue. Cheese and chocolate... how can you go wrong? All of my siblings were there this year so it was super fun to be with everyone.

Looks like the only picture I took was "pre-prayer" as my dad gave a little speech and Cameron was checking his email. Classic.

After we did the usual Christmas Eve stuff... hung out, opened our sibling gifts, and watched a movie. I BEGGED to watch "Muppet's Christmas Carol" but it gets vetoed every year. I'm still sad about it...

Emmers with Luke and Weston

after they reunited with a kiss. Hilarious.

Ornament Tradition

I love the idea of giving your child a box full of ornaments when they leave home (although I can't think about that... it's too sad and I think I'm tearing up).

Here's Weston's first ornament for his first Christmas. I ordered it from the Spirit Christmas Shop and I think they have some of the cutest personalized ornaments around!