Monday, December 24, 2007

Old and New: VMs Mix up Tradition on Christmas Eve

Tonight we had a fantastic Christmas Eve. Following in the tradition of Dave's childhood, we opened the presents tonight. This was the first Christmas that Ella kinda "got it" and seeing her wonder and excitement over each new gift was magical. We opened presents for over 2 hours because, one, there were so many (thanks family!) and, two, after unwrapping each one, Ella would say "Can we open this? Can we play with this?" If it was a book, we read it. If it was a game, we played it. If it was train tracks, we built them. If was a puzzle we put it together. It was like the best play time ever!

This year's hot gift: a bike from Grandpa and Grandma




Other faves were the Little People sets and a magnetic dress up doll toy. Delia's fave was the green bow on one gift. Dave liked his swanky new watch and I was happy to get a set of 3 cordless phones and caller ID.


Delia needed a little mid-present opening nap (hey, it's a lot of work!).


Ella also got the movie "Jungle Book." Here they are watching it and enjoying some much needed quiet time after the wild gift-unwrapping frenzy!




Part of Dave's Christmas Eve tradition is to go out for a nice dinner with his family. Nice dinners in restaurants are not so nice with 2 little ones, though, so we started our own tradition: fun dinner at home. Tonight we made fondue and homemade waffle cones/bowls with peppermint ice cream (getting some use out of the new waffle iron until I get my stroopwafel making lesson!)


The 2 very best parts of the night surprised me. They weren't the presents or the delicious dinner. It was the chorus of "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" that all 10 of our family members in Chicago serenaded us with via speakerphone. It was also the hour of impromptu cuddling that occurred in front of the fire in our jammies (we traditionally burn our previous year's Christmas tree on this night). We let the girls stay up late as we sang Christmas songs together and concluded our great Christmas Eve with some love.

1 comment:

Dorina Gilmore said...

We love your tradition of "fun dinner at home." That probably beats the restaurant fare any day.

This last pic is priceless!

Blessings,
The G-mos