Christmas Contest Entry #3

Christmas Eve before everyone goes to bed we leave the cookies and milk out for Santa and place the baby Jesus in the manger. We always did this in my family - waited to put Jesus in the manger until Christmas Eve - and I think it really helps us bring the focus back to why we celebrate Christmas. After kids are in bed we turn on Christmas music, get out the hot coco, eggnog, sparkling something and set up the Christmas surprises. Santa always brings each child something big that is not wrapped and most of the wrapped gifts are from mom and dad. It's so much fun hanging out with the adults and getting things all set up. This year we will be putting together a big boy bed and a rocking car for the kids. We have many pictures of the guys trying to put together toys late into the night!
Christmas morning we wait until everyone is up and then we all climb into mom and dad's bed and open stockings. After stockings are done dad has to go downstairs to get some coffee... he LOUDLY oos and ahhs over the goodies Santa brought. The kids have to stay at the top of the stairs until dad is ready with the video camera and of course his coffee. Then everyone else gets to come downstairs and of course get that picture on the stairs before they run down to see what Santa brought.
After the Santa gifts we go around one at a time picking a present and opening it. We open all the gifts this way, ones from relatives, mom and dad, anyone spending Christmas with us.
We have blueberry french toast every year for breakfast and then the rest of the morning is spent relaxing (and playing with toys). We have a big dinner with turkey and all the fixings and then we do a birthday cake (for baby Jesus of course).

Melissa P.