christmas 08 - part 6 - christmas eve

Mid-morning, we went over to my parents' house.

Maddie got right to work cooking with Nonna. Why does Maddie like to cook? Because she likes to taste. Here she is lickin' the cream cheese off the wrapper...

...and arranging carrots. Caleb got to help FaFa start the fire. Maddie! Caleb! The red flag is up on the mailbox! What's inside today? "Mmmm, chocklit! My favrit!" Larissa talked us into Pick-Up-Sticks, after having played with Drew & Mel a few nights earlier. My Mr. Shaky-Hands shocked us all by proving to be the very best. ...then it was on to Settlers.

We had a dinner by candlelight so the kids could watch the pyramid go around. Dinner was so yummy--some colonial recipes my mom found--a sweet potato pudding, purple cabbage, roast pork, sweet potatoes & chestnuts. We all thought the pudding was the best! Then came The Lighting of The Tree.
Yes, we really do light candles on the tree. After years of my mom hanging real candles on her Christmas tree that were never lit, my dad finally obliged about 10 years ago and started lighting a handful of appropriately placed candles while we sing ONE Christmas carol. If you know my mom and my dad, you'll understand what this is like! My mom is always giddy, singing the carol and enjoying her moment, while my dad counts candles with fire extinguisher on hand, eyes on the tree.

I am normally the token musician, but this year I had special accompaniment.

My triangle-ist...

...and drummer.

Tree is lit. Quickly now, a picture! Quickly now, ONE carol. Whew! The tree is extinguished, double and triple checked.

The kids went to bed, and the adults went to watch a Christmas movie. My dad obliged by making Kennedy Center Coffee (his re-creation of the $8 cup of coffee he once bought his mom while we were waiting for a performance).

After the movie was over, somewhere near midnight, Braden and I asked ourselves why we and the kids were going back home if we were coming back again in just 8 or 9 hours? So, he and I drove home, piled the gifts in the car, grabbed some clothes and things and were back in the guest room bed by 1, ending our Christmas Eve on Christmas Day.