Every year for Christmas Eve we go hang out with Justin's side of the family.
Growing up.. I did the same thing. There was always a big party with lots of cousins to play with, and I loved it. Probably because I'm an only child, and any time there was a chance to play with lots of little friends I was on board. But we also had lots of fun with Christmas pinatas, the nativity (a tradition which I have carried on with Justin's fam), and lots of yummy food. Oh, and traditional games of cops and robbers. But that was probably just the kids. ;)
Anyway, the Keetch party has evolved. Before I was in the picture, all of the siblings and their spouses would come celebrate and sleep over to Christmas morning. After kids came along, it started to get a little more difficult, and by the time I starting coming to the parties it was just a late night affair.
Now that all of us have kiddos, we discussed bumping the party up to an early evening bash so we could get home and do a few all important "Eve" things at home before bedtime. It was fabulous!
We tried out a new-ish (well, new to me anyway) tradition of breakfast foods for dinner on Christmas Eve. I brought my butterscotch pull-aparts. I brought way too much. Next year remind me to only do one batch - maybe half with nuts and half without?
After dinner it was time for the nativity. It's always fun for me to see what role is going to be the sought after one with the kids. This year it was the angels, because my sister-in-law snagged some really fun angel costumes. We had three.
But I talked one of my cute nieces into being Mary by telling her that baby Avery was going to be Jesus this year. She held that baby so sweetly.
Harvey was "the" wiseman. A couple of the other kids had crowns on at one point, but he was the only one who made it to see the baby Jesus...
Then it was time for the gift exchange.
Avery got an adorable outfit...
(Note that she is swaddled in the "strait-jacket." She is totally content to sit there just like that. People often feel bad for her and undo the swaddle and then she cries.)
Harvey got a Christmas shirt and a little Elmo doll with a matching book. He really took to Elmo.
Avery got her gift for Rylie. We knew she had an American Girl doll, so we got her a couple of outfits to put on her.
And Harvey got girly stuff for Tia. You know, stuff like earrings, lip gloss, and nail polish.
While the boys all engaged in an intense ping-pong tournament, I took too many pictures of Avery in her Christmas attire.
She was chatting it up...
And loving all the attention.
The onesie says "All Mommy wants for Christmas is a Silent Night." Harvey wore it three years ago. I love it.
Growing up.. I did the same thing. There was always a big party with lots of cousins to play with, and I loved it. Probably because I'm an only child, and any time there was a chance to play with lots of little friends I was on board. But we also had lots of fun with Christmas pinatas, the nativity (a tradition which I have carried on with Justin's fam), and lots of yummy food. Oh, and traditional games of cops and robbers. But that was probably just the kids. ;)
Anyway, the Keetch party has evolved. Before I was in the picture, all of the siblings and their spouses would come celebrate and sleep over to Christmas morning. After kids came along, it started to get a little more difficult, and by the time I starting coming to the parties it was just a late night affair.
Now that all of us have kiddos, we discussed bumping the party up to an early evening bash so we could get home and do a few all important "Eve" things at home before bedtime. It was fabulous!
We tried out a new-ish (well, new to me anyway) tradition of breakfast foods for dinner on Christmas Eve. I brought my butterscotch pull-aparts. I brought way too much. Next year remind me to only do one batch - maybe half with nuts and half without?
After dinner it was time for the nativity. It's always fun for me to see what role is going to be the sought after one with the kids. This year it was the angels, because my sister-in-law snagged some really fun angel costumes. We had three.
But I talked one of my cute nieces into being Mary by telling her that baby Avery was going to be Jesus this year. She held that baby so sweetly.
Harvey was "the" wiseman. A couple of the other kids had crowns on at one point, but he was the only one who made it to see the baby Jesus...
Then it was time for the gift exchange.
Avery got an adorable outfit...
Harvey got a Christmas shirt and a little Elmo doll with a matching book. He really took to Elmo.
Avery got her gift for Rylie. We knew she had an American Girl doll, so we got her a couple of outfits to put on her.
And Harvey got girly stuff for Tia. You know, stuff like earrings, lip gloss, and nail polish.
While the boys all engaged in an intense ping-pong tournament, I took too many pictures of Avery in her Christmas attire.
She was chatting it up...
And loving all the attention.
The onesie says "All Mommy wants for Christmas is a Silent Night." Harvey wore it three years ago. I love it.
She is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteCute new blog!! That photo of Avery is so sweet!! Great capture!!
ReplyDeleteSo I have to share a nativity idea I read about from my cousin. She has six siblings, they're all married/have significant others and MANY kids, so they do their own party rather than coming to our big family one. Anyway, they do the nativity, but everyone draws what part they are from a hat. Even the adults participate. Best thing ever: Apparently, my cousin-in-law who is a 6'10" black guy drew Baby Jesus. While not nearly as reverent as the normal nativity, I loved the element of surprise.
ReplyDeleteMy family does the Christmas Eve nativity as well and I was pretty much bummed that both Daniel and Nathan were sick and we missed it. It would have been Malia's turn to be the baby Jesus. Oh well.
ReplyDeleteThis made me chuckle because I recently wrote a post about the coveted rolls in the Nativity re-enactments of my youth:
ReplyDeletehttp://cherishinghopesanddreams.blogspot.com/2011/12/flashback-friday-family-christmas.html
We did a little re-enactment this year, too, and I was in charge of it, but I cast Andee as Mary again, for ol' time's sake.
Love ya! Hope you guys are hanging in there--two weeks is so long!
Jess
Those pictures of Avery at the end are so cute. I love the one of her 'talking'!
ReplyDelete