christmas traditions

On Christmas Eve, we do three things that are a tradition I started when Sarah was a baby. Many families do one or another of these, but I simply couldn't pick just one and decided to do all three. Everyone gets new pajamas. In the past I have usually given the kids Christmas themed pajamas, but this year I decided to go with something they were interested in. Sarah got white with pink ballerinas. Zach got blue with astronauts and space ships. Okay, that one was a bit of a stretch. Of course, they were footie pajamas. Then each child gets an ornament that has to do with something they have been doing lately or are interested in that they get to hang on the tree. The theory here is that when they are all grown up and move out they get to take their ornaments with them. Have no fear--I get a second, matching ornament for us. Sarah got a sugar plum fairy, and Zach got a train. The train was perfect. He opened it up and started yelling "choo choo" right away. As he has never done that before, I was quite surprised. He drove it all over yelling "choo choo" all night long. He couldn't be convinced to put it down. We'd put it on the tree, and he would take it right off, yell "choo choo," and drive it away. Finally, each child gets a Christmas book to read before bed. Sarah got The Nutcracker by Susan Jeffers, and Zach got Who Is Coming to Our House? by Joseph Slate. I think this may be my favorite part of Christmas. I love picking out the ornaments and books for each child. It gives me a chance to think about what they like and what they are interested in and get them something that really encompasses who they are. I also like that after all of this we send them to bed.