Friday, December 25, 2009

Christmas Eve Traditon

Over the years, we have lived away from my family, so it is our tradition for the kids to open gifts from the Schmitt side on Christmas Eve.  When my parents visited for Thanksgiving, they brought with them a tote full of gifts for the grandkids - so we hid them in the house, and then the day after Zack's birthday they were the first gifts placed under our tree.

The difference last night, our first Christmas Eve in North Dakota, was we won't be with any of our family on Christmas.  So, the kids TRIED to reason and get to open all the gifts from all their grandparents, aunts, and uncles.  Well, at first we were just like "NO, the tradition is just the Schmitt gifts."  Well, driving home last night, we took a member to her house so she could get a spare key (she had locked her keys in her van at church) and we were discussing the gift situation.  Of course, she sided with the kids - they REALLY love her now, but truth be told I kind of wanted them to open some of the gifts last night so we wouldn't have such a mess on Christmas. 
So, they opened their gifts from Grandma Linda, Grandpa Tom, and Aunt Tiffany - the Schmitt side . . .



Cassie with her gifts from Grandma & Grandpa and her godmother Aunt Tiffany.



Cassie was excited about her Vera Bradley wallet. Earlier in the week, her gift from Aunt Tiffany arrive in a card and she kept trying to figure out what gift card was in there.  I kept telling her she would never guess in a million years, and sure enough when she opened it and found a Hobby Lobby gift card she was so excited because she wouldn't have ever guessed and it's a place where she can get some of her much needed art supplies.



Mackenzie and her stash from her grandparents.



Mackenzie was so excited to get another snow globe!!



Zack's pile.



Zack and a new lighthouse.



Well, after the kids opened their gifts from the Schmitts we sat and contemplated a little about what to do about all the other gifts.  We decided to let them open their gifts from our friends in Ohio, the DuMonds and their aunts and uncles from Jay's side of the family.  Then we rushed them to get cleaned up and get to bed so we could get ready for Santa's visit.  We were so rushed we forgot to put out the Buckeyes & milk and the letter to Santa that the kids do every year.  Cassie came out, about 5 min. after going to bed, and reminded us - so we got all the kids up so they could do their Santa thing and then get back to bed.

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