Category Archives: Christmas Dinner

Always I have loved Christmas. The joy of watching others open gifts. I preplan which gift should be opened first, second, etc. I find that the right order heightens a child’s. I try to have at least one thing for each person to open, even guests so they participate in the fun. Gifts range from a jar of homemade jellly or cookies to a beautiful red Christmas robe for grandma. I cook and serve a formal dinner buffet on Christmas Eve for my family. This is my gift from my heart to them. The tables have been decorated, the china and glassware is all used, and we sit down to enjoy our family.

Usually before dessert, we retire to the living room in front of a roaring fire and everyone crowds in to find a spot. The younger children gather near the tree on the floor. An older child is assigned the task of playing Santa, handing out the christmas gifts – finding the name tag, and distributing to the proper person. As soon as a few of the presents are distributed the unwrapping begins. It has been called chaotic, it does seem like the living room talking and chatting becomes noisy with laughter and “Thank Yous, kisses are blow across the room, and the next present is attacked. It doesn’t take long and the gift craze is over. With five children, two of which have children, and usually a couple of in-laws, and grandparents joining in, the air is filled with happiness. At this time, I usually ask someone to make coffee, and remind them of the pie and goodies on the sidebar.

It works. We started this tradition from the beginning because the two oldest children needed to be with their mother on Christmas Day. And now, with families of their own, they leave our home and ready their home for their morning celebration. This tradition works for us.
At times, we may save our personal gifts to open in the morning, and then we have the day to relax and enjoy.

Each year Dennis always asks me, “Are you sure you want to go through all that trouble?” I think of it as my gift to myself, and at the end of the day when we are hugging each person as they leave, I think to myself – “I love Christmas!”