Tradition

Say that with the gusto of Tevye from Fiddler on the Roof! Christmas Eve is a time for great traditions in the Pearson Family - and this year we started some new ones as well.

Ever since I can remember, we eat waffles on Christmas Eve. This started in my fathers family and he carried that tradition to our family growing up. At some point in my early childhood, someone gave my dad a pinata on Christmas Eve and we had so much fun with it, we started to get one each year.

When Eric and I got married, we just adopted those traditions and added to them slightly. We watch Luke II each year, and read the Nativity Story from the Bible. Then, the kids open a gift wich is pajamas which they wear that night. Sophie has told me that she likes Christmas Eve as much or more than Christmas because of our traditions.

So, this year we did the waffles, pinata, watched Luke II, opened PJ's and added the girls doing the Nativity Story in the form of a play. It was fun to see them, and they sure enjoyed putting it together. Although, when Caroline as a pregnant Mary was riding the donkey, Kelsey, and waiving like a beauty queen it made me wonder if she really got it. You will notice Kelsey and Sophie serving as the choir of angels.

One of the big questions is always who will break the pinata. There is alwasy lots of postering about who is the most studly. We go in age order. This year, it was Ryan who busted it open. I can remember, in my youth, going through the family a couple of times to get it open. I just don't think they make them like they used to.

We like to bring the festivities to an end by 8:00 so the little people can go to bed. Since that included Kelsey and Sophie this year and Ryan got to stay up a while, we had all kinds of weeping and wailing and cries of "It's not fair." Since Santa does not come until everyone is asleep they finally gave up.

It was a great night of tradition, family and fun.