Every year I try to have all my Christmas shopping and wrapping done the day before Christmas Eve.  Our family’s Christmas Eve traditions are something I’d hate to miss.

When my son was about 4, the build up and excitement for Christmas was starting to get over the top.  He was bouncing off the walls.  By Christmas Eve morning my husband worriedly suggested we do something to wear him out or Ben might never sleep that night.

So we loaded up the car and took the kids sledding.  And after a several hours of run after run, it did the trick.  By the time we got home, he was much more mellow, and even though he was still excited he fell right asleep that night.

Every year since, we’ve gone sledding on Christmas Eve.  It blows off steam, and afterward everyone is tired and happy.

Whenever you go sledding, you have to have hot chocolate.  So when we come home, we drink rich hot chocolate and decorate sugar cookies for Santa.  I always make the sugar cookies the day before, then all we have to do it frost and decorate.

That night we have a nice dinner, cooked by my husband and I, together.  Over dinner, my husband shares one of his favorite traditions from when he lived in England, Christmas Crackers.  They always bring a festive fun to our dinner.  For those who’ve never seen them, they are a small cylinder package tied on both ends.  When you pull the ends, they make a loud pop and a prize along with a paper crown burst out.  By the end of dinner every one is wearing their crown and enjoying their prize.

After dinner we eat my favorite dessert, Christmas bread pudding, made with croissants and Craisins.  It is out of this world and rich enough to put you to sleep on the spot.

Then my children open their pajamas and we read the Nativity story and get them to bed early so there is time for the magic to begin.  I think I love Christmas Eve almost as much as Christmas Day…

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