Christmas Eve.

Every year on Christmas Eve, we all have dinner at a relative's house. Each year is a different house now that our family is so large. Today, there were 49 people present-- who all squeezed into this house. Needless to say but worth mentioning, it was at least eighty degrees in this house. AND of course we were all dressed for Winter in cardigans and our matching Christmas sweaters. Anyways, we always have Memaw's (great grandmother) chili even though she passed three years ago. It's a tradition and tradition never dies…

This year I did not eat chili---- I had potato soup instead. Oops! and now it feels a little less like the night before Christmas. After not eating chili, we all played Dirty Santa… my what a bad idea. I have never seen so many Scrooges in one setting. Tension was so thick it could have been sliced with the electric knife Pops opened. In the end, everyone leaves happy and we are all on speaking terms again. Haha… I'm kidding. It isn't that bad. It's what makes my Christmas Eve, well, Christmas Eve.

After leaving the family, we head home to watch a movie of the youngest sister's choice, drink a cup of hot cocoa and open one gift. Usually, the gift is our Christmas pajamas that Mother insists that we wear for our Christmas morning pictures with the loot that Santa has left us.

As I get older, I realize how important the small holiday traditions are to me. Christmas came quick this year, but I am glad we were able to slow time for awhile to enjoy the company of each other and our small Christmas Eve traditions.

'Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. Good night and Merry Christmas!

Ms. Anderson