Christmas Eve in Oklahoma . . .

. . . was full of traditions, some old, some new, but traditions none the less!

Tradition #1: A White Christmas

We enjoyed SNOW on Christmas Eve. In fact, by the time it was all said and done, it had become the Blizzard of 2009, we had officially received 14 inches of snow, and our guests - who were set to arrive on Christmas Eve day, were delayed in their travels by an entire 24 hours. This may not truly become a tradition, but I sure would like it if it did!!

Here are two pictures of the boys just as the flakes were beginning to fall.

Tradition #2: - which I am sure will look a little different each year - Family Time.
Jason was off work and at home (we got snowed in!!) from noon on Wednesday until he went back to work the Monday after Christmas. One way he and Vaughn passed the time was playing Candyland. This was a favorite childhood game of both mine and Jason's and it seems to be a favorite of Vaughn's as well.

Here is one of Santa's helpers. As you can see from the trappings all around him he wore himself out wrapping all the gifts!

Tradition #3: Cookies for Santa

Later in the day, after we learned that Jason's parents and sister wouldn't be making it to our house that day - and that they might not be able to make it on Christmas Day either, since the snow just kept falling - it was time to make cookies for Santa. This is the second year for this particular tradition, and we have it on good authority here at the Green house that Santa likes M&M's in his cookies! The boys helped me make sure that all the cookies had a sufficient number of M&M's in each one.

Tradition #4: Christmas Eve Concert

This was the first year for this tradition, but I certainly hope my boys play and sing for me again next year! Jason started playing his guitar and Vaughn ran to get his, at which point he instructed me to set up the microphone! He couldn't hold it and play his guitar at the same time .

Tradition #5: Christmas Eve Pajamas

Again, this is the second year for this tradition. Vaughn gets to open one present, pajamas, on Christmas Eve and then he snuggles up in them for bed that night. This year he got Toy Story pj's with his buddies Buzz and Woody on the front.

Here you can see Vaughn with Bruce the Moose leaving the cookies for Santa as well as celery and carrots for his hardworking reindeer. Santa left us a note telling us how great the cookies were, and he also let us know that his reindeer enjoyed the carrots, but that they didn't really care for the celery. We'll be sure and make a note of this for next year!