Twas the night before Christmas...

The kids are napping for the last time today. At 7pm we will bathe, bottle & book (night before ... well you know) and then off to bed they go. The first Christmas Eve for Mimi & Pip. This year we haven't bought each other any gifts because we just don't have the cash.  However, we've wrapped up first feeding spoons, some sippy cups and various 'next stage' eating items for the kids. To our surprise we also have quite the stash from friends and family.

DH and I discussed what experience we would like to create around the Holidays.  He is Presbyterian Jew and I am an agnostic Episcopalian with Buddhist tendencies. The kids are both Jewish since we had the briss and naming ceremony. 

So here is what we came up with. 

Each Hanukkah night we will light the candles and say the prayer. We will give gifts to each other that we made not bought (gives us something to do on rainy fall afternoons). 

Christmas Eve we will volunteer thru a secular organization.
We'll have a fancy lunch out at one of the nice restaurants in town and then come home for bed, book (night before... yeah, yeah) and a cup of English hot chocolate (real milk, cadbury chocolate). New PJ's every year for everyone.
Just before bed we each get to open one present. 

On Christmas day we'll go to the movies,  have bad Chinese food and then open our big present.

I think we have covered most of the various value's!!
Of course, the day after the 25th my secret plan is to go on vacation - somewhere with a kids club ;)

L'chiam,  Blessings and a very Merry Christmas