We tried a new Snyder tradition this year. And I think it worked out quite well. On Christmas Day we always head up to Steve's mom's house for breakfast, but that always presented a problem. A very quick Christmas morning at home, not enough time to play with new toys and rushing out the door.

This year we opened presents on Christmas Eve, and it was great. We saved a few family gifts and stockings for Christmas morning, but everything else was opened. One thing that I like was being able to clean up a little before bed, normally we would rush out of the house and leave wrapping paper, bows and boxes strung everywhere. But this year I got the whole family to help clean and then we went out to dinner. Yes, we had Christmas dinner at Sizzler. Another tradition I think we should have.

The kids separated the gifts, and then we took turns opening them.

Oh, what could it be?

Thank you mom! It is what I ALWAYS wanted.

Books for Joy!

Now I have to explain this tradition. This is something I have picked up from the Snyders. They will sometimes give a "pre-gift gift." And that is something that has to do with your real gift, but not so much as you can figure out what it is. One year Steve's parents gave us a dryer (we had bought a washer but was in need of a dryer), so our pre-gift gift was a box of wet socks. As you can imagine we were very confused. And then they showed us our real gift. Well, for Steve this year I did the pre-gift gift; a box with dirt, rocks and flowers. Can you guess what his real gift is? A gift card to Home Depot. He always loves working in the yard in the spring and has to buy some type of dirt and pretty flowers. I was very proud of myself.

The gift card, the real gift!

Seriously, that's it?

Dad trying to get kids to bed. Mom Cat might have better luck.

The kids slept out by the tree this year. I remember doing that so I could catch Santa, but I never did. This year the kids almost did. I am going to have to rethink this tradition.