Merry Christmas Eve

There are many memories of Christmas and Christmas Eve that I have. Our family traditions from my childhood are embedded in my head and I am so happy to say that we (as a family) carry over some of those traditions still today. For example:

1. New jammies and a new book on Christmas Eve

2. A new ornament each year

3. Everyone (all the kids) have to wait until mom and dad/(and grandma and grandpa) are all ready before you can come out and see Santa gifts.

4. Trying to open presents one at a time so everyone can see what you get.

5. Lots of goodies on Christmas Eve. Grandma Kreipls "Hamburger Cookies" Thanks mom for coming over to make them with me. These are my absolute favorite!!!

6. Grandpa's homemade noodles on Christmas Eve.

7. Driving around and looking at Christmas Lights.

8. Dads yummy omelet breakfasts on Christmas morning.

9. Walking down the stairs hearing Christmas music in the morning.

10. Decorating the tree with our own special box of ornaments.

11. Collecting ornaments from vacations and places we have been.

12. Gingerbread Houses

The list could go on and on..but Gingerbread houses is really the reason I wanted to write this post. There was only one Christmas I can think of...I'm sure this was the only one...that my parents and all of us 5 girls did not spent it together. It was Christmas the year 1997. 10 years ago actually. My dads parents, Grandma and Grandpa Kreipl, took their whole family, gosh all 16 of us, on an African Safari. It was kind of a bitter, sweet trip that lasted 14 days over Christmas and New Years. My older sister had just had their first child and Taylor wasn't old enough to go. So they had to stay home. My mom didn't want every relative they had on an airplane in case something tragic were to happen, and she didn't want them to be alone on Christmas, so she stayed behind and didn't come with us. It was a difficult couple of days over Christmas not having our mom there, but I remember my dad tried to make things as "normal" as he could.

Our paper tree with ornaments from mom and a letter to each of us.

The trip was amazing. It was beautiful. It was part of the world I will probably never again see in person. It is a trip I will always remember with many, many great memories. We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at the Mt. Kenya Safari Club.

Christmas Eve Dinner--- Jamie, Nicole, Dad, Shanen, Bryn

Soo beautiful!!! But on Christmas Eve, we did something so fun. In my luggage(mind you I was the oldest sister on this trip and our luggage was carefully weighed at a max. to what we were allowed to bring.) I had hidden a Gingerbread House in my BIG rolling Duffel Bag so we would have something special to do on Christmas Eve. We had the greatest time.
-- Nicole, Shanen, Bryn --- Nicole, Jamie

--Dad and Bryn---

We used bathroom cups and plastic knives to mix and decorate our houses. I think that is the first time(besides in grade school) I can remember making gingerbread houses. (I don't really have a great memory so I might be wrong) But that is certainly the time I remember most. I remember it was just so much fun to be together and make the best out of what we had.
I don't think we have done it every year, but making Gingerbread Houses has a different meaning for me. It is a fun memory and something we like to do at our house on Christmas Eve. So here are a few pictures from the past....and some from today. Merry Christmas!!