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Even though Christmas has now come and gone I thought it might be fun to share with you what we do here at the Wilkes house on Christmas Eve.
As you know we are big on tradition. We have basically been doing the same thing on Christmas Eve since we have been married – and I did it with my family before that. That’s a long time.
Dinner is always fondue.
We do a meat fondue which consists of hot oil ( you can do hot broth also) with steak, little sausages and mushrooms. We also do a cheese fondue which I purchase from a local German restaurant along with a selection of breads to dip in to it. This is my favorite!
Of course there is lots of other food. We have several friends and family members join us so everyone helps out and brings things. There was a yummy spinach salad, jello salad, potato skins with salsa and guacamole, artichoke dip, cranberry salsa, a store bought pesto/sundried tomato torta and a chocolate fountain for dessert. I also tried a new appetizer I’ll be sharing later this week that will be perfect for New Year’s Eve.
We still eat on the same plates we ate on when I was a child. My mother made them!
Everyone sits around in the living room and enjoys their dinner. We pull out the wicker trays for this special occasion!
After dinner it is time for chime playing. This year we had a momentary crisis when I couldn’t find the music for the chimes. For some reason last year I put it away in a different place than I have for the last 17 years and I some how forgot. Fortunately after tearing my closet apart and a little anxiety and stress I found them and the evening could continue on!!
I am always the director of the chime playing.
After that we had the traditional acting out of the nativity.  Complete with costumes and dramatic flair. Remember I have a house full of thespians! Our friends Larry and Marsha graciously played the part of Mary and Joseph.
The shepherds were sore afraid!
Those Joy letters came in handy for the Angel of the Lord.
The Three Wise Men arrived from the East bearing gifts.
Our Nativity.
After the Nativity we had a little fun with some Minute to Win it games.
For the first one you had to move a cookie from your forehead to your mouth using only your facial muscles! It was hilarious. Would make a great New Year’s Eve activity too!!
I think the girls beat the boys in this one!
Another game was trying to get the pom pom stuck on your vaseline covered nose. This one was actually harder than the cookie game!
It was a fun, family and friend filled evening.
After our guests left Santa elves left a surprise at the door, just like they have for the last 27 years! New pajamas for everyone!
The gifts were then carried down to the tree. No gifts are allowed under the tree before Christmas Eve because people shake and poke them too much!!
Then the children were all tucked in their beds while visions of sugar plums danced in their head……
Actually, at our house mom and dad went to bed and the kids hung out downstairs for a while!!
lola says
i’ve seen minute to win it games all over pinterest. do you have a citation of where you found yours?
Leigh Anne says
Here is a link I used for a Christmas version of Minute to Win It.
http://gameshows.about.com/od/minutetowinitgames/tp/Aminute-To-Win-It-Christmas-Games.htm
Bonnie Tucker says
On Christmas Eve we were visiting with our neighbors and they were telling us about this family who is Mormon, and so are we. SHe showed me your card and I said I met you on the plane coming home from BYU parents week, plus my daughter has always followed your blog. They have talked about you since we met them but never connected to who you were. She brings out your card and I said I just met you and my daughter talks about you all the time. We live next door to John and Ann Vingelen. They are great neighbors so I just thought I needed to share this with you.
Leigh Anne says
What a small world. We love John and Anne. I am sure she told you but Anne was both of my son’s first grade teacher and her daughter Mary Beth use to come to our house before school each morning! You are lucky to have them as neighbors.
shawna says
hi, would you mind emailing me a copy of your minute to win it games with complete instructions? we are having a little new years eve party and this looks so hilarously fun! what did you use as prizes?
Leigh Anne says
Here is a link that I used for the Christmas version. I didn’t do prizes as it was a last minute idea. Everyone had fun with it!
http://gameshows.about.com/od/minutetowinitgames/tp/Aminute-To-Win-It-Christmas-Games.htm
kelly says
that is awesome! i would love to know what you get your boys, it was so hard this year that we did ipads!
Leigh Anne says
Boys are hard -especially young adult boys! Logan asked for a Jawbone speaker for his I-pad, I-phone. He also got cologne and some new clothes. Clark asked for a sports jacket so that is what he got along with some new shirts and tie – he is in law school and needs to start dressing like a lawyer!
Natalie says
I am dying to know more about those chimes! I tried to google it but I must not be using the right terms. I would LOVE to get a set for my family…how fun!!!
Leigh Anne says
My sister made them for us years ago. Here is a link I found to where you can buy them. From what I understand they are a bit tricky to cut yourself to get the pitch just right.
http://www.pipechimes.com/
Megan says
I also found some through etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/ChiminTime?ref=seller_info My mother-in-law made some years ago at a Super Saturday activity, and we were lucky enough to inherit them. They are so fun! I have the instructions for making them if anyone is up to the challenge I could email them to you. =)
Deloris says
Megan —
I would love to have the instructions for the chimes. My husband made a wind chime for us but he wasn’t particular about getting the pitch exact. I love to hear their deep bass voices in the wind.
Would really appreciate knowing how to get it right!
Lee says
Leigh Anne-
I am recently a new mother of a four month old boy. Tradition was big in my family growing up and now that I am a mom, I am starting to really look at family traditions and how they will affect my son. I have found that over the years and after a few divorces, traditions have stopped or changed dramatically. Christmas has become all about presents and not about family. I was raised Catholic but have grown apart from the church. Families have split up and the holidays just seem a bit foggy to me. How can I incorporate new traditions and make Christmas/the holidays special for my new little one? As of now, we are planning to go to Hawaii next year for Christmas. Thanks!