Christmas 2009

We celebrate Christmas by opening our presents on Christmas Eve, as is traditional in Austria and Germany. While the kids are busy doing something else in the house, the "Christkind" quietly slips in unnoticed and leaves presents under the tree. When he is done he rings a bell, which is the signal to the children that they can come down to look at their presents.

Rebecca and Joseph seeing the tree filled with presents underneath.



We always sing "Stille Nacht" and "O Tannenbaum" before doing anything else.



Rebecca with her American Girl Doll, "Rebecca."



The Girls



The Boys



Joseph couldn't have been more thrilled with his tools. He used his tools to open his other presents and "cut" the ham at dinner time.





We light a few real beeswax candles in honor of the traditional Austrian Christmas tree.





We eat peas and rice and ham. My dad grew up with peas and rice for Christmas Eve dinner. It was expensive to buy rice for them in those days, so it was a real treat. We grew up with it, too, and are carrying on the tradition.



Note the tools. Joseph hammered the ham, sawed the ham, drilled the ham....

One special present was a collection of photos of heavy machines (tractors, trucks etc.) from the temple site in Kiev, Ukraine. My dad, who is project manager for the building of the temple there took the photos. When he takes a picture of a worker he likes to give them a copy of their picture. Most of these workers have never owned a picture of themselves in their whole lives. They like to take their picture around the site and show it to all the other workers. Joseph loves tractors and trucks, so it was a perfect present for him.

Mary in our traditional nativity play. The bowl was her own idea.

Sleep in heavenly peace...

Rebecca lined up her doll's accessories. It was her idea to use the shoe box as a closet.



We're usually too tired to open everything on Christmas Eve, so it continues in the morning with stockings, more good food and good times.