Christmas Traditions

OK so after reading the Blog on favorite gifts I thought I would pose another question. Which by the way you can comment on our blog. We would love to hear from you. Or you can email us-you know our emails.
Here is my question.....
What is your favorite Christmas or Holiday tradition?

I have several:
1.) a 3 way tie- Our annual Christmas Eve party. I love seeing all of our friends, plus well, I get to cook and talk, what more could you ask for on Christmas? One of my other favorites, getting out all of our nativity scenes. We have 6 of them. Each one means something totally different and special. Someday I hope to inherit the one from my childhood but for now we have made room in our living room for the entire city of Bethlehem that I married into, The thing is HUGE! This is the one nativity the girls are absolutely not allowed to touch, mainly because it is going on it's 3rd generation and I don't think the camel could handle another surgery. The fact that the girls cannot play with this one of course intrigues Katherine to no end. I know when I am not looking she plays with it because every now and again I find all of the animals surrounding baby Jesus-This is quintessential Katherine "that is what really happened Mama, it was just the angel, animals, and baby Jesus, oh yeah and I guess Jofiss (Kay's version of Joseph) and Mary where around too." At last, Cutting down our Christmas tree. Every year since we moved to Oregon (with the exception of last year in the Condo) we have made the drive to Sandy, Or. and cut down our tree. This year was special because for the first time in 6 years we got to do this on a Sunday! Which means we went to a big Farm instead of this guys backyard like we always did on Mondays-ahhh, the life of having Sundays together again! This years tree is my favorite thus far. Mostly because I let the girls decorate it and I have chilled out and didn't move any ornaments around-nothing like a 3rd child to make you step back and say "yep it looks perfect just the way it is"!

2.) Christmas morning Frittata and Leftover Mexican food for dinner all while staying in our new Christmas Jammie's! OK this one is a tie too because I love that it is always just our little family (the 5 of us now) and it always will be, sorry extendo family you can come on the 26Th or stay still the 23rd but Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are all ours!

3.)Zoo Lights!

4.)This won has become a bit of a joke with us and our friends the Irwins but it is still a favorite....A walk around downtown to see the big Christmas tree in Pioneer Square-or what inevitably happens-Santa Land at Macy's!

5.)This will come as a shocker to those who know me because I don't make desserts but making Christmas cookies with my girls is definitely a favorite. This really is the only time I bake all year! I think I love this because I have such fond memories of my Grandma Ethel and me at our kitchen table making christmas cookies. Our favorite, well her special recipe for snowballs of course-and guess what, That is Ethel's favorite too! There is really nothing better for me as a Mom than cooking with my kids!

Alright now it is your turn, let us know of your favorite holiday traditions.