DH and I take the kids out for breakfast in the morning. We usually go to IHOP because the kids love the smiley face pancake breakfast. After that, we come home and while DH and the kids finish their wrapping, I start the cookie baking. Usually, I already have cookie dough frozen to use this day. It makes things go easier. In the evening, we make ginger-honey chicken wings and sticky rice for dinner, cookies and ice cream for dessert. Then we gather around the radio and listen to "A Christmas Carol" Grandpa always stars as Scrooge and the stations play it all season long. After the broadcast, we usually play a board game until bed time. Then, the kids are allowed to open one present. I buy them all new pajamas and ornaments for the tree, and that is the present they get to open. Then the kids grab their sleeping bags and make their little "nests" in our bedroom. They spend about an hour pretending to sleep, but really giggling and listening for Santa.
Next morning, I wake up early to get the stuffed French Toast in the oven. Then I make cinnamon toast and orange juice and take it in to the kids. They eat while watching the Christmas parade on TV, then we line them up and they are allowed to run in to see their loot. After they h ave opened their stockings and Santa presents, we stop and have breakfast. We have the French Toast, fruit salad, caramelized bacon strips and hot cocoa or juice. Then we sit in a circle around the tree while DH passes out the presents one by one.
It's a fun relaxing holiday for us!
