Our Traditions

I missed day 1 of the holiday challenge so I am failing already but better late than never right? I love the holidays so I thought this would be fun for me to participate in

Today's topic is:

Favorite Holiday Tradition

Before Christmas I always try to make hubs oreo balls, he loves these things and since he is not a big sweets person this is a big deal, plus he actually likes something I make too = )

Christmas is always a big deal in our house, especially since my birthday is on Christmas Eve. Yes Christmas Eve - and to answer your burning questions... 

Yes I get double presents from my parents. Some are wrapped in birthday paper and the others are wrapped in Christmas paper. 

Yes it does sometimes suck to have your birthday on a holiday

..and to top it off Christmas is the following day, and our wedding anniversary is 3 weeks later how was that for planning??

Anyway back to our traditions...

Every Christmas Eve since I was 1 (so this year will mark the 29th year) my parents have an open house party. All of our friends come over for food, drink, and merriment from as my mom says "noonish to 4ish." In the morning as we are getting ready for the party my cake, champagne, and presents are worked in somehow as well. We always joke that I am just the forgotten child, that we have to just hurry up and pay attention to me for a few minutes then we can go about our day.

We then go to church at 5 as a family, come home and head to another open house party for home made tamales and drinks.

Every year my dad always makes his famous Cuban pork - it is SO good and I look forward to it every year. My parents will call a few days before Christmas Eve asking if I can smell Christmas...which means "can I smell the garlic all the way in my house?"

Christmas day we wake up and have breakfast, mimosas, and open gifts, then head over to my parents neighbors and finish off the drinks from the day before and fry turkeys - YUM!

My mom and dad also make THE best Cuban Sandwiches for lunch on Christmas day - really they will be the best ones you ever have, all of our family and friends rave about them. Hooters also has one that is almost identical to my dads, but they will never match his pork!

 
The boys in our family started their tradition of every year getting each other new beers so on Christmas day their day goes something like this...

I also canot forget that it is Bentley's tradition to sit under the tree as soon as it goes up, and once gifts are under it it is his own tradition to chew on the ribbon...

Happy Holidays from our family to yours!