Best and worst Christmas Eve

Hi here's something to do, tell us your best Christmas Eve, and worst Christmas Eve. Mine best Christmas Eves have been the last 2 years at my older son's home. He and his wife. There's a big dinner cooked. Then they throw a big Birthday party as it's Jesus's birthday. Around midnight Phillip reads the Christmas story from the King James, His lovely wife reads it from her spanish King James for her mom, sister, and brother to understand. Then Phillip starts passing out the gifts, no one can open one until the prior person has opened their gift. You have a gag gift and a special gift. Then Christmas morning is when the children open theirs. On Christmas Eve, we all stay at Phillip's and sleep where ever you can find a place. The worst was Christmas Eve Day with my younger son and his soon to be ex wife. There was no life in the apartment, no joyment, it was like well here's you gift open it. No celebration or reading the story for my now 4 year old grandson, nothing, my daughter-n-law, didn't even want to open her gift, my son made her do it. I was glad to get to my other son's home for the evening fun. My childhood memories were every year the fireplace was burning, soft Christmas music in the background, and a Christmas movie on the TV, we were allowed to open one gift and it was usualy a night gown, or pj's. I almost forgot, the tree would be blinking different patterns on the ceiling, and the only lighting was the fireplace, the tree, and the candles. Usually snowing living in Michigan. I set a tradition for my sons while they were growing up, we would drive them around and look at all the lights, until they fell asleep, put them into bed, and get the santa things out and put them under the tree. I still enjoy looking at the light displays. May all your Christmas Eve's and Christmas Day's be special to you and your family. Love Kathy

My worst Christmas Eve's were always with my dad. He always hated Christmas. When he was married to my mom he would sit and sulk why we opened our gifts and then he would belly ache about how he hated christmas and never got anything as a kid. Then after he and my mom divorced he would bring us home after we opened our gifts at his house and he would cry in the car and call my mom bad names because she divorced him and how it was her fault that he was going to be alone on Christmas Day. He always made me and my brother cry and our mom would have to clean up the mess he made and then we had to hear her go to the bedroom and shut the door while she called him and cussed him out for ruining our christmas and making it all about him. The best Christmas Eve's are the ones spent with my babies. They are still innocent and they are amazed at the magic still. It's fun with them.

The best Christmas Eves were when I was a kid and we played out the nativity story and read from the Bible. And sing the favorite carols. Family would come from all over the world to be together. Sometimes I got to sleep on the couch and give my bed to someone, and I'd lie there and watch the colors from the Christmas tree. One Christmas Eve I went to midnight Mass with my mother and we lit candles. She died a couple of days after I turned 12, so I must have been 10. Now I have lovely Christmases with my husband and children and now my grandson. Worst one was Christmas Eve 1997. It was at work, I was working charge and I had three other nurses who were all very very new. Right off orientation. No other help like techs or aides. Acuity was horrible - all the even SLIGHTLY well people went home. One of my elderly patients was just *this* close to death and I had a talk with her husband about letting her go. He stood a good foot taller than I and he leaned down and cried on my shoulder. Our Nurse manager brought us dinner from the cafeteria, but I didn't have time to eat it. She didn't bring me any more experienced nurses, though. Love Dennie

Best memory...1975, I did not believe anymore in Santa & had gotten in trouble for telling other kids, my mother told me that Santa DID exist ,in all of us...Well as usual on Christmas Eve we went out driving to look at all the lights , I made SURE I was the last one out (so my parents could not leave door unlocked for someone to put out gifts, or put them out THEMSELVES with me & brother in the car!!! Wasn't I smartLOL) I locked the door for my dad (I was 10) went drove around, and when we got back....THE TREE WAS LIT & ALL OF SANTAS GIFTS WERE THERE !!!! " You did this dad!!!" "sweetie you locked the door, you were the last one out" long pause then whispering" There really is a santa claus!!" LOL My parents had given our neighbor the key & THEY had laid everything out!!! Worst...EVERY CHRISTMAS WITH MY STEPFATHER!!!!!! He DRAINED everyone & everything, they divorced..Thank goodness... And Jack, Moms new husband is GREAT!!!!!!