On Christmas Eve "Santa" will not put any presents under the tree or fill stockings until everyone is in bed. My mom absolutely loves buying gifts for everyone. We keep telling her she should scale things back a bit, but she doesn't.
Mama leaves cookies for Santa. I am looking forward to the year that Dane can help her put the cookies and milk out.
Dane loved to look at her Christmas tree in the family room.
13 stockings hung and 5 stockings laying on the floor for the grandchildren because she just couldn't fit anymore on the mantle.
Growing up we never traveled on holidays. We always woke up at home on Christmas morning. We were so lucky to have family living close. Even though we only live 45 minutes from mama and papa, since we celebrate Rau Family Christmas on Christmas Eve, then gather again on Christmas morning it is just easier to spend the night. Santa can't go to all of the houses in one night so he came to our house earlier. I was trying to think of a special tradition for Dane on Christmas morning since a majority of the time he will probably not be at home. I decided that Dane would get one present on Christmas morning from Mommy and Daddy.
Ready to unwrap!
Every year we will give Dane a Christmas movie that he can watch while he waits for family to arrive to open gifts.
Dane didn't watch the movie this year. He was too tired after unwrapping just one present.
Aunt Katie and Dane waiting to start unwrapping.
Daddy and Dane
Our family on Christmas morning
We still open gifts the way we did when we were little. It takes quite a while. We start with the youngest and open one at a time. Now we add in spouses and grandchildren as well. It is quite the event, especially for spouses that came from smaller families. Like I said earlier, my mom loves to buy gifts, so it takes several rounds to open all the gifts.
With two "First Christmases" it was especially fun this year.
Claire
Trey and Delaney and their Snuggies. They were so excited.
Taylor and her digital camera
Even though Dane had no idea what was going on he still got soo excited when I would help him open a gift.
Look what I got, my first basketball!
Loved to open the presents!
What is this?
A choo choo
Good thing Daddy brought his truck.....sooo many toys!
Our family has really grown over the years. We have added 4 husbands, 1 wife, 3 nieces and 2 nephews. We decided to start drawing names. The siblings draw names and then the spouses draw names. We still buy for all of the nieces and nephews because it is so much fun.One of my favorite gifts was this necklace from my brother, T.J., and his wife, Ashley. It has Dane's name engraved on the front and his birthdate on the back. I love it!
Mama and Dane taking a break from unwrapping!
Taylor, Dane's newest babysitter
All of the cousins Christmas Morning in their Christmas PJs.
Mama and her grandchildren
This picture is a family tradition. When we were little they used to videotape us running down the steps, then we would have to stand on the stairs for the still shot.
Rau kids and spouses
The Boys!
Every year it is a huge dilemma on what to get my parents. This year, after about 100 emails, we finally decided on a present. My parents have always talked about how neat it would be to get a hotel room downtown to watch the Fair St. Louis fireworks on 4th of July. We got them an archview room at the Millennium Hotel in downtown St. Louis for the 4th of July. They loved it and were so surprised. Of course they said they want us all to come with them. My sister in law, Ashley, made this neat picture with a tag on it that said, "Merry Christmas. Enjoy the 4th of July fireworks from your archview room at the Millennium Hotel."
Dane's First Christmas Outfit on for Christmas Day
I love Christmas morning at my parent's house. My mom loves traditions and she has so many neat ones. It is exciting to think of Dane being part of everything. After the two hour gift opening event we all got ready to head to my Grandma's house for Christmas dinner and more gift giving.
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