What Christmas Eve dinner looked like at our house this year, following an early Christmas Eve service where we sat in the crazy, kid-filled section and added much to the craziness with two toddlers crawling along and under seats and trying to run down the aisle while simultaneously sipping their mango smoothies.  My sister actually let out an audible to the four rows around us sigh of relief when the end was announced.  

Traditions were amended this year with our family and location looking different.  Traditional Christmas Eve fair is Swiss Cheese Fondue accompanied by some kind of shrimp dish, salad, and a delicious dessert.  This year, because I've had less luck with the cheese here we kept the tradition alive through chocolate fondue with cheesecake bites, fruit, and marshmallows for dipping after a dinner of Butternut Squash and Leek Soup with Chickpeas, Chorizo and Wilted Kale and Chorizo and Pear Empanadas.

The second tradition we amended was the order we do things in.  Because of early toddler bedtimes and the Christmas Eve service leading to a late dinner, we opened our one teaser gift each in the afternoon, before everyone got ready for church.  Kim really planned ahead this year and got the boys matching race car pjs, Eden a little pj set and all the adults flannel pj pants.  And because she planned so well ahead she even gave herself a pj gift!  Read:  To Kim, From Kim.  The changed order felt strange to open the gifts with the sun still shining but it worked out beautifully because the boys were fed and ready for bed right after the service and we were able to focus on probably the only nice, non-chaotic dinner of the whole family visit!