Christmas Eve

For the past two years we have traveled over the Christmas break but this year we stayed here in Shekou. Since we were here, I decided to do the traditional Christmas Eve dinner. At least, as traditional as I could make it. Several years ago, probably more like 15 years ago, we were spending Christmas with my brother Dave and his wife Susan in San Clemente, CA. Susan said that it was tradition to have the big dinner on Christmas Eve. I adopted that tradition after realizing how easier it made life on Christmas Day. You can spend all day on Christmas Eve preparing the dinner so that on Christmas Day your time can be spent just with the family. I loved that idea, so now it is our tradition as well.

I was fortunate to find a ham here but had to pay an arm and a leg for it, so we had ham, scalloped potatoes, homemade rolls, green beans, and vegies. I know there are several items missing to this traditional dinner, but we are in China and some things just aren't available or just too expensive. One other alteration I had to make is the dessert. The three years we have been here, I've yet to find a pie pan or even pie served anywhere. So, I had to make an Apple cobbler instead. I need to make sure to bring pie pans with us where ever we end up next year.

We invited two of Rachel's friends, Blair and Nancy, for Christmas Eve. Blair is from Oregon but has been in China for about nine years. She lives here with her Dad but has become part of our family. Nancy is Asian but calls Venezuala her home. She and her brother basically are on their own here. She is 16 and her brother is 15. Their parents have lived in Venezuala for the past few years while Nancy and her brother have lived here. Their parents have moved back to China but live about an hour away and are gone on business quite often, so she has become another addition to our family.

We didn't do the formal sitting at the table and just served it buffet style while we watched the Jim Carrey version of "The Christmas Carol".
Of course Christmas Eve has to include the traditional pajama presents. The kids always get to open one present on Christmas Eve and it is always pajamas.


Vika hasn't quite caught on and was a little disappointed that it wasn't a toy. They all quickly got their PJ's on and were off to bed so Santa could come.