momto2pdx Posted November 6, 2005 Share Posted November 6, 2005 Since Christmas falls on a Sunday this year, I'm interested in finding out how others with kids who still have Santa come are handling the presents this year? I don't really want to rush the kids off to church, but we are going. For the past 5? years MIL & FIL have come over to our house in their PJ's and opened presents with us. We have coffee and donuts or coffee cake. Then they go home, we all get showered and dressed and go to their house for more presents and dinner. We LOVE this tradition, but we're trying to figure out how to incorporate church. We've thought about having Santa make an early stop on the 23rd (opening presents on the morning of the 24th), and explaining that he does that for folks who go to church on years Christmas falls on Sunday. By time Christmas falls on Sunday again, the kids will probably be done with Santa. (They're 4 and 6). But I'm not sure I like the idea of Santa coming that early. I've thought of us going out to dinner on Christmas Eve and coming home to find Santa came early for the above reason, but MIL doesn't really want to be out and about on Christmas Eve night. I'm thinking we're just going to have to forego the tradition for this year. And them coming over earlier to be able to do our routine and then go home and get ready for church doesn't work well either. Too early for all of us! Any ideas? Holly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elena_398 Posted November 6, 2005 Share Posted November 6, 2005 We go to church on Christmas Eve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holly2hottie Posted November 6, 2005 Share Posted November 6, 2005 We used to go to midnight mass on Christmas Eve, Maybe your church would have an earlier mass so you could go to church on Christmas eve? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elena_398 Posted November 6, 2005 Share Posted November 6, 2005 Christmas eve my church as services at 4pm (which is the childrens mass) 7pm (we got to this one) and midnight mass Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Illinoismom Posted November 6, 2005 Share Posted November 6, 2005 We always gp to the 4:30 Childrens mass on Christmas Eve the then family always come over for Christmas Eve Dinner at 6:30 and 7:00 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booterbunz Posted November 6, 2005 Share Posted November 6, 2005 I go to Midnight Mass...maybe if that's not an option, you go to the evening service at your church instead of the morning service? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elena_398 Posted November 6, 2005 Share Posted November 6, 2005 My kids wouldn't make it for the midnight mass, though I heard it was beautiful. Some year I plan to go myself just to experience it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eve Posted November 6, 2005 Share Posted November 6, 2005 i've never gone to midnight mass but it does sound like a good ides. I'd have to say them comming over early is the option, mabytheres a service a little later that would work for you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommy3 Posted November 8, 2005 Share Posted November 8, 2005 We open our presents christmas eve and have santa that morning. That way we have enough time to do all the things that need to be done and the kids can play with the things they got before we go to church(this year),then moms and mom-in-laws for dinner. It works for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knittingarrows Posted November 9, 2005 Share Posted November 9, 2005 Mine know that santa is an Idea that we all represent. They are Santa's to others, while Mom and Dad are their Santa. ** Santa wants to worship, too, and therefore gifts were delivered early. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berry Posted November 10, 2005 Share Posted November 10, 2005 Christmas Eve candle lite communion rocks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shopping mom Posted November 10, 2005 Share Posted November 10, 2005 I am not sure want the answer is but I am glad that you and your family will be in church. We will be too! We have always had "Santa" wrap everything in years past for other reasons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pinkroses4mommy Posted November 10, 2005 Share Posted November 10, 2005 I definately vote for going to church. I don't want the kids to think that Santa is more important on Christmas than Jesus! Maybe we'll do Santa before Church, and presents afterward, or presents on Christmas Eve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrandyJervas Posted November 10, 2005 Share Posted November 10, 2005 we do christmas eve mass at 7pm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsbmb Posted November 10, 2005 Share Posted November 10, 2005 try to work around the mass times on christmas day if thats the only time MIL can get over there..you are the ones with the kids MIL might have to do the adjusting a bit..you can let them go to bed early christmas eve then wake them up at 10pm or so and let them open stuff say you woke up and santa had already come....then you will be free in the morning. or open really early before mass. I'm doing midnight mass this yr. kathy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erh12275 Posted November 10, 2005 Share Posted November 10, 2005 Not really sure what's gonna happen here. They usually have service Christmas Eve at like 10 and then again on Christmas. All depends on if hubby works or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geomacey Posted November 11, 2005 Share Posted November 11, 2005 We always go Christmas Eve for candlelight service. Before DH and I got married, DS and I would go to Christmas Eve service and then get up Christmas Day, open his stocking and go to 9AM Christmas Service (very abbreviated Communion service, usually < 1 hour) then come home and open the gifts. My parents always came to share the day with us. After DH and I got married, we switched churches and the new one didn't offer a Christmas Day service, so DD never had this tradition. We are probably only going Christmas Eve this year. Of course then there's the story of my sister..... She was about 3 and my parents dressed her upstairs, put her coat on her and threw a blanket over her head and took her out the door to church. They just got to church and there were all these kids with their new toys, gifts, etc and my sister started wailing that Santa had forgotten her and she HAD been GOOD!!!! There was no way to console her so they actually had to LEAVE church and take her home to show her he hadn't forgotten! My parents still talk about that to this day.... and she's 49 now!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erh12275 Posted November 11, 2005 Share Posted November 11, 2005 Of course then there's the story of my sister.....She was about 3 and my parents dressed her upstairs, put her coat on her and threw a blanket over her head and took her out the door to church. They just got to church and there were all these kids with their new toys, gifts, etc and my sister started wailing that Santa had forgotten her and she HAD been GOOD!!!! There was no way to console her so they actually had to LEAVE church and take her home to show her he hadn't forgotten! My parents still talk about that to this day.... and she's 49 now!!! Now that's too funny...sounds like something that would happen to us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenniferharrison82 Posted November 14, 2005 Share Posted November 14, 2005 We just do christmas eve church. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WELUVKDS79 Posted November 14, 2005 Share Posted November 14, 2005 I am thinking of chruch first and then presents... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts