Christmas Eve

Christmas is by far my favorite season. Not spring not summer, fall or winter but Christmas. Even though Christmas is technically only for a day,the whole month of December is full of cheer. When i was little my favorite Christmas tradition by far was going to my grandma's house on Christmas Eve.
Every Christmas Eve while I lived in Charleston (which was until i was 10) my whole extended family and I would always go to my grandma's house on Christmas Eve to open presents and celebrate the holiday. Every time i arrived i was overcome by the smell of cinnamon, gingerbread, and excitement. I would always arrive in time to see what Santa had brought all the grandkids. See Santa always came twice in our family. He would drop by my grandma's house around six pm for the first round then around midnight at our house for the second round. (double the presents) From there we would eat dinner which besides getting presents was the most anticipated event. My grandma would always have the most beautiful array of food set out and it was always so good. The ham never lacked flavor or locked in juice amount. Every single candied yam was cooked to perfection and there was never a little smokie sausage that wasn't amazingly wonderful. It makes me hungry just thinking about it.
After dinner we would open presents. We always had to wait our turn when it came to opening presents though usually it went in birth order. i was always second. There was something almost magical when our hearts were pounding in our chests and we could barely contain our excitment as we tore throught the what seemed like a never ending amount of wrapping paper. Finally we shreaked with joy as we found something that we had waited all year to have, a few things we weren't expecting but we were overflowing with joy. After presents as the kids played with their new toys, the adults would remincice about the good old days. Usually by this time the gingerbread cookies were finally finished cooking. we decorated them and enjoyed our creations. By this time everyone was wondering what could be better than this.
Then we found out, the phone rang and all the grandkids were on the edge of our seats. As my grandmas called us all to the phone we were in shock,overcome by utter amazment, this ladies and gentlemen was the annual phone call from Mrs. Clause and the head elf, Brock Q smith. thinking about it today, i am not sure that there was ever an elf named brock but to a bunch of seven year old and younger kids, this is what dreams are made of. Mrs.clause told us to have a Merry Christmas and sleep tightly as she hung up. About and hour later it was time to go home. Hugs kisses, goodbyes and a farwell piece of cake are given out and we all go our seperate ways as we head home to await the second arrival of Santa.