Christmas Eve Traditions!

December 24, 2012 - To elaborate on the Ross side of the family celebrating Christmas Eve every year in Jackson, I should mention that December 24th is Papa's birthday.  Papa is Allan Semmes Ross Sr. and he passed away in 1995.  He was a great man, a wonderful father, husband, grandfather, a native Jacksonian, and came from a long line of great Ross's.  His favorite cake a Japanese fruit cake that Nana had made every year...somehow we dumbed down from Japanese fruit cake to coconut cake and every year we have a coconut cake in honor of Papa on his birthday--Christmas Eve.

Aunt Carolyn's beautiful decor.



An important Ross tradition is taking a picture of the table!!

Aunt Carolyn, Adam and Ben

Mom and Beth in front of Aunt Carolyn's hearth

Mrs. Emmy--Uncle Benny's mom

Aunt Carolyn and Uncle Benny spend all day preparing the food for this wonderful feast.  The house is always decorated to the max...it just is always perfect!  Until the boys VS girls game.  I think Aunt Carolyn started this tradition, but it may have been Allison.  I mean, the claws really come out over what should be a friendly game amongst family...thankfully Aunt Carolyn has allowed Jay and me to take over the gaming portion of the evening.  It was getting so serious that we were scared someone would break something. Seriously. :)
So we headed back to the Jordan's house!

A little mingling pre-game.

More mingling...

Me and Beth



Aunt Carolyn and Mrs. Patty

 And, now it's game time:



Boys VS Girls (2012 winner: Boys...because they cheated)

 Last minute fun: Jay wrapped up pieces of charcoal for Adam and Brett's Christmas presents.

 

Jay and I got Ben a remote control truck that looks like Jay's truck...I think that the big boys had as much fun with it as Ben did.  And I also think that they tore it up that night before they left they were playing with it so much.

After everyone left, Jay and I packed up and made the trek to Meadville so that we could wake up and open presents (and Santa Clause stuff) on Christmas day.