Home for the Holidays

The house was rockin' this Christmas Eve. We had eight adults, three cats, three dogs, and an infant all staying here. Then the rest of the local family arrived (four more adults and four children). We started our celebrations with some traditional snacks (like cheese log, apple cider, etc. ) and then began the talent show. Yep, the talent show. My sisters presented a belly dance. The Slaughter Family Singers presented "Must be Santa" (See Ben above). My brother's-in-law performed an original Christmas song. It's been recorded for posterity. Then came the puppet show of "Twas the Night Before Christmas".

Finally we got to eat the infamous Boneless Turkey. This is a recipe my dad makes by de-boning a turkey and stuffing it with a mixture or ground beef, sausage, boiled eggs, and spices. It takes forever to make but makes slicing a breeze.

The kids were anxious to get to the presents. Normally, we only get to open one on Christmas eve and the rest Christmas morning. But since some of the family wouldn't be with us in the morning, we decided to open more gifts that night. Joanna helped her kids into their Christmas PJ's and then started the Sleeping Potion.

Sleeping Potion is a tradition at the Slaughter home for Christmas Eve. It consists of hot chocolate mix, a chocolate bell candy, marshmellows and a candy cane to stir it with. Supposedly it makes the kids go to sleep inspite of the excitement so that Santa can come at Midnight without being spotted.

Make your own for next year. Here is the poem that goes with it:

It's Christmas Eve, time for bed, but not an eye will close. Too much excitement in the air to let you even doze. So make a magic potion to help you fall asleep, then Santa and his helpers can down your chimney creep. Pour this cocoa in a mug and with hot water mix. Then drop in a magic bell and stir with candy stick. Add a few marshmallows and sip it slowly down. Crawl into bed and snuggle in, the magic sleep will soon come around.