It’s been tradition since we were little kids for our families to gather on Christmas Eve for dinner and cookie decorating and to exchange gifts.

The realization that we can keep the ritual alive with our own children without worrying over alternating which family we spend the holidays with is an instant relief.

We move to the living room and gather around the massive tree to watch the kids open their presents.

From Lizzie, they get holiday pajamas. Their faces light up like they’re surprised, even though it’s what they get every Christmas Eve from their mother. It’s what each of us got from our parents at our little holiday get together, as well.

My parents gift them season passes to the zoo. Lyle’s parents keep it simple with a baby doll for Annabelle and Nerf gun for Carter, leaving their bigger gifts for tomorrow.

“Is it my turn now?” Lyle is chomping at the bit to give them their presents from us.

“I thought you gotted us the snow?” Carter’s face is a mix of confusion and excitement when Frank lugs in two huge boxes, one at a time, from the car.

“That was for all of us. These are just for you two.”

Annabelle starts jumping up and down, screaming without even knowing what’s in the box. The Barbie paper is enough to have her losing her damn mind.

“Open it, crazy girl,” I say when Carter starts tearing into his John Deere paper.

“I gotted a tractor!” Carter does a goofy little dance, cracking us all up.

“And I got a Barbie convertible!”

“You got them Powerwheels?” Liz glares at her brother. “This is all they’re gonna want to do now.”

He shrugs. “It was that or puppies.”

When I see the horror on Liz and her parents’ faces, with whom she still lives, I decide to egg it on a bit. “I really wanted to get her a miniature pony, and Carter a tiny cow, but Lyle shut that down.”

“Absolutely not.” Trudy’s face contorts in what looks almost like pain. “You made the right choice.”

“Hey, I got a little something for the kids too.”

Everyone turns to look at Frank, who’s standing off to the side with an envelope in his hand.

The enormous man is practically sweating with nerves. It’s adorable.

“You didn’t have t—”

“I know,” he says, stepping forward. “I wanted to.” He hands the card to the kids, who tear into it immediately.

“We’re going to Disney Land?” Carter’s already doing that damn dance again before he knows what it is he’s got.

“No.” Frank chokes on his laughter. “It’s tickets to Disney On Ice. It’s in three days, so I hope you didn’t have plans already.”