This tradition began eleven years ago when our two young children would not settle down to go to sleep one Friday night after our ward Christmas Party. My husband and I decided not to fight it and made it a night where we played whatever games the children wanted. We all put our pajamas on and took a picture with the Christmas tree. Around one in the morning we got hungry and made german pancakes. With a little something in our tummies, everyone was finally ready for bed.

We’ve  had an all night Christmas party every year since that incorporates all of the original fun and  some new traditions we’ve added through the years. Here’s a peek at this year’s all night party.

These days our all night party starts in the afternoon when go get our Christmas tree. Everyone jumps on the tractor and we drive back up into the hills of my in-law’s property.

The first trip was for a load of firewood. With that done, we left the chainsaw and climbed back on the tractor for a trek into the woods. When the trees were too thick for the tractor to pass through, we took off on foot.

About a mile later we found it–the perfect tree.

Nate set to work with the bow saw.

Then these two dragged it the mile back to the tractor (with some occasional help from Nate).

And we were on our way back to the truck.

Back home and after dinner with everyone in their pajamas, the party began in earnest. We made my husband’s great-grandmother’s famous fruitcake which I still consider a misnomer considering the bulk of ingredients are chocolate derivatives and gumddrops. It is a great tradition and one the children look forward to each year. It is literally a recipe where you open up a package of something and throw the entire thing into the boiling water canner–the only pot big enough to hold it all. What’s more fun than that for children in the kitchen?

The family story says that Nate’s grandpa wanted to know how to make his mother’s fruitcake so he sat down with pen and paper and converted her handfuls of ingredients into a recipe.

We used our grill spatula to stir because it’s the sturdiest and longest utensil we own. A spoon would be nicer–maybe Nate will have to carve one someday.

The batter is poured/glopped into pans and put in the oven to bake.

While the fruitcake baked, we decorated the tree.

Then we took a family PJ picture under the tree.

Next the children opened one gift to the family. It’s always a game.

The timer for the fruitcake went off while the children were opening the present.

This is a really fun game of simultaneous play. My five year-old got a little lost, but everyone else thought is was really fun. While Nate explained how to play the new game, I mixed up some German Pancakes.

Then it was time for our early morning breakfast and bed!

German Pancakes

4 T. butter
6 eggs
1 cup flour
1 cup milk
1/2 tsp. salt

Place margarine in 9×13 pan. Put in 400° oven for 3-5 minutes or until butter melts.

In a bowl beat eggs with an electric hand mixer till combined. Add flour, milk, and salt. Beat till smooth. Immediately pour into hot 9 x 13 dish. Bake about 25 minutes or till puffed and well browned.

Serve with powdered sugar and/or maple syrup. Enjoy!