We had a full Christmas Eve day getting little projects done around the house and getting it cleaned up for Christmas. The sense of anticipation has been high all day as we continually tried to rein in the kids’ excitement to no avail. Caleb was in high gear cleaning his room and even vacuuming it just in case Santa decided to inspect it before filling his stocking. He really has been most helpful putting all his excitable energy into good use. The girls were a different story . . .
We filled our evening with our own little traditions. We had Taco Soup for dinner, which is a definite crowd pleaser in this house. Then for Family Home Evening we read about Christ’s birth in Luke 2 with the kids acting out their chosen parts – Hannah was Mary, Caleb was Joseph, Emma chose the Angel, and Cami, by default, was a shepherd. We had a lot of fun and enjoyed internalizing the story again.
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Before heading off to bed, there were a number of things to do. The kids each opened up a present containing their new Christmas pajamas. This year they all asked for ‘footie’ pajamas so they were excited to find that’s what they were receiving. Cami watched in her quiet way and got excited over her own new pajamas trying to get them on as fast as she could to catch up with the others.
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Emma acted as scribe as the kids set out Santa’s treats, not forgetting something for the reindeer – usually it’s some carrots, but I guess this year they will have to see how far one apple will go among them.
[mygal=santas_treats]
Last item on the checklist before going to bed – making sure the stockings are hung by the fireplace. Cami’s stocking didn’t quite get done for Christmas – AGAIN!! (I am so thankful she still doesn’t care too much up to this point – I have the back done and just need to get the front finished and put them together.) So, Cami is using my stocking my mom made for me when I was little.
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Now, we are waiting for little whispering voices to go to sleep and then we can sleep for a few hours before the early risers start their hourly call to see if it is time to see if Santa has come yet.
Merry Christmas!!
Merry Christmas!!! Our kids look forward to opening their “Christmas pajamas” on Christmas Eve too, what a fun tradition!! We missed you and thought of you!! Love you.