Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve...

We enjoyed the family service at our church Eastern Hills. The service was totally different from the Christmas Eve service last year. It entailed a performance by church members describing "Christmas from a child's point of view." It was entertaining to watch how children interpret the Christmas story... from riding donkeys (horses) into Bethlehem (the city) and sleeping in a manger (a barn). The story of Christmas was followed by vocal performances from the children. Cole sang with his kindy church class, but Paige opted to sit in the audience and watch rather than perform this year. Cole sang "Go Tell it on The Mountain." It was pretty darn cute.

After church we had a fabulous homemade lasagna dinner at home with both mom and Judy. And following that yummy dinner the kids ran to sit in front of the tree and eagerly await present time! It's our family tradition to have the kids unwrap the gifts from the Grandma's on Christmas Eve and then we do Santa and the gifts from us on Christmas morning. It was a quiet, quaint family evening.

After presents, the kids set out milk and cookies for Santa, carrots for the reindeer, and then bundled up to go outside and sprinkle around our Magic Reindeer dust. After the driveway and sidewalks are covered in dust and glitter it's in bed with Nana to read some Christmas books and then off to dreamland.

Christmas Morning . . .

We were up at about 6:30am. Santa had come! I even managed to get my gift for Robert rolled out before he trudged down the stairs. It was cool because Paige always makes Daddy close his eyes as she leads him to the tree, he thinks to surprise him with what SHE got. This year, it was to surprise him... a brand new snow blower. Something that we have shopped for and saved for - and it was finally a reality for him. He was in shock. Partly because I pulled off the surprise, but more so because he had no idea that I had enlisted the help of our neighbor and good friend Ed to help me bring it in and hide it in the house!

The kids tore through their stockings and sat amazed as always that Santa had heard their wishes. It was a more conservative Christmas this year, a sign of the times I guess... but special none the less.

Christmas day was spent then by putting together new toys, eating yummy food and playing with the kids. This year we opted not to do the fancy brunch downtown... and to stay in and stay in the moment of the season. Merry Christmas to all!