Christmas Eve 2007

Each Christmas Eve we have done the same thing since we have been a family. We go to the Children's Mass at our church at four in the afternoon. We always arrive at church about an hour early to get a seat. This year we sat right in front of another family who had adopted from China. Their daughter was a year older than Kate and from the same province. They just moved to our town and it was wonderful meeting them. Kate was squirmy and toddlery during Mass but it could have been worse. They cranked the air conditioning and I was freezing. My whole body was shaking. All of a sudden I felt blanketed in warmth. A kind, elderly gentlemen behind me (the little Chinese girl's Grandpa) had placed his thick wool cardigan around my shoulders. It was such a kind and chivalrous gesture. I was very thankful.

The three peanuts before mass.

After mass, we always go to a local place for pizza. I know it doesn't sound like a traditional Christmas Eve dinner but it is to us. I cook a big breakfast and a big dinner on Christmas day. And since we leave for church at 2:45 in the afternoon it is difficult to cook Christmas dinner. Our whole family loves pizza and we do not eat it often because of food sensitivities. So it is our special Christmas Eve treat.

After dinner, we drive around looking at the decorated houses and Christmas lights. Kate liked the first few houses and then she fell asleep.

When we get home, everyone bathes and puts on their Christmas PJ's. The boys each open their nutcracker. Kate opened a bracelet this year. In the future, she will open her special ornament from me but this years was very fragile and already on the tree.

Harry got this nutcrakcer because he was very interested in Army men and toys and everything camoflauge.

I searched high and low for a nutcracker with a hedgehog becuase Will is obsessed with hedgehogs this year. But I had no such luck. Will is also very interested in cooking and wants to be a chef. He loves cheeseburgers. So, this nutcracker seemed perfect for him.


Will helping Kate open her gift.

I bought Kate a pearl bracelet with a silver heart. She loves to wear bracelets.




Next we hang the stockings. We hang them on the stair railing. Our fireplace is stone and not easy to hang stockings on. PLUS...I really fill them. We had stocking hangers one year but they could not handle the weight. We did not have 5 stockings this year that matched. I could not find new ones that I loved so Dave used his Dad's old one and Scout is using Dave's childhood stocking. I have a year to find 6 new matching stockings.

Daddy helping Kate hang her stocking.

She is really concentrating in this one:)

Harry looks like he was being ornery here but really he was making us laugh!


Will is hanging Scout's stocking while Kate watches.

Kate is opening stickers that her bloggy friend, Kamree sent her. Thank you so much! As you can see, Kate LOVES them.

The peanuts have a little friendly wrestle before we read our stories.


Finally, we read Twas the night before Christmas and the story of Jesus' birth. Kate did not sit still for the stories at all! She was climbing all over me and the book and getting down and then begging to get back up on the couch. Even though she was a little restless, it was wonderful to share all of our Christmas Eve traditions with Kate.




Kate wiggled around and sat right on top of the book while I was reading. She even ripped it a little. We were all laughing though.

Having listened long enough...she decided to go look at the tree.


I know this post is long and detailed but I do not want to forget one single minute of this very special Christmas! I will try to get the Christmas morning photos up soon. With 3 peanuts at home and all these fun new things to do...I am not on the computer as much.