Christmas Eve Traditions

Today was a great day. We started off the day at my mom's house and had our Christmas with them today since we will be stopping by my dad's tomorrow after church and Shawn's parents tomorrow evening. The kids, of course, made out like bandits and loved everything they received.

Later we went to our 5 o'clock church service, which was very nice. We took communion, and we usually only do that once a year or so. Both of the kids were in the service with us and that was a little challenging. Jase was great, but Ally, she wanted to talk up a storm.

Afterwards we went to my grandma Smith's house and ate dinner. It was nice to visit with her. I do not see her as much as I should, so it was nice to go over there. Allyson loved going in her tv room and making herself right at home. Jase entertained everyone with Star Wars facts. He is officially obsessed! And he has not even seen any of the movies, this is just from books we've checked out at the library. He is going to go nuts when he opens a Lego Star Wars movie tomorrow!! :)

We then went and looked at lights. The neighborhoods that used to have traffic a mile long are no longer crowded and the lights are just so-so. As a matter of a fact, other than one other house, we are the only house on our street with lights up. What's up with that? We came home and the kids opened up one gift, as they do every year. We started a PJ tradition when Jase was little, where they open up new PJ's on Christmas eve. Jase, of course, got new Lego Star Wars ones and he loved them!!! Allyson's had ballerinas on them. I bought her 24 months and the pants were hanging off of her. And the shirt for 18 months would have been too short on her. Oh well.

We then took the kids outside and they sprinkled reindeer food on the lawn. They loved it!! We read the Christmas Story (Jesus' birth and his gift of eternal life to us) and a couple other books and they are off to bed. Allyson is sleeping with Jase for the first time tonight...I hope that goes well. So far, so good.

We are looking forward to opening gifts in the morning...I know the kids are excited too. Tomorrow will be another busy day, yet enjoyable because we will be spending it with people we love. I am feeling very blessed and thankful for so much, and yet so unworthy for it all. Thank you, Jesus.

Merry Christmas!!