Christmas Eve

Our Christmas Eve this year was wonderful. It was different than we've ever done it, and here's why .... although Christmas Eve has always been a time of family, etc and the evening was much the same, we always had our big Christmas dinner on Christmas Day. Then last year, at the end of the day Emily said to me "How come everyone else in the family gets to choose what they want for dinner on their birthday, but I never do?" I felt awful, and she was absolutely right! She should get to choose what she wants for dinner on her birthday, just like everyone else.

This year (and for every year going forward), we ate our Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve. It actually was wonderful, and I wished we'd been doing this for years. I stayed home with the 3 younger one's (watching a Christmas movie) and started cooking. Rick went with Rebekah to get some last minute gifts for the "giving tree" that we were short on. When they got home, we finished tidying up, and then sat down to our dinner.

We used our pewter chargers, and real silver (that only sees light of day about 3 times a year.) I made a version of the salad Lindsey made for Thanksgiving last year - but I cheated and used Brianna's poppy seed dressing instead. (Remember, this year it was all about simplicity and low stress for me.) Baby spinach, apples, craisins, shredded Parmesan and candied pecans. So good.

For our main meal we had baked ham, holiday sweet potatoes, funeral potatoes and broccoli. We also had rolls, with the best raspberry jam I've ever tasted, compliments of Juliane (I happen to know she picked the berries for this herself last summer.) Not the most healthy meal, but traditional and ever so yummy.

The family all ready to eat. Jane just loves sitting at the "big" table, and since it was a special occasion - we let her. I know this is kind of ridiculous, but this is why I always wanted 4 kids. I just had this image in my head of sitting down to meals with two on each side of the table. So balanced, and no empty spots. My dreams are realized - I am happy.

Jane was surprised by the fizz in the apple cider - but quickly adjusted and decided that she liked it very much! The only other thing she ate was her roll (after destroying it with her fork) and a few bites of ham. She eats like Emily, actually worse than Emily!!

Jake is a great eater. He loved everything, and ate everything.

Emily ate ham. I think we might have insisted on 1 bite of potato and the broccoli. She may have had some raw carrots from the fridge (her favorite.)

The dinner was lovely, but somewhat chaotic with the smaller kids, and the mess that Jane was steadily making. Rick said "In 10 years, this will be a really nice meal."

We had planned to read from Luke, then do a nativity play and sing some carols - but the little kids were melting down. Next year, I'll plan to start earlier, so they can make it. So, we cut it short, and just read the scriptures and then bathed them.

Every year, they get new pj's and a Christmas book from us. I think a lot of people do this. I love it. I buy the same book for each of them (5 copies, so we can keep one too.) When they leave home, they should be able to take a great Christmas library with them to share with their families. This years book was "The Gift of the Magi." I think this is such a bittersweet and wonderful story. We cuddled onto my bed, and I read it. I was weeping (and I mean WEEPING) at the end. I always am. I turned to Emily to see her reaction, and she said "Can we go put carrots out for the reindeer now?" I guess 6, 3, and 1 may be too young to get the full emotion of the story. Rebekah got it, but was rolling her eyes at my crying. Oh well, they'll have it forever, and probably cry themselves one day.

We put carrots and water out for the reindeer and cookies and milk out for Santa. The kids had a cookie too. Last year Rebekah deemed herself too old (& cool) for the Hanna pj's I get every year. She doesn't like how tight the legs are. I bought some red thermal fabric to match Jacobs and made her some loose pj bottoms that she liked. Paired with a red t-shirt she matched, and was happy too! I love them in their Christmas pj's (as evidenced by my sidebar photo.)

I love this picture - see Jacob's hand preventing Jane from taking a cookie. He was saying "No Dane, those are for Santa." I think he was worried that he may not get a present, if the cookies weren't there!

Some homemade, some store bought - all yummy.

Then we tucked the little one's into bed, and sat down with cookies and wassail to watch "Miracle on 34th Street." We were watching this the night I went into labor with Emily. We had to leave for the birth center before we could finish it. I told Rebekah we'd buy it to watch later - so it has become a tradition to watch this on Christmas Eve.

Such a great and relaxing evening, being all together.