Christmas Eve Festivities

After some dear friends go home,

after the tortilla soup is devoured,

the turkey/ham/cheese sandwiches munched,

the veggie platter crunched,

and the most delectable delicious riquisimas

chocolate balls with coconut and almonds are inhaled,

(I'll be CRUSHED if I don't get that recipe!

made in heaven just for me!)

we sang carols with Ted's accompaniment,

we played some fun wacky games that involved

hitting one another with wrapping paper tubes,

and we had challenged each other with The Trivia of the Carols...

Then by 8:00pm,

we settled in to begin

Our Family Traditions for Christmas Eve

Reading Luke 2 and bits of Matthew from the Bible...

 Writing notes for Santa and preparing his goody plate...and carrots for the reindeer (sprinkled outside in the backyard...)

 Here's Nick's personal note to Santa (addressed to "Dear awesome Santa") [smile, giggle]

 Ted and the kids spent lots of time on this Polar Express puzzle...our first time ever to put up a puzzle...a new tradition has been born! Thanks, Pam, for inspiring that tradition for our family.

 Okay, now the kids are in bed...it's gotten quiet. It's about 10:00pm and we put on my favorite-of-all-time Christmas movie, the 1994 version of "Miracle on 34th Street," and begin to discover and dislodge all the hidden gifts from my closet, my bed, some boxes, etc. I wrap (Ted isn't a wrapper) and he attends to the puzzle, a snack, the dog, and the lights. :)  

 The kids get a "spot" on the couch where Santa organizes a little pile of wrapped and unwrapped gifts; the rest he puts under the tree along with the ones we wrapped and received from relatives.

This is Maddie's pile: a ladybug pillowpet (all the rage right now), zebra stuff, jewelry, new bag with "m" on it, Justin Bieber autobiography (screams of delight to ensue), coloring stuff (because we LOVE to color over holidays), and a "Love Life" plaque for her wall, trimmed in black & white polka dots...

 Nick's pile has a NEW SUIT! yea!! books, sports shirts, Tony Hawk shorts (Nick wears shorts when its 50 degrees, "Mom, it's only 47 degrees, that's HOT!), jellyfish tank, new football, etc.

Then we're done...

all the lights go out

except for those around the trees

and the garland

and the wreaths...

I adore sleeping with those lights on,

and with my door open so I can see them.

ahhhhh.

so cozy

so relaxing

so bright

so calm

Merry Christmas and to All, A Good Night!!