Our Christmas Eve celebrations began with the feast!!!
This year we had both sets of grandparents with us, and Richelle and Logan. We were just waiting for them to arrive so we could begin to dig in and pig out on all this deliciousness . . .
My personal favourite . . .
. . . bacon wrapped water chestnuts!!!
After eating way too much, we gathered in the living room to act out the Nativity. Mary and Joseph were assigned but the rest of us drew names to see who we would be.
Grampa was the Innkeeper and the Narrator.
Mary and Joseph with their donkey named Jenna.
See the sweet mother, Mary - so fair,
Joseph who guided the donkey with care.
See the dear baby of Bethlehem,
Little Lord Jesus the Savior of men.
These are the shepherds, humble and mild
{Gramma, Grandpa, Jasmine, Carlee and featuring Lacie as the sheep}.
The angel appeared to them, and they were sore afraid.
These are the angels {Rich, Katia, Jordyn} proclaiming His birth,
Singing Hosanna and Peace on the Earth.
And they came with haste and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
These are the wisemen {Mackenzie, Delle, Grandma}
Who followed the star,
Frankincense, gold and myrrh brought from afar.
After we were finished our Nativity, Mackenzie really wanted to be Mary . . .
. . . with Katia as her donkey!
Then we sat around and sang a gazillion Christmas songs - and there was lots of lovely harmonizing going on!
After that, I read a story about what was happening on the American continent at Christmas time, as the Nephites were waiting and praying for the sign to be given. Always a nice reminder and time to reflect on whether we'd be a believer, right to the end when our life is at stake.
Some years we open pajamas on Christmas Eve. But no one really needed any new ones this year. Mackenzie opened a pair of slippers, and the rest of us opened . . .
. . . snowballs! Eight snowballs and a bucket!!! So then, of course, a non-wet and non-cold snowball fight began - my kind of snowballs!!! {My pillows are grateful there are now new things to be tossed around in the house!}
The guests started heading home after this. Our middle five girls settled into one bedroom downstairs for a sister sleepover - but mostly to keep tabs on each other through the night and in the morning! Rich and I worked on whatever it is that parents work on on Christmas Eve - like washing dishes while waiting for girls to fall asleep and reading facebook Christmas greetings! It was after midnight before more of them drifted off to dream of those sugar plums. Then Rich and I hopped into action - he had to go for a little drive to pick up the secret something, and I tackled other projects! Can't wait for Christmas morning . . .
