Christmas Memories Day 24

For our last night, we read these books:


We spent most of the day just getting ready for the rest of the weekend. I cleaned up the kitchen and did laundry while the kids played on the computer or with Legos or Polly Pockets.

This evening we got to go to a Christmas Eve service at a church in our local town. I have never been to one because our family obligations have always been at the same time but that changed this year. It was a very special and reflective time.


Later, JB's dad came over so the kids could open up presents from him. They all got books which they are excited about. Chubbles got two search and find books with Elmo and Mickey. Lil Red got a princess book and a ballerina book and each one came with a matching necklace. Lil Man got a Star Wars Lego book that had over 200 pieces that you use to build the items throughout the book. My favorite was Legs' book. It was a Harry Potter book and it is all the inside stuff about the characters and the making of the movies.

The other gift they opened from my father-in-law was a group gift. We have finally entered the age of home gaming systems and we now have a Wii. It came with Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort and we were given three other games, Lego Harry Potter, Indiana Jones and Mario Brothers. There were squeals of delight as that present was opened.


After papa left, we had the kids open their one gift from us. They know what they are because we do it every year on Christmas Eve. They all got new pajamas to wear. This is only the second time I have not coordinated them but I wasn't really happy with what I had seen this year.



Finally, at the end of the night, we put out our cookies and letters for Santa and a carrot for the reindeer.


It didn't take Lil Red and Lil Man five minutes to fall asleep. I am so excited about tomorrow. We start out with Santa gifts, breakfast and reading the REAL Christmas story from Luke 2 in the Bible. I love hearing JB read out-loud to all of us each year.

At the beginning of the month, we told them that we couldn't afford presents this year and that was why we were starting the new tradition of reading books each night and making sure to focus on a different Christmas activity each day. Well, some friends got together and presented us with gift cards to go shopping for the kids. They still think they aren't getting anything from us, so Christmas morning will be one big surprise.