Christmas
The children and I did our traditional Christmas Eve....we always get our pedicures (sans Chapman, she just can't handle being still that long yet), we love having lunch with Mrs. Duncan, and we always go join the crowds at Target just to be a part of the last minute madness and we usually have something we need to pick up while we are out. All the while, Ryan stays behind and does his "man prep" for the big evening ahead.
We always gather together just in time for a quick change of clothes, pictures and then we are out the door again on our way to church. Our family likes to sit in the balcony...even on Sundays. It's just our spot. So, to the balcony we went. Every year during the Christmas Eve service, the children are called down to the front of the church for a special little story, some snow, and they are given a gift to take home. Our church is huge and there are a lot of children who go down without their parents. The four girls went down and they were all smiles and full of excitement. About 2/3 of the way through this special time, we heard screams. And then my eyes met MK's and I knew then that it was Chapman.....and at the same moment that our eyes locked, Pryce's friend came over and asked if that was Chapman screaming???? Ha! Well, yes, yes, it was Chapman screaching, and screaming ever so loudly....it was impressive. Ryan jumped up, ran down to get her, and escorted her out until she settled down. Goodness. Never ever a dull moment.
Following the service, we grabbed a few pizzas, prepped our home and soon the guests were arriving for our traditional pizza and chilli (and a few other treats!) It's always so nice to have friends together on this night. Soon the night was quiet, everyone had gone home, the children opened their pjs and books from Gran and Pop, we read the Christmas Story and Twas the Night Before Christmas, and off to bed they went....all together in our loft.
There is always a discussion on a designated wake-up time for Christmas morning. Each year the children always say 6:00am....Ryan and I say 7:00am...and we usually compromise on 6:30am. They have to yell for us to get up....and then they have to wait until we tell them the coast is clear to come down. It's how I did it as a child too. Some traditions aren't worthy of changing!
The children came down, ooohhheed and ahhheedd over Santa gifts, we started breakfast, and then the day settled in. We ate, we opened a gift or two, we ate some more, we rested, we ate, we opened more gifts....it's an all day affair and I wouldn't change one thing about it!
Love my crew. Thankful for our time together. It was a very Merry Christmas celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.
