Christmas Eve

We try to focus Christmas Eve on Jesus' birth celebration, knowing that Christmas morning is a mass of presents and Santa fun.  Michael and Jacob helped me set a pretty table to get ready for a nice dinner.  At our candle lit dinner, we read 12 different accounts in the scriptures about individuals that foretold Jesus Christ's birth and ministry hundreds of years before the actual event - found here.  Jacob liked to read about how many years before Jesus each prophet lived.  Michael explained each verse to us - particularly the story of Nephi the grandson of Helaman who prayed to God inquiring about the timing of Christ's birth. 

 The boys were anxious to open their one Christmas Eve present.  Of course it is pj's - and they all know it.  I pretend that I have no idea why they assume it is jammies.  That is part of the game.

Lastly we reenacted the Nativity story.  With silk scarves on our heads, each of us took a role.  Jacob played the angel, Michael was the inn keeper, Scotty the shepherd, Peter was Joseph and of course I played Mary.  Colin just loved the scarves, baby Jesus the doll, and all the toy sheep.  It was a bit chaotic as usual - Jacob thought Mary and the Shepherds were afraid of the angel because he was floating like a haunting ghost.  Hmmm.  We ended with singing Silent Night - and with that they all went off to bed!

Before sleep, Jacob wrote Santa a card - telling him that he loves him and that they both share a love of cookies.  He lined up 8 carrots on the front walk way for the reindeer and a plate of cakebites for Santa by the fireplace.