Christmas Eve

Well, we may not have finished A Christmas Carol OR baked cinnamon rolls OR any cookies, but we did have a much more relaxed Christmas season at our home, and we DID get over to Temple Square—even w/ cousins!—the Sunday before Christmas. It was bitterly cold, but nearly all of December was, so we cozied up to the free Sister Missionary concert and others in the Visitor’s Center.

The children had that week off, and we spent most of it getting all ready for our big trip. We did have a simplified Christmas Eve dinner—steak and potatoes w/ our favorite cranberry & tonic water to drink, and mint Oreo pie for dessert. We read the Christmas story, and then opened all of our presents this year, since we had such an early start the next morning. There were pajamas and Grandma Stewart crocheted the WHOLE family slippers (which the children LOVE sliding around the floor on!). We also opened nice silverware and dishes from Duncan’s w/ a beautiful Duncan plaque to hang up. The children decided on drawing names this year, so they could get nicer things for each other, and the boys loved their nerf guns from the girls, and the girls enjoyed books and Polly Pockets from Anne and the boys. We got everyone to bed early, and I only stayed up ‘til midnight finishing up packing and cleaning details, so we could leave @ 5:30 the next morning for San Diego!!! The children’s stockings were all in their seats when they got in, and they spent many of the 12 hours decorating our van windows w/ Bendaroo decorations, and watching some of their new movies. It was SO nice not to have to worry over too much this holiday, and just enjoy the season together—Mom may want to do a Christmas trip every year!