Christmas Eve

It has always been a tradition in my family on Christmas Eve to read the story of the first Christmas from the Bible and get new pajamas..
A few years ago we started meeting for breakfast on Christmas Eve to do this so that it does not interfere with the "in-laws". This year we met at Josh and Natalie's. Here is my dad reading from the Bible, he also gave this whole talk about Joseph and Mary and he even incorporated the "Grinch" and how he realizes that Christmas doesn't come from a box or a store perhaps it means something a little bit more... It was the exact lesson I was looking for Thanks Dad!! It helped boost my Christmas spirit.....
Everyone listening to the story..
or trying for some people...
After we read the story and talk about the real meaning of Christmas we all get pajamas... Here is my dad giving Emme a little toss in the air.... before she gets hers...
The kids always immediately change into their new pj's even if they have only been dressed for the day for about 30minutes! What fun little cousins!
Here we are leaving the shin dig all squished into the little car just like the good ole days when we were growing up.
Later that day I ran to target to grab one last thing and the cutest little boy was in front of me in line... No this is not your Christmas Shoes story, but it did help me get even more into the Christmas spirit... (I don't know why) anyway....he was about 10 years old, all by himself buying the most random gifts ever... a hanger with all the different levels, for pants, a package of sippy cups, and like a crossword puzzle or something and some Christmas cards, I loved watching him, the gifts chosen just for each member of the family... I smiled all the way home thinking of the mom opening that hanger(I still laugh).... I remember as kids we would all go to the store together on Christmas eve and shop for each other and our parents. I remember one year picking out this sewing organizer kit thing... we thought my mom was just going to love it and we were so excited to give it to her... anyway this little boy was nostalgic for me and just helped me get right into a regular old Christmassy mood!

Later that night we went to Tom's great aunt Roseann's I like going there, we can never stay very long because of Tom's cat allergies, but I really like Roseann and am thankful to her for putting it on each year. She has cancer this year yet she still made sure to get the family together. She is Tom's grandma's sister which Tom's grandma died in her early 30's leaving 4 small children.... I used to sit and listen to her tell me things about Tom's grandparents and I loved listening to it. I also love her because she was the first one and probably the only one still in Tom's family to admit that Maddie looks like me or any of my children for that matter.

We ended the night reading from the Bible again and watching the Nativity story movie with the kids.... It was a great day! I think Christmas Eve is my favorite day, I love the anticipation!