Christmas Eve

Oh, they are ready, people. The season of fun, energy, giggles, baking, food, traditions, it's all here. We just tucked them into bed, which gives me some time to reflect on the fun of the season with our kiddo's.

We started out the week with Monday as a kid-proclaimed pajama day that resulted in baking all day. It was a beautiful thing. We made Christmas M&M cookies, chocolate covered pretzels, almond crescents, marbled Christmas stars, and biscotti chips. I made up the last recipe because I can't seem to replicate any recipe to taste like the biscotti my grandmother used to make. I have tried for years - I'm giving up on that.

Dominick played trains in between baking escapades.

Tuesday & Wednesday was filled with putting the finishing touches on wrapping up baking treats for friends and neighbors. We went around ringing doorbells, caroling in the daytime so the kids could spread some holiday cheer. They had a great time singing, I found it entirely entertaining to see them so bold in belting out their festive tunes. Note: Anna was mostly seen putting her fingers in her ears as her brothers loudly sang.

Tuesday & Wednesday also had tons of crafty craziness - the kids used just about anything and everything from the craft stash in our house. I loved seeing their creativity and the fun they had. I could do this all the time with them.

I was also able to spend some snuggle time playing games and reading books with the kids over the past couple of days. I love the 'no school' thing. Maybe it's because we don't have family here and don't have lots of holiday commitments, but I love the freedom in our schedule and relaxed nature of it all.

Today....oh today had lots of energy and giggles. We made a big ole breakfast, lounged around and watched The Year Without A Santa Claus, my all-time favorite animated Christmas show.

I managed to sneak in some time to help the kids finish wrapping their gifts for Daddy, while Don spent time finishing up my Christmas gift. It's a photo book/story he makes up every year that includes the kids on an adventure during the Christmas season. He started this when Matteo was a baby and it has become a tradition that I cherish and love. It's the highlight of Christmas day for me - after the kids have had their fun, hours later, Don gives me the book. It's so simple, pictures of our kids and Don's story behind it, but I just love it.

Of course we attended Christmas Eve Mass, here's our trio all decked out in their Christmas cuteness.

After we had dinner tonight, the kids sat around the table with Don and played this Christmas trivia game while I made the strata for breakfast tomorrow morning. Christmas songs were playing the background. I watched as my family sat in their Christmas Eve clothes, drinking ginger ale, giggling uncontrollably, all because of the fun and the hype of Christmas Eve. Warmed my heart.

This was followed by the making of magic reindeer food and sprinkling it on the lawn an the roof. Don actually gets out the ladder and takes each kiddo up there to have their part in putting out magic reindeer food.

The kids each picked out cookies for Santa, Dominick was sure to include carrots and a note for the reindeer. We went upstairs to read a few books before bedtime, Matteo asked to read 'Twas A Night Before Christmas'. It was cute - he read it aloud, including a great Santa voice, showing the pictures to Anna & Dominick as he went along.

Our Christmas traditions are simple. We like to spend time as a family, food is always part of it - baking, the meals for Christmas Eve & Christmas Day, it's all good. For me, Christmas is Christmas when we walk into Christmas Eve Mass. There is something about stopping in the middle of the day/season and going to Mass. It is as if in that hour or so we are at church, we're truly reminded of the reason for the season. I love it.

Anna has been downstairs once in the time it has taken me to write this, Don just took her back upstairs about 15 minutes ago. The kids are excited - they cannot wait for Santa to come. They spent a good part of the day talking about where he is at this time, can he really see them when they are sleeping, wanting to know what we asked Santa for, the excitement is big in our household this year.

It's a precious thing, Christmas Eve with our young kiddo's. I'm grateful for the week of fun we have had and the time we've spent doing Christmas stuff and doing nothing. I can't wait for the fun tomorrow.

Time for me to sign off and go wake up Don, I'm sure he's asleep next to Anna as I type this.

~Merry Christmas And To All A Good Night~