25 DaYs Of ChRiStMaS - Day 24

Day 24 - Christmas Eve

I love Christmas Eve!  The hustle and bustle of last minute preparations.  The excitement of what's to come.  The traditions that our family shares each year.  Teaching our kids about our faith and the reason that we celebrate Christmas.  I love all of it!

This year, Corey & I started Christmas Eve with coffee, by the fire.  It was wonderful!  The kids slept late, and after we relaxed for a while Corey & I worked on a project or two before they woke up.  That afternoon, Corey & Allie disappeared for a few hours... a regular occurrence for Corey on Christmas Eve.  They came back home too late to go to the Christmas Eve service that we had planned to go to but were glowing with Christmas cheer.  I could tell that they were excited about what they had been doing. 

A little later we did, in fact, make it to the Christmas Eve service at church... thank goodness they had several to choose from.  After church, we went to our favorite shopping center and went to dinner at the restaurant that we ate at last Christmas Eve.  (Maybe that is becoming a new tradition.)  It was a very nice evening out.

When we got home, I took a few pictures of the kids in front of the Christmas Tree then we all baked cookies for Santa.    

~ one of my favorite things in my kitchen at Christmastime ~

While the cookies were baking we each opened one gift.  

Every year we all get new PJs at Christmas.

~ new pajamas ~

Allie's PJs came with matching pajamas for her American Girl doll.

Next, we sat by the fire, and Corey read the Christmas story to all of us from the Bible.

Then, the kids put milk & cookies out for Santa.  (In the same Winnie The Pooh dishes that we have always used.  Allie asked if we had to use them this year... of course we did!  Forever!)

Last, the kids and I laid by the fire, and I read The Night Before Christmas to them.  

Then, we tucked them all in as they anxiously awaited things to come...