I usually never get to exercise on Christmas Eve but this year I went out and did a track workout and some last-minute grocery shopping all in the morning before I started cooking our Christmas dinner. Peter and Emma went and delivered a few gifts while I started on the dinner. Mike was awesome at peeling and chopping and keeping the kitchen clean for me. We spent most of the day cooking, eating, laughing, playing music, playing games, and decorating sugar cookies to give to Santa. Mike had the older kids read his outline for the book he is writing, and the kids had some awesome pointers to give him. I loved listening to each of the older kid’s opinions on his story. It was fascinating to listen that conversation. I loved watching everyone enjoy being together on Christmas Eve. We were even blessed with an afternoon snow shower!! With how little snow we have gotten this fall, it made us all jump for joy! Instead of dressing up for our dinner, I gave everyone their Christmas pjs and we ate dinner in our pajamas this year. That was a ton of fun. Then we read from Luke, said our family prayer, and everyone played a card game while I made the cinnamon rolls for the next morning. We had all anticipated watching a movie after putting Madeline to bed, but we were all so exhausted. The big kids were banished to their rooms while Mike and I set up the stockings and gifts from Santa. Madeline’s bakery was a little tricky to put together (thanks Santa for not putting it together for us). Mike and I didn’t end up going to bed until 11:30pm. Although most of our kids are older, I still had a hard time falling asleep with good anticipation for the next morning. I just love Christmas.
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