Christmas Eve

This year's Christmas Eve was just about perfect.  For the last several weeks, our kids have been working hard thinking about, planning, working to earn money, shopping, wrapping and making crafts and letters for everyone in the family.  They love Christmas and I was so touched by how they were so concerned about everyone else but themselves.  Steve and I did not get lists and requests and was surprised by their unselfishness and love. 
As soon as December hit, the kids got the Christmas decorations out of storage on their own, and on their own decorated the house.  They even assembled our Christmas tree on their own and strung the lights!  They didn't want Steve and I to lift a finger.  This whole season they have been showing a lot of initiative, hard work and independence and it has blown us away.
Christmas Eve was a nice relaxing day.  I was snuggling on the couch with Andy and Hana in the afternoon while Celeste and Eden without me asking, decided to clean the kitchen to make it beautiful and decorated and set up for our annual dinner.  Steve came in from a quick run to the store, with a bouquet of roses for me, and the table was complete. 

 

They had even made this cute centerpiece with fake little gifts all wrapped up and a Christmas tree.  I was so impressed.  

To top things off, they had on their own, gotten the ham in the oven and made the rice pilaf.  Eden and I had made the berry jello we all love earlier in the day, and we finished up the meal with some homemade pinwheel rolls and mashed potatoes from scratch.  Jonah couldn't wait to dig in.



Really, the day with all these people I love so much, was so wonderful.
Our meal turned out great.  We usually don't eat meat because I am vegetarian, don't like preparing meat, and prefer to avoid it in our home for various reasons.  But we had ham for this dinner.  (I couldn't choke it down, but Eden did.)  Eden said while eating the ham, "Once I get past the fact that I am eating a pig, it actually tastes good!"  We also put down 5 bottles of Martinelli's.  

So just before we sent the kids to bed, we let them put all their gifts out.  They had had them all wrapped up and hidden.  I  went back in my room to fold a load of laundry.  When I came out, I just broke down in tears when I saw what they had done for each other.  My heart had been full of love and pride for my children and this just put me over the edge.

All of those gifts under the tree were gifts the kids bought and made themselves!  They had even bought the wrapping paper themselves.  And look at the drawings and goody bags set up on the window.  I just could not hold back tears.  It was all so, sooo sweet.   
 
After the kids were in bed, Steve and I set up our gifts to them.
Here's a little photo of our Christmas card stash.  Although, it's a bit of a mess.