{pretty}
This year we had Christmas Eve dinner and then went to a seven o'clock vigil mass which worked out really well--two out of four kids slept the whole way through and no one had to be taken out once mass began. A Christmas miracle! Once we got home the children went straight to bed and we got busy decorating the tree and working our Christmas magic. This year was the first time we've pulled off the fully decorated tree plus presents for Christmas morning and it was actually really fun. There was so much extra to get done than we usually attempt on Christmas Eve though, that I went to bed sure that I forgot something. I did. It was the breakfast I had intended on putting together the night before so I could just pop it in the oven in the morning. And also the candycanes for the tree that are still hiding on top of the fridge. Oh well, regular french toast and a candyless tree it was. There have been worse Christmas catastrophes.
{happy}
We started off the day finishing up our Christmas baking which made me very happy and we made entirely too many sugar cookies. But you know, you need to be prepared for the big guy--no cookies no presents.......at least I wouldn't want to risk it. I think making and decorating Christmas cookies is the boys' favorite Christmas Eve tradition. I can't be certain but it might even beat actually going to mass.......
{funny}
Of course no one in their right mind would actually want to eat the cookies that the children decorated, except maybe the children.
John John: Don't take a picture of me with a messy face mom.
Me: Oh, don't worry honey, I'm not. (Well, his face wasn't messy......)
{real}