Christmas Eve got started today with a really cold, yucky day outside. I had presents to wrap, gifts to deliver and a house to clean!! And all this little girl wanted to do was play…
The gifts got started early with Troy & Jordan. They stopped by on their way to Prattville and Campbell got a princess Ariel dress up set, including the famed singing shell necklace (with no off button or even volume control!) that Campbell absolutely loved and has not taken off her neck yet! Thankfully, she also got a princess tissue craft that kept her busy and out of my hair for a little while.
After getting the gifts wrapped & under the tree and running around in the yucky muck, it was time to get ready for church. Christmas Eve service is always been one of the most special times for me, particularly when we sing Silent Night. I usually always get sentimental---it used to be just for being home (when I lived away), then on the Christmases I was pregnant I felt an extra sense of the miracle of Christ’s birth, of course then having a child recognizing the amazing gift of God sending his perfect son to us-a dark, sinless world-with a such a powerful destiny, well that is enough to break anyone if you truly allow yourself to think about that. So yes, Christmas Eve gets to me—the hymns, the spirit, the families gathered, the candles, the familiar story, the essence of Christmas all coming together. Well, not so much tonight!
Campbell was absolutely determined to hold her own candle all by herself-which had my entire family plus a few people sitting behind us alternating between amused and anxious. Also, we sat next to our good friends the Windhams so Campbell skipped seats throughout the service trying to decide with whom she was sitting with. Sara Gray was awake but sleepy. My mom kept trying to feed her just to get her to sleep but she needed to burp (which happened about 3/4 into the service during either a prayer or a solo) and I was on edge the entire time. Then, because her Daddy had gotten on to her and hurt her feelings, Campbell wanted me to hold her the last half of the service. So, yes we sang Silent Night and lit our candles but my sentiments were distracted by Campbell jerking her flame around trying to hold her candle by herself while I am trying to just hold her and praying that Sara Gray doesn’t scream until we can get out of the church. So much for my sweet memories!!
After the service, we went to my parents for a very laid back meal. When I was younger, we would spend Christmas Eve at the Beard’s which was lots of fun but as parents, I had getting my house ready for Santa and the family breakfast on my mind so I couldn’t completely relax just yet.
Campbell got to open one gift early from Honey and Papa…a ukulele or “little guitar” as Campbell says. Papa wants to each her how to play the guitar so she can play along while we sing Christmas carols.
After we got home, it was pajamas for everyone and off to bed!! REMEMBER—Santa doesn’t come unless you are asleep!
Well, now its 2am, I’m still up but otherwise not a creature is stirring. After some cleaning, organizing & matching up several pictures/frames gifts (the only real thing you can get grandparents, aunts & great-grandmothers!), some furniture moving (so we can fit all 8 of us at the same dining room table for breakfast in the morning) and a last minute centerpiece arrangement I am off to bed so Santa can finally come!!
So I am off to bed now. I hope the girls doesn’t get up too early & Santa brings me my Christmas wish of some extra sleep!! So I guess its officially Christmas now.
Merry Christmas!!!
P.S. No-I am not staying up extra just to blog!! I needed to clean off my memory card to make way for pics tommorow and thought I would go ahead and update since I know it will be awhile for me to catch up on Christmas pictures!!
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