Christmas Eve

This had to be the most relaxed Christmas Eve I've had in a LONG time! It helped that I'd picked away at the cleaning up & decluttering throughout the week instead of trying to do it all on the same day! All the wrapping for our house was done and the gifts for my parents' house had already gone on their way with Grandad who'd stopped by earlier in the day. I didn't get a chance to make Murray his fancy dessert but that'll give us something for New Year's Eve supper :)

The girls have been anxious and excited for ages and Christmas Eve was more of the same. They kept marvelling over the fact that Santa was coming TONIGHT! They were going to try to stay awake to catch him, they had grand plans! (which failed of course!)

We had a nice afternoon and ate an early supper and got ready for the Christmas Eve service. We got to church on time and I was able to get the cherub choir dressed and practiced beforehand. The church was very full but the kids gave it their all and did a great job on their song. The final hymn of Silent Night was sung with all the lights turned off and each person in the congregation held a candle that got lit as the flame passed from person to person. It is my favourite time of year to be up in the choir loft. It is so peaceful to look out and see the entire church in that soft glow. Each year I am so tempted to sneak my camera in and capture it but I don't think I could do it justice. I tried to talk Shelly Shooter into it one year but she didn't want to work on Christmas Eve, go figure!

We got the kids home from the service and they sprinkled reindeer food in the driveway and then got ready for bed very very fast! Santa's snack was prepared and each girl selected what they wanted to leave him. I was surprised that no one picked cookies! He got a granola bar, a Quality Street chocolate and a candy cane and nothing to drink. It was all gone in the morning so he must have liked it ok, I just hope he wasn't too thirsty!

Stockings were laid out

and when we woke up in the morning, Santa had definitely been there! The girls were very pleased with their gifts but did have one small complaint. Santa did not bring the magic fairy dust they'd requested that would make it possible for them to fly! I guess he just keeps that for the reindeer maybe.