Merry Christmas Eve!

I just woke up, and looking out my window I see this truly dreamy sight of bright white -- houses and trees covered in a beautiful stillness that is so gorgeous. My parents are here. Geoff's Dad is here and all of my children are here. Merry Christmas!

A Savior is born. "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given . . . and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).

I've wanted all month to post this video and have not yet succeeded, but it dawned on me as I was making my bed, that today is the perfect day to post this, because tonight is the night! Tonight, we celebrate Christmas Eve and remember the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  I don't think I've ever recorded exactly what our family does on Christmas Eve ... 

After some kind of meal—surprisingly no traditional food here—we will gather (sometimes with another family and sometimes with just us) in the living room and start by singing a few of our favorite songs (Santa Claus is Coming to Town and Jingle Bells for sure!) then we move onto a cold cereal gift exchange. I'm not sure how this particular activity began, but it is now a tradition and we love it. Wrapped boxes of cereal are rotated around the circle as Geoff reads The Night Before Christmas. Every time he reads the word, "the" we move the gift on our lap to the right. After "The End," Addie, the youngest will open her box and then Taft and so on, "white elephant" style with each person choosing whether to steal an already open box of cereal or open the box on their lap. After this, the kids open their hat boxes. Inside, there are new pajamas (or something else to wear), an ornament and a new Christmas book. Everyone puts on their pajamas, and we read the new book together. Finally, we come to the moment that I love the most. Geoff, or my Dad if he is with us, will read the Christmas story from the Bible, in Luke, chapter 2. We may sing a few hymns and then we just enjoy each other and more quiet conversation, until it's time to tuck in the littles (there is only one of these anymore!) Eventually, most not involved in helping Santa make their way to bed and Christmas morning prep begins. 

I'd love to read about your Christmas Eve traditions. If you have recorded this somewhere, post a link, or just share something in the comments.

Merry Christmas Eve to you and yours!