Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve started off very different this year. We had heard that our friends were singing at their Christmas Eve church service at a church really close to us. The service was at 11am. We decided to go. It was wonderful. It initially started off like a Christmas concert. Christmas carols sung with guitars, drums, lights.. then the most beautiful sermon about the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ and the reason we celebrate the Christmas season and a candle lit lesson on how light always overtakes darkness. (I wont mention how I thought this part was so sweet and when every single light was turned off we started lighting each others candles.. one by one as the room got lighter and lighter.. I thought this would be a cute time to take a picture to remember this beautiful moment.. but didn't realize my flash would go off... It was so wildly embarrassing but it honesty was fine and mostly just hilarious.) We all agreed we should do this every Christmas Eve.
Christmas eve is equally as exciting as Christmas day for our family because we get to be with all the Reeds. The chaos beings as we all pile into Grandma & Grandpa Reed's warm cozy home. All 25 of us. G.
Mom Reed always has so many fun activities for everyone. Gingerbread men decorating, games, crafts and the food.. soooo much food!!! The cousins all perform the nativity and we finish with gifts. Its the most beautiful room of chaos you ever did see.
Our kids LOVE Christmas Eve. They love the crowded cousin hang out and look forward to it every year. Thank you so much Mom & Dad Reed for embracing the mess, the volume of noise and all these beautiful grand-babies the way you do because they will cherish these memories forever, I know it.
The last couple of days before Christmas and Christmas eve has felt so intentional. Differently than years past and it has been lovely. All 5 of us trying to notice things that we would typically pass by. Like how sweet Grandma & Grandpa's tree is. With ornaments and lights that make it perfectly theirs. This little Santa craft that Brian made when he was in Grade 5.. are you kidding me.. I LOVE IT!
The moment the kids arrive, they gravitate towards each other instantly and just play. There are no "groups" big kids play with little kids, boys and girls play, big kids and big kids, little kids and little kids.. It is forever changing and its so fun to see.
First, the Gingerbread man making. These Gingerbread men were HUGE and must have taken forever to bake. Thank you Mom Reed! I think an equal amount of candy went on the cookie as it did in their mouths..
Next, the Nativity. The the moment I started doing Christmas with the Reeds I was introduced to this tradition. They have been doing it together for decades and many generations. Each year we perform it on Christmas eve and it wouldn't feel like Christmas if we didn't.
Then, to our surprise... what do we see... Santa and his elf! lol I think Lena and I laughed so hard we got extra smile wrinkles that night. Grandma & Grandpa handed out gifts to each of their grandkids and chaos erupted! I was certain our days of a Santa picture was over but this year proved me wrong...
We also shared our combined gift for Mom & Dad and they gave each of us gifts too. It really was such a lovely evening.
We headed home around 8pm. Full bellies, lots of memories and a totally full heart. When we got home we have Kobe his gifts from Grandma & Grandpa Reed too. He went crazy about them!
Our kids did their sibling exchange too Christmas eve. We usually just do this Christmas morning but this was actually so much better. It gave the intention that it needed to without being overshadowed by the chaos of Christmas morning. I think we will continue to do this again next year.
This year, Bentley gave to Carter, Carter gave to Penny and Penny gave to Bentley. Each so thought out in every way.
We finished the night off with a family movie in the basement (We watched The Family Plan 2) and then got to bed around 11pm.
We all absolutely forgot to leave cookies out for Santa.. how is that possible!? But dont worry.. Santa found the gingerbread men that the kids had made at Grandma's house earlier that night and he helped himself. The kids got a good laugh out of it in the morning lol.
This Christmas eve was wonderful. It had so much focus on the Saviour and the reason for the season. It was filled with family and treats. Nothing felt rushed and all the work in the months, days and hours leading up to this day was made worth it by having a moment to slow down and enjoy the traditions and chaos around us.
Thank you to Mom & Dad Reed for another amazing Christmas Eve as a family. I can see how much work, planning and effort went into this afternoon/evening. I hope you know how much all of your grandchildren (and children!) love this tradition and that your efforts do not go unnoticed. We love you so much! Merry Christmas!