Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was a big deal this year, as it was the first time we had stayed home in Columbia and done church at our own church, spent the night at our house, and had Santa here!  It was a lot of fun and we really enjoyed it.  My parents were able to join us too - so that was great.  They came over in the afternoon and we played for a bit, then went to the 5pm church service for families and the kids get to participate, and then we had dinner at our house after getting the boys to bed!

Another reason Christmas Eve was especially exciting this year is Champs and Jack got their swingset.  The grandparents went in together on this and boy was it exciting.  Barrett and I were about to lose our minds leading up to it b/c we had had wrapping paper covering all the doors and windows along the back of our house since early Thursday morning.  From then until Saturday afternoon may not sound like a long time, but it was! haha  We felt very claustrophobic not being able to see out or go outside!!  And not to mention keeping Champs' attention away from it got harder and harder as the days went on.  It was all worth it though when he saw it for the first time and ran fast as lightning out to see it!

Christmas Eve is always such a magical time and it was especially that this year, seeing it all through Champs' eyes.  The wonder and magic of Christmas and the anticipation of Santa is just SO FUN!

 Getting the swingset!

And then all dressed and ready for church!  The 5pm service at church invites all the young children 3 and up to participate in the service and dress up as either an animal, a sheppard or an angel.  Well since we had never been, I decided I'd just have Champs watch and not dress up this year, and then we could participate next year when we had seen how it works.  I should have known better.  When we first got to church we saw a girl in his class as an angel - he told me he wanted to dress up.  I just bypassed it and said we would next year.  Then we go inside and see 2 of the little boys in his class putting on their sheppard outfits.  He said "Mommy, I want a costume!!"  I started sweating.  I said I'll be right back.  Off I went, in my heels, with Jack on my hip, determined to find a costume.  I saw one of our ministers outside of the sanctuary and asked him.  He told me a place, pretty far from there to check, that they MAY have something.  I finally get there and see a rack with angel wings and halos and some other things that I thought might could work for a sheppard!  I dashed  back to the sanctuary and delighted Champs when he saw his options.  He chose the sheppard and couldn't wait.  He did get a little antsy waiting on the time for the sheppards to go to the front, but when it was time he and James Ellison went flying to the front and we never even saw them again!  It was packed up there - we just hoped he was there!  Needless to say, next year, we will arrive with a costume!!

After the service we came home, fed the boys supper and put out cookies for Santa and reindeer food too!  After that Barrett read The Night Before Christmas before they were off to bed!!  Then Mama, Daddy, Barrett and I enjoyed a yummy dinner!