Getting ready for Christmas was alot of fun this year as the kids were able to participate in so many more of the traditions and festivities. Christmas Eve, of course, was the pinnacle of preparation and they pretty much giggled their way through the last 18 hours. I have to backtrack a bit, though, and introduce our shelf elf. He came after Thanksgiving and spent the month observing the kids (always from a high spot, out of reach) to see if they belonged on the nice or naughty list. Each night he would return to the North Pole to report back to Santa and then return to a different spot in the house the following morning.
At first, the kids were quite skeptical, but soon I would hear them tattling on each other to the elf. J always addressed him formally: "Mr. Shelf Elf, L isn't sharing the crayons." or "Mr. Shelf Elf, M won't let me play with the ball. Put him on the bad list."
On Dec. 23rd, the shelf elf left for the final time, but he left behind a special package for each of the kids...a new pair of Santa jammies, made especially by his friends, the sewing elves. The kids were to wear them to bed for Christmas Eve and they would sleep soundly all night long so that Santa could deliver their gifts. (Boy did they work, too! We had to wake them up at 9AM Christmas morning!)
Here are the photos of our very exciting Christmas Eve events...
We went to the early service at church and picked up pizza on the way home (Mommy was tired of cooking!) We had a "Happy Birthday, Jesus" party after dinner, complete with an angel-food cake and crown candle (good idea, Daddy :-) The kids did a good job understanding the real reason for the season this year. J even told me one day that the Grinch was so mean because his heart was too small for Jesus to fit in! Hmmmm....that's food for thought! Here they are singing for baby Jesus.
After dessert, we made up a plate of cookies and milk for Santa and carrots and broccoli for the reindeer.
Then it was quick upstairs to jump in our special jammies.
"The children were nestled, all snug in their beds...."
Just after these pictures were taken, we heard jingle bells outside. Santa was in the neighborhood! We didn't hear a peep out of their room from that point on.
This year, Santa's gifts were all wrapped in plain red paper. Each one had either the letter M, J or L on them. That way, the kids know which ones are from Santa and handwriting recognition isn't a problem as they become more aware of those details later on (thanks to my friend Sue for that great idea!)
All in all, a very special and memorable night!
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