Christmas Eve Traditions

Christmas eve holds a fun place in my heart.  I have my little-girl memories of Christmas eve when we lived in Wisconsin--each of us were able to choose our very most favorite food to eat that night!  Nutrition went out the window for the evening as our favorite foods generally consisted of chips and jello.  I'm glad to say my tastes have developed in the persuing years and now The Big Guy Lowe gets to add his favorites too!  The second part of this feasting tradition centered on illunination for the evening--we would gather all the candles in the house and line them in the center of the kitchen table--only lighting them when it was time to eat.  I have magical memories of the candlelight glowing on our faces while we sat and ate fun foods with our family and friends...ahhh, wonderful memories!

Those memories continue to be created as the tradition lives on!  Oh how I love family traditions!  Thank you mom and dad for making our lives so full of wonderful events!

We still gather all the candles in my parent's home and line the dining room tables with them.

We still make and bring favorite fun foods for all to enjoy!

We also still have a reenactment of the Nativity, but now all the roles are taken by the grandkids.  :)

(Grammy helps everyone get their costumes ready--quite a feat when grandkid's ages range from 20 months to 18 years!)

Our favorite Wise Man.

See that cute shepherd peaking through the top of the banister, we claim him!

Then there are stories, games, singing Christmas hymns and songs and lots and lots of fun!

Finally, when it's time, we head home.  I love spending the holidays in our own home!  I love that our boys know they get to open one present that night, and that it's always pajamas!  This year their pajamas were space themed and they all matched!  I love it!  We also let them open a space book so we could learn a bit more about what's out there!

A plate of cookies were then set out--each of the boys were able to choose what cookie to leave for Santa, a mug of milk, and this year the boys chose to leave the reindeers lettuce, romain to be specific.  :)  Then our bedtime routine of prayers, scripture reading and songs.  It was a good night.

We love Christmas in our home.  We love precious truths celebrated through symbolic gestures and decorations.  We love blessings and peace that are ours because the Son of God was humbly born to Mary so many years ago.  My heart warms knowing of the love our Heavely Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ have for each of us.

Merry Christmas.