Once everyone was here, Jeff allowed the kids to open a few early presents to play with since the older kids wouldn't be staying long on Christmas day. They got to open their remote control cars and some rockets. We then spent the next couple hours shooting off rockets and driving cars before it started to rain/snow.
Around dusk (and just before an unfortunate rain shower), we began our Christmas Eve traditions. The older kids set out our luminaries (which mostly survived the rain) while Gma Penny and I prepared our Bethlehem dinner. Grumpy, Gma Thompson, Mitchell, Evan, Kristina, and baby Thomas joined us as well. We enjoyed our dinner by candlelight before we began our Christmas Eve devotional.
Our devotional is a combination of songs and words. Danny played the cello. Amber sang while Jacob played the guitar. Jonas even sang a song (although he chose "My Shot" from the Broadway musical, Hamilton...not really a Christmas song). I read a Christmas story before Grumpy ended with reading the nativity story in Luke 2. For 20 minutes, everything we shared pointed us to Christ. For 20 minutes, we were reminded of why it is we celebrate this holiday. For 20 minutes, we felt the love, peace, and kindness from our Savior that we tried to share throughout the month.
After our devotional, the festive fun continued. Gma Penny prepared the Christmas version of the left/right game. Luckily, I had time to prepare Jonas prior to the game so there were no meltdowns as he had to pass his chosen gift left and right.
Following the game, Grumpy, Gma Penny, Gma Thompson, Mitchell, Evan, Kristina, and Thomas left. The rest of the evening, Jeff and I got to play games with the kids. Jeff played Monopoly with the older kids while I played other games with Jonas. My favorite part of the evening was snuggling with Jonas in bed while reading Christmas stories as he anxiously awaited Santa's arrival. There is always more Christmas magic through the eyes of a child.
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