Christmas Eve

The children have been bouncing off the walls today. This is not surprising, but it is supremely difficult to deal with gracefully. We made it through the day and drove up to South Jordan to Grandma and Grandpa's house for a family Christmas Eve dinner.

Kim and Steve, Lauren and Davin, and the boys were there, too, and it was a lovely (and especially delicious) dinner. The kids got to play with cousins, there were presents (new pajamas! Thanks, Grandma!) to unwrap, the Nativity to perform (Zee and Em were Joseph and Mary, Gee and Hebs were the cutest little shepherds you ever did see), and the Luke 2 movie from the church to watch. Not to mention the yummy dessert and plentiful candy scattered around. We had a very merry time.

Eventually, though, it was time to make our way back down home. Because the kids all napped on the way up to Grandma's, they were full of energy and fun and sugar and excitement. We tracked Santa on Norad's website all the way home. The trouble was that the parental energy level was inversely proportional to the children's energy level, and we were about 2/3 of the way home when my patience snapped and I demanded requested quiet time. "Think about Santa--I mean, think about Jesus, and how we celebrate His birthday tomorrow," I begged.

"But MOM-ma, I want to think about Santa, instead!" Zee whined.

"Whatever, Zee. Think about Santa. I don't care. Just please please be quiet!"

We made it home, finally, finished Advent, and put out cookies and carrots for Santa. We then hung our stockings in the bathroom. (What? That's where the chimney is!) (It really is. We don't have a fireplace, but we do have a chimney that leads from where the coal burning furnace used to be in the basement, up through the now-bathroom, and through the roof. So we hung our stockings there.) Finally, blessedly, the kids went to bed!

Now Santa has already put out the presents, filled the stockings, and is going to following the example of the sweet slumbering children, dreaming of sugar plums.

Merry, Merry Christmas!
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Advent Day 25: Jesus Christ is our Savior. Through His Atonement we are redeemed from the Fall. He lives, and love us. From the Living Christ: Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son.