Baby Jesus is coming!

This is our very first Christmas Eve at home since David and I started dating 8 years ago! We have had such a great time preparing for this time and today was a wonderful day! This has been a 'red-letter day' all around.

We've worked hard on keeping the reason for the season at the forefront of the traditions we are starting and here are just a few:

• Happy Birthday Jesus! - Baking a birthday cake for baby Jesus - can you tell CE and I aren't professional bakers?

Catherine Ellis helped Mama ice the cake - think we got more on us than the cake!

Happy Birthday baby Jesus!

• Wonderful time with friends - our visit with Santa was unsuccessful and while I understand the funniness behind pictures of screaming children with Santa - I'm not a fan and wasn't about to make CE sit on this man's lap and pay $15 for picture that portrays her while she is miserable (I know, I'm no fun). She clung to David like she thought we were going to leave her in the middle of the mall with him. She talked about him the entire time we waited in line, but once we got up close - it was all over. We did however enjoy time with the Nations/Baby William and Gmama Holly. Also Mexican on Christmas Eve Eve with friends is a new tradition we hope to continue!

Catherine Ellis and William

• Leaving out cookies and milk on a very special saucer with it's matching cup - just for Santa! I have to say - our Santa has been a real trooper (as he most always is!) and single handed put together both the table and chairs set and the pink retro kitchen for Catherine Ellis. It was quite the feat from hundreds of screws to the final product - so our Santa especially deserves his fudge covered Oreos and milk! Enjoy Santa!

Cookies and milk for Santa

Ready for Santa!

Looks like someone was a very good little girl - a pink retro kitchen with the works and a big girl table and chairs!

• The family service at St.-Mary's-on-the-Highlands - wow! This is hands down the best service we've attended together ever. There were probably 100 children at the service, it was loud, at times a madhouse, but overall magical. There was the Christmas story in the form of a pageant - including a real, live baby Jesus and fabulous music. Catherine Ellis was a star - one of the most well-behaved children there (again, without a nap! We are still in shock!). One of our favorite take-aways from the service is the wonderment in her eyes and the joy of finally seeing baby Jesus. We've been talking about him for days and I bet she said 100 times tonight "Baby Jesus is coming!" We tried to get her to say it on video - but you all know how that goes. She is so excited that baby Jesus is coming .... we are too!

"Fear not for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:10-11