Christmas Eve 2008

The house is festive and busy and we're in the full swing of celebrating another wonderful Christmas Eve. The Roberts' family Christmas eve celebration is immersed deep in tradition and like all other families, we greatly anticipate this night each and every year. Many of these traditions come straight from my dear mother who took it upon herself to ensure each Christmas was nothing short of pure magic. As a mother now to my own little brood, I enjoy and take seriously the mantle of responsibility to make each and every Christmas festive, magical, and memorable.

Each Christmas Eve begins with a dinner of delectable finger foods and hors d'oeuvres. On the menu tonight is:

Shrimp Cocktail
Baked Brie served with fruit
Beef Satay on Skewers
Spinach Artichoke Dip
Vegetable Tray
Mini Quiche
Finger Jello (for our most sophisticated food critics)

After the dinner, the kids help clean up and then get to choose their present from Grammy and Paca (Bryce's parents) to unwrap. They always know its new Christmas jammies and they are always beyond excited.

After they've changed into their new jams, we get everything ready (including any needed props) for our Christmas program. Everyone is required to participate and can do anything they want as long as its Christmas related. This year Max sang Jingle Bells, Ella got a lei and hula'ed to Meli Kalikimaka, Kalli wrote and recited a poem about last year's Christmas eve (when Santa actually came by during dinner!) and I did an interpretive number (complete with pink boa) to my favorite Christmas song of the year by Lenka. (I'm quite devastated that the batteries died on the camera and Bryce wasn't able to record it; otherwise, I'd love to share it with you;)

We always end the evening on a more spiritual note when Bryce reads in the Bible from Luke Chapter 2, the story of our Savior's birth. This year the children dressed in their nativity costumes and acted it out as daddy read. It was really sweet.

Before they head up to Kalli's room for a sleepover (something Bryce did as a child with his siblings), we get their stockings out and hang them up and are sure to leave Santa a plate full of homemade cookies (made and frosted by us earlier that day).

Because neither Bryce nor I are from Utah, we don't always have the chance to spend the holidays with our families. And although we adore each holiday we are able to spend with our extended families, when we have finished an evening like this - with just the 6 of us - we both swell with joy and love for the own little family we have created. We thank our Father above for our great many blessings and snuggle into our bed completely satisfied that we're doing the best we can to give them memories that will last forever. (Please give me a pass on the cheese today, it is Christmas after all.) We can hardly wait to see their faces in the morning.

Wishing you all memories that will last forever and more.