Saturday, December 24, 2011

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is my favorite day of the entire year. I love it even more than Christmas Day. There is something so magical in the anticipation. The planning and dreaming and waiting are never anticlimactic.

During daylight hours, caramel popcorn was made and paper snowflakes were cut (to make up for the complete lack of snow outside).

Latkes have been eaten for Christmas Eve dinner.

There is only one door left to open on the Advent Calendar. All the carols that I tucked in each box, along with the chocolate, have all learned and sung.


Christmas Eve presents have been opened.


Christmas stories have been read (My Penguin Osbert, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, The Night Before Christmas, The Polar Express, and the New Testament Christmas story), while wearing new pajamas.


Now, the boys are finally tucked in and asleep (hopefully with visions of sugar plums).


The stockings are filled and hanging from the mantle.


The presents are all tucked under the tree.


Tomorrow is Christmas. I know that it will be wonderful. And it's the anticipation of how wonderful tomorrow will be that makes me happy. Tomorrow, it will be a loud jumble of boxes and paper and laughter. Tonight, it is quiet, beautiful, and full of wonder. Tonight, it is my favorite time of the year.

4 comments:

  1. That sounds wonderful! No wonder it's your favorite day of the year. : )

    Our tradition was/is to open presents on Christmas Eve. We would go to Midnight Mass and come home to Santa having already been there (except for the years he made a personal appearance). We'd open presents, friends would stop by, we'd eat breakfast about 5 am, and be sleeping by the time everyone else was opening their presents. lol! It was great!

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  2. It looks like such a special night. I hope the main event lived up to the anticipation.

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  3. I think it's my favorite day of the year too. It's the peaceful, reflective quality to it. The quiet before the storm...

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  4. I love the picture you painted of Christmas Eve, especially that you took pictures of your sleeping boys. That is a sweet memory snap-shot.

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