A few years ago we decided that for the next 18 years Christmas will be at home. It's just too crazy and too expensive to travel. While we miss our family that's out of town, it's a decision I've really been happy about. Christmas Eve and Christmas have been "relaxed", as much as it can be with 4 young kids. Christmas Eve we all work together to make food for our buffet dinner, a Buckingham tradition.
The girls enjoyed the gooey sausage ball mix.
You know, it's the customary Christmas Eve dogpile.
Plenty of food to last us several days, although that huge bowl of fruit was gone before we blinked! These kids can put away some fruit!
This year we went to an outdoor Christmas service at the Simpsonville clock tower. They had hot chocolate, which was a bonus since it was pretty darn cold and windy. Lighting the candles during Silent Night was pretty comical in the wind. It became a little more of a "who can keep your candle lit the longest" game, but still, it was a neat service. We figure it'll be one that we laugh about around the table one year. "Remember when Mom and Dad made us go to that service outside and we froze?" Anyway, afterward we were ready to eat. The kids were pretty excited to eat snacks for dinner. Before we dove in, Buck read the Christmas story. It was one of those moments that just breathed Norman Rockwell to me. I absolutely cherish these years of Christmas with small children and the wonder they bring.
After chowing down, we got Santa's plate ready. This year they wanted to make sure there were some healthy options on the plate.
These pictures cracked me up because Jake was after the cookies from the moment we set him down, and the others were intent on him not getting them.
Here are Jingleheimer Schmidt and Pedro, our elves on the shelf. The kids really had fun finding them each morning. At first John tried to prove that they weren't real, then he just gave in and enjoyed the fun. They were good little non-hypocritical elves that didn't cause any mischief. Thank goodness!
This is the card Eve made for Santa. "Maree Christmas Santa! Frum Eve" There is an ornament with Jesus in the manger on the tree, along with several others. Santa has a gift in his hand, and I think maybe a cookie?
Christmas morning started around 6 or 6:30. I can't remember which we gave as a limit, but the kids were good to stick to it. They all slept together Christmas Eve. Grandma came bright and early, so she was there to see all of the excitement. Ellie was still a little tired.
Jake quickly found the candy Santa left and enjoyed it.
Later in the day Amy, Bella, and Marco came over. We had lots of fun playing.
Through the afternoon Buck fried turkeys with the neighbors while Grandma, the kids, and I played new games, did new crafts and science projects...you name it. We also got to talk to Grandma and Grandpa Bucky on Skype. Technology is wonderful. We had a nice fried turkey dinner with Grandma. I gave Jake the turkey leg for a fun picture. Afterward I tried to trade it out for some turkey meat because I didn't want him to choke on a bone. He would have nothing of it!
In all of the chaos and fun of Christmas, we really try to stress to the kids, and to remember ourselves, the humility and sacrifice of Christ, leaving his position at God's right hand to come live a lowly life and die on our behalf. It is certainly a reason to celebrate.
No comments:
Post a Comment