Christmas Eve Was a Delight

Well, the title says it all, folks!  Today was one of the most pleasant and delightful Christmas Eves we've ever experienced as a family.  It may have started a tad bit rocky -- I did force everyone to do some chores and clean up the house first thing this morning -- but after that, it was a nice and chill day of playing games, doing puzzles, watching Home Alone, and kind of decorating gingerbread houses.

We finished our evening off with some Gumbo (which Scott made all by himself) and our traditional Christmas pageant followed by our new traditional Jolabokaflod.  :)  It was a hit!  After Book of Mormon and family prayer, I remembered that I also had Christmas ornaments to give to all the kids and as everyone scattered upstairs, I was able to relax for a bit and dive into one of my new books (The Secret Lives of Colors) -- and I'm loving it!

(My books for the kids and Scott.)

The younger three went to bed (and to sleep) much more readily than they typically do and the older three spent the rest of tonight up in their rooms watching stuff on their laptops while Scott and I got the house all tidied up once again.  As I'm sitting here contemplating the day -- and this whole Christmas season -- I have to say that my very favorite moments this year have been as I've sat at the piano playing Christmas music.  I love how much joy and peace I feel as I'm playing songs that rejoice in the birth of our Savior.  While finishing up my tidy up of the piano room after the kids had all gone up to bed, the last thing I straightened up was the little nativity set that I bought this year for Isaac to have something unbreakable to play with.  As I put all the pieces in place, I couldn't help but think of this quote from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland:

Shepherds would soon arrive and later, wise men from the East. Later yet the memory of that night would bring Santa Claus and Frosty and Rudolph—and all would be welcome. But first and forever there was just a little family, without toys or trees or tinsel. With a baby—that’s how Christmas began.

I am so grateful for this wonderful season.  It's difficult for words to express how thankful I am for a Savior who knows me and loves me.  Having this peaceful and quiet moment at the end of the day was a beautiful reminder of the true meaning of Christmas.