Merry Christmas

Its Christmas Eve and pretty early in the morning for me. I am up making homemade cinnamon rolls.
I am so excited for Taylynn and Preston this year. They have really caught on to the Christmas spirit and even though they talk about being good because Sam (their elf on the shelf) is watching they know who we are celebrating.
I wanted to share some of my Christmas traditions when I was a child.
Our house would be fully decorated, with one of the biggest trees. Our tree would be even bigger once dad put it on the two foot platform he made just for the tree to go on. Underneath the tree would be vintage toys, books and a train.
You could always smell Christmas in our house, we had candles everywhere and a fire going in the fire place.

Christmas eve my dad would always take my Grandma shopping and to lunch. We (the kids) would stay at home, I am not sure what we would do, probably help mom bake and watch Christmas movies.

In the evening we would go to church for the Christmas eve service, then go to dinner, I think we typically went to Stake and Ale to eat. Afterward, we would drive around and look at Christmas lights.
When we got home my dad would read the Christmas story. I would read a book with sound effects using a keyboard, I hope this isn't on video anywhere!
We would then open one present and beg to open more and more after that. We would probably get through 4 each!
That night I always had trouble sleeping. I remember one Christmas eve sleeping in Mollie's room. I think that only happened once though. Other times I would lay there and here commotion and noise, it must have been Santa!

I have WONDERFUL memories of Christmas eve, thanks to my parents. They really wanted it to be magical for us and it was and still is. I will carry that magic on to my children and hopefully it will be passed on to their children.

This is a wonderful time of year and I wish you all a very blessed Christmas!