christmas eve

Christmas Eve this year was so much fun! We started the evening with our Christmas Eve service at church. I was a little nervous with trying to handle both of the girls during the service. Pastor Sam had a sweet time of inviting the kids to the stage and reading them a story. Emma ran on up, but Ava decided to stay with me. Halfway through the story, Ava jumps up out of her seat before I could catch her and heads up onto the stage. Jason was able to get her seated with the rest of the kids. The story ended and all the kids got up to go back to their parents. Well, all except Ava. She thought she would just hang out with Daddy on stage. Pastor Sam was able to coax her off and over to me. I really wasn't in the mood to climb on stage 9 months pregnant. You never know what little Ava will do next!

We have started a tradition of going out to eat just the four of us after the service. We had a yummy dinner at Outback and then headed home to do more celebrating. We started the time off by letting the girls pick a present each to open.

Sweet Ava was so meticulous in opening her presents. I'm pretty sure this one present took her 5 minutes to open.

Emma opened a giant sized puzzle.

Ava opened a Gigi video.

Emma with the finished result of the puzzle.

Posing in front of the tree...

Ahhh, sisterly love!

Next, we had a birthday party for Jesus. I had made red velvet cupcakes earlier in the day. So, we stuck a candle in the cupcakes for the girls, and they sang "Happy Birthday" to Jesus.

I love this pic of Ava!

The icing is Emma's favorite part of cupcakes!

I wish I had pictures of what we did next, but I am incapable of correctly operating Jason's mammoth camera. After we had cupcakes, Jason pulled out his guitar, and we all sang Christmas carols around the table. Then, Jason took the girl's to the couch and read them a book about Jesus' birth. I loved that when it was over I was able to ask the girls questions about Jesus' birth, and they were able to answer and recite the story for me.

Nothing could touch this parent's heart as much as knowing that your children understand the concept of why we celebrate Christmas. During our time of singing, we sang the girls' favorite song, "My Soul Magnifies the Lord". A line in the chorus says, "He has done great things for me." I asked Emma what was something that God had done for Emma that was great. She told me that it was just great that He loved her. So basic and so true. At the heart of it God loved us so much to send his only Son as a baby to rescue the world from sin and darkness. I am thankful that at 4 years old that my child knows the most basic of truth that God loves her!

Of course, no night would be complete without setting out a little something for Santa. Jason told Emma and Ava that Santa loves cupcakes and chocolate milk. Needless to say, "Santa" cleared his plate!