Christmas Eve 2012

For only the second time in our marriage, we spent Christmas Eve at home. Expecting a baby (9 weeks!), wanting to have Santa in our own home, and having worked some marathon days up to the Christmas holiday had/has us wanting to stick close.

So Christmas Eve, we got up and had a beautiful holiday breakfast of donuts from the local donut place. I was just not feeling like cooking a full breakfast that morning, and the boys in my family were great with it. The day was really relaxing and low key, which was just what we needed. Less time being busy, and more time thinking and celebrating the Savior's birth.

For the first time ever, Jack made cookies with me for Santa. Looking through the pictures afterward was seeing one of my best dreams come true. We love that boy so much, and I'm so blessed that God gave him to me.


(For the record, he knows the oven is hot and should stay away from it.)
Before the Candlelight service at church.
This was our first year to go to our church's candlelight service since we're usually out of town. Our Pastor calls it "the most beautiful place in Fort Worth on Christmas Eve." I have to agree with him. Everyone attends worship together (i.e. no nursery) so Jack came into the service with us. He did awesome, and when I told him it was time to stand and sing, he put his little fingers together and started into a very confident rendition of the Itsy Bitsy Spider.

{Adorable.}

After, we came home to eat and open some presents! Our supper consisted of fun holiday foods like party sandwiches, sausage balls, and cookies, then we headed to the Christmas tree where we opened presents from one another.

We figured Santa might like a nice, cold Dr. Pepper on his trip through Texas.
And then we tucked our little guy into his bed together for a good night's rest before Santa came!