Christmas Eve
On Christmas Eve, Mr. C. and I got up around 6:30 that morning to start our day. We did sleep in just a little since it was a holiday, but I was too excited to stay in bed very long. We were headed to Elizabeth and Charles’ house, and Christmas Eve together means the world to me. Being able to celebrate the grandkids—Lane, Landon, and Sophie—along with everyone else is truly one of my greatest joys.
Elizabeth and Charles were hosting, and everyone gathered to make the day special. Alicia and Jonathan, Brody and Savannah, Lane, Landon, Sophie, Mr. C., and I were all there. Kaylee, Kennedy, and Waylon also stopped by, and they are very much considered family. Kaylee and Alicia have been best friends since pre-K, which I think is so special. It’s amazing how strong their friendship still is after all these years.
Mr. C. and I brought what I call my cherry salad—also known as the “pink stuff”—along with banana pudding. We also brought tea, Sprite, Diet Coke, and fruit beer for drinks, plus deviled eggs for an appetizer. Elizabeth outdid herself, as always, with chicken and dressing, ham, sweet potato casserole, green beans, corn, mashed potatoes, and mac and cheese. There was also a relish tray and chips with dip. Savannah brought no-bake cookies and both nut and no-nut fudge, which were all delicious.
We arrived around 2:00 and spent time visiting before Brody and Savannah arrived. Once they did, we started opening gifts. We opened them almost one at a time, and I loved that because we really got to see what everyone received and enjoy the moment together. That was probably my favorite part of the day.
After gifts, Kaylee and the kids arrived, and then it was time to eat. Mr. C. and I definitely ate way too much—but it was worth it. Everything was so good. I will always say that Elizabeth does an amazing job hosting all of us.
Later on, we played Dirty Santa, which isn’t my favorite game, but it’s their tradition and always brings plenty of laughs. Mr. C. and I brought a $50 first aid kit as one of the gifts. I also brought an Aztec-style blanket with rich red tones, a red Stanley cup, and a box of Swiss Miss holiday treats. Mr. C. kept saying he was going home with that first aid kit—and somehow, it worked out that he did!
The gift I brought was stolen a couple of times, and I believe Charles ended up with it. The gift I received was a large, beautiful potting planter bowl, a food slicer, and a very sharp kitchen knife. I could have chosen any gift since I was number one to pick and also had the option of choosing last, but I really liked that knife, so I kept it. Mr. C. and I plan to put sand and artificial flowers in the planter and use it on our porch.
We ended up leaving around 7:00 pm. Mr. C. was ready to head home—it had been a long day for him. Everyone else stayed behind to keep playing games and visiting.
Overall, our Christmas Eve with the kids and grandkids was absolutely fantastic. I couldn’t have asked for better fellowship, wonderful food, and meaningful time together. Days like this are what make the holidays so special.
No comments:
Post a Comment