Christmas Eve

 A week before Christmas, Master S and Miss Lilly got to experience their first 'Ballet' with their piano teacher this year.  I had to work, and their piano teacher had free tickets, and graciously offered to take them.  I sent the camera with Master S to get pictures of him and Miss Lilly ... I got a lot of pics of him and another guy that went, mostly making crazy faces in the car.  This is the best one.  I got NONE of Miss Lilly!  In his defense, cameras were not allowed in the theater, but still!!!!  Anyway, he also has this thing for heights, well actually an intense 'fear' of heights that we've been dealing with for awhile - and the tickets were on the balcony level.  I was so proud of him, because after a lot of talking he finally agreed to go up the elevator and sit for the performance.  He was very brave to face his fears and he enjoyed the ballet too, well, at least the music.  Miss Lilly loved it!  Thank you to a wonderful piano teacher and a Bro. Horvath from church, who helped my boy face a fear and overcome!

 For Christmas Eve this year we did something a little different.  We threw a party!  I had about 23 people at my house - so crazy, but so fun!  We hung sheets in the basement for a room to decorate gingerbread houses --- 12 of them.  And hung ornaments from the unfinished ceiling. 

 There were so many great houses!  Everyone won an award and a prize to go with it, like 'Marshmallow World Award' for the most frosting ... marshmallow snowmen for the prize.  Here are a few of the houses all decorated ...

 This one won the 'Decorator Award'.

 This one won the 'Best of Show'.

I loved the 'grinch in the chimney' on this one!

 We had a big Italian pasta dinner (We always have an Italian Christmas Eve since J.D. spent two years there on his mission).  And then everyone brought traditional Christmas desserts from their family.  This is a French dessert -- croquembouche -- a tower of cream puffs!

Then we had the kids dress up and act out the Nativity, while we read the story from the bible.  Notice it is complete with a blue sky and star ... sang some carols and just enjoyed the company of good friends.  J.D. set off some fireworks at the end.  Since there was a ban on them this summer because of the drought we had some that we didn't use.  It was a great ending for a great party!  SO MUCH FUN! I think J.D. and I decided that was the best part of Christmas this year - just might be a new tradition around here.