This year, we decided to change things up a bit with our Christmas traditions. We wanted to stay home (at least on the Womack compound) this year on Christmas day with the boys. Bennett is to the age where he was going to want to spend time at home with his toys-- and who could blame him? Traveling all over when you have new stuff at home didn't sound like a good time at all to us so... luckily, we were able to shuffle a few things to be able to do just that!
Christmas Eve, we headed to Jonathan's parents' house for breakfast and presents. Here is B opening one of his gifts. He needed no assistance whatsoever. This was the only picture I took. Apparently I got sidetracked helping Holden open his presents.
After breakfast and presents, we headed to Jonathan's grandparents' house to have Christmas lunch with all the family there.
Bennett and Holden with their third cousins. This is quite a crew.
Bennett decorating his snowman cookie.
The kids opened their presents and Holden and B were both getting pretty tired. We headed back home to get ready for the rest of our traditions. Holden got a 10 minute power nap... B fell asleep in the car. Luckily, it was enough of a nap for both of them to be in a good mood the rest of the day.
We had decided early on that we would add our Christmas Eve Communion service to our Christmas Eve tradition this year. It's one that we will continue and it was one of the most special things we did. It was Bennett's first experience witnessing communion. It dawned on me that he is usually in Children's Church when we do communion on Sunday. I explained to him what was happening and why we were doing it. It was so nice to be able to take time out of the busy hustle and bustle and reflect on the baby in the manger that came to die to save the world. What a gift... and what a precious blessing.
After communion, we headed home to sprinkle dump all the reindeer food on the ground so Santa and Rudolph would be sure to find us!
One proud "Reindeer Food Dumper"
Camera Flash-1000, Holden-0
(I found this short sleeve longall before Thanksgiving. I was sure it would need a jacket BUT... thanks to the 70 degree weather, it was one of the only Christmas outfits he got to wear!
After we sprinkled our reindeer food, we headed inside to put on jammies and read the Christmas story from the Storybook Bible. We took a timeout to take our annual family pic in front of the Christmas tree.
Then B wanted to use the self timer on my camera for some of his own shots...
Then it was time to put out our cookies and milk. Bennett, as per tradition, had to sample Santa's goodies.
Holden was eyeing them too!
After bedtime prayers and snuggles, we headed to bed. Thanks to the nice late nap Bennett took in the car... and the excitement of Santa's impending visit, it was nearly 10:00 before he got to sleep!
We had such a busy, yet fun, Christmas Eve filled with so many family traditions... both old and new!
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