The Most Beautiful Christmas Eve

It's 11:38 on Christmas Eve -- early for Scott and I, really. We've had much later Christmas Eve nights in years past.

I know I won't post this until days and days after Christmas Eve when I get a chance to look through the pictures I took and get everything all organized, but I just don't want to forget...

the dress on Abigail at 5:30 Mass



her singing there





sitting next to Anna in the pew as the music swelled up and I remember when she was just a baby and I cried tears as I held her because finally we were a family that first Christmas. I told her that story again as we sat and listened to music tonight





listening to Abigail singing on the alter







coming home and having simple snacks before bedtime









"Star light, Star Bright ~ First Star I see tonight ~ Wish I may, wish I might, ~ have this wish I wish tonight." 



when the doorbell rang and how there was a letter from Santa







and how the girls sat so still as I read the letter aloud to them slowly.



how I had no idea the emotion that would take me over when I read the words, "and this will be my last letter to you. Perhaps one day I will write to your children" I sobbed.

Something in those lines -- it's more than I can explain on this blog, and in this space -- but it was a beautiful moment for me, like my whole childhood, and the childhood of my daughters hit me in one moment



setting up and getting everything just so

these moments, these that I cherish so, I could never ever forget them.



Yes, it was a most beautiful Christmas Eve...

"Backward, turn backward, O Time in your flights; Make me a child again just for tonight." ❤ Elizabeth Akers Allen 

Christmas Traditions

One of the things I love about being a mama is taking care of the traditions we hold so dear, and creating new ones as my girls grow.

This one we've been doing forever. Here's 

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

To be fully honest I didn't click on any of those links I just made. While most of the time I'm okay with God's plan that little girls grow up bit by bit every year. I just couldn't look at their littleness in those past years. Sometimes it helps to enjoy the 'little' that there still is when I'm not comparing it with little from years past. 

"Backward, turn backward, O Time in your Flight; Make Me a Child Again Just for Tonight." 

And this year... 

I loved this tree farm off the side of the road - people pulling sleds out to cut their own trees. 

Christmas Eve ~ part 2 ~ the magic

Santa Claus.

There is no doubt that I love Santa Claus. When I think of Christmas from my childhood - when I think of Christmas now, all grown up with children of my own, I get that same feeling of warmth and magic when I think of him.

I am so grateful for wonderful memories of Christmas. When I was a little girl Santa's elves delivered a letter to my brothers and I right after Christmas Eve Mass. I have every single one. They are truly works of art and of love. I looked forward to those letters each and every year. I always wondered what would happen when they stopped - when I grew up - because it was the magic and love in them that was Christmas to me as a girl.

It is so wonderful for me to be able to see my girls with that same magic and love - and although they are growing up, when that letter arrives on Christmas Eve they get to feel all of that joy, love and wonder that Christmas is all about.

This year Santa Claus delivered a huge box with directions to follow. Included were 4 scripts, one for each of us to follow and read when it got to our part. And as you'll see (although the whole story is not recorded) we read a aloud a beautiful family story of a Christmas long ago. It was a gift to sit in my living room with my little family and watch the meaning of Christmas being read aloud.

We followed along with the book of illustrations - like none I'd ever seen - each a work of art and love.

Santa Claus, thank you for the letters each year, for loving my girls the way that you loved me as a girl. Thank you for keeping the magic of Christmas and love alive in my heart and for letting my girls know a piece of that magic too.



There is nothing - really nothing like being a child at Christmastime.

And then it was off to bed for those two (getting bigger) little girls of ours. Because Christmas morning was soon to come.

Celebrate the Wonder

There are some traditions that we are still holding to - some that we all still love - seeing Santa is one of them.

"Let us put our minds together and see what kind of life we can make for our children" 

Not 'any ol' Santa of course, but the R E A L Santa. 

He visits in a pretty little Massachusetts town about an hour from our house, and he's well worth the hour drive.

Of course I pack blankets, and snacks and Christmas movies for the ride.

And honestly, some times when we are all in the car together it feels so so good. Because we are finally all sitting.

I've blogged about this tradition each and every year.

Here is 2017

and 2016

and 2015

and 2014

and 2013

and 2012

I know in my heart our years are numbered - not for going to a sweet place and shopping and going out for a special Christmas dinner. But sitting on Santa's lap. It's precious to me and I'm loving every single time she still wants to - and she does!



Quite possibly my favorite from the evening.



And there he is - in all his glory - Santa Claus!







They had a lovely and long chat. He asked her at one point if she had a pet and Abigail told him that she had a bird that he brought her last year - "oh I remember" he said with a twinkle in his eye. It was magical.



Abigail is growing up, of course. But she is still little - a sixth grader wearing a size 8 Santa Claus dress (just stay little - just stay little- just stay little)









After a while of that magic we walked out into the cold December night to dinner.



We talked and laughed and I counted my blessings.



I am so grateful to God for my little family. And for Christmas. And of course Santa Claus. I really love Santa Claus. 

"Backward, turn backward, O Time in your Flight; Make Me a Child Again Just for Tonight." 

~We Saw Santa~

We've been going here for years and years.  Because it's tradition it is so very special to us.

And this year it was even more magical because there not only was snow on the ground but it was snowing too.

Snow at Christmas, especially on these special days is just too wonderful for words.

It's such a pretty drive. I watch this as the girls watch a Christmas movie together in the back.



When we're close we go over a bridge, turn a corner and this is what you see... pure New England, Christmas goodness.



That, right there is the restaurant we had lunch in. A fireplace in every room.



So we started with lunch.





Hot chocolate for her and a small pot of tea for me.



It was oh so cold outside. So we ran quickly from The Farm Table to the Country Barn... to see Santa!





I've talked about Santa before. Especially here. He is Santa.



He loved her dress.



Abigail hopped right up and I counted my lucky stars that I still have a 'little one' who will climb right up on Santa's lap.





There was no one around and he spent a good 15 minutes talking with her about the true meaning of Christmas. Love. I smile so much listening that my face is sore.

Oh how I love this one.





Still little feet.



And little waist.



She listens as Santa talks.



And after, I feel so lit inside. Because I love love love Santa. And all he stands for. And who he's been in my life.



There is shopping. And fudge for this girl on the way out.



We went to the chocolate shoppe and stopped at their outdoor Cafe for hot chocolate and cookies for the car ride home.





And just when the snow was starting to come down really hard we got in our car and said goodbye for another year.





Big ol flakes comin down.





Now for sure, it feels like Christmas.



2016 is back here

2015 is back here

2014 is back here

2013 is back here

2012 is back here