Saturday, December 31, 2011

Christmas Eve

I love Christmas traditions!  When I think back on my childhood it is our family traditions that I remember most... a family drive on Christmas Eve to look at Christmas lights, opening stockings as a family on mom and dad’s bed early on Christmas morning, and the list could go on.  It is my hope that now our traditions will be the memories that will bring the holidays to life for our girls!

Every Christmas Eve for the past 6 years we have enjoyed Christmas Eve breakfast with our friends the Caldwells.  We always eat, spend time catching up, and exchanging gifts.  It is amazing to see how much this group has grown over the past few years.  When we first started this tradition Mackaylan was just an infant and Owen was a newborn.  Now we have 5 little kiddies under the age of 6 running all over the house and tearing into gifts!  It is always so much fun!

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The rest of Christmas Eve is usually spent preparing for our Christmas Eve dinner with the rest of the O’Shields gang.  Usually we all go to the Christmas Eve service at church, but this year I stayed behind with Lydia because we didn’t think she would be able to sit through the service and communion. After church we enjoy dinner and opening lots. of. gifts.  DSC_0876

While the gifts are fun, the time spent with our family celebrating the birth of Christ is what makes this evening so meaningful!

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And of course the night would not be complete with out our annual O’Shields photo (and a silly shot too!)

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After a very long, but fun day these two little girls were worn out! It was time to head to bed so Santa could come and deliver some fun!!

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Christmas 2011…. to be continued….

1 comment:

More Than Words said...

What fun pictures!! And, your kids will always cherish the years you've spent with your friends at Christmas! That's what I remember when I was little!!!