Christmas Eve

Holidays are always better with family and Christmas Eve was no exception. Doug had the day off, the first time he hasn't worked Christmas Eve in years. He helped me get things ready for tomorrow's dinner, helped clean the house, etc. Derek, Shelby and Zoe came early afternoon so we could start our festivities early. We had to make cherry cookies of course (that will probably forever more be known as smash cookies since Finley likes to smash the cherries onto the dough). Zoe wasn't big enough to help this year but managed to eat some cookie dough and be cute while we worked together.  Meanwhile in Arizona, Chad's family was making smash cookies too!

We FaceTimed with Matt and Sherlyn, Chad, Anney and Finley all at the same time. Everyone's picture was together on my iPad screen. It was pretty cool. Technology has made some neat advances. We were all able to talk to each other. Zoe was fascinated with it but kept wanting to push the red X which would have disconnected us.  Finley and Zoe kept waving at each other. It was adorable.  After the cookies were baked there was a little bit of down town while Zoe had a nap and we just visited.

Later we baked our pizzas downstairs so we could eat them while watching Muppet Christmas Carol. While they were baking it was time for the reading of the Christmas story from Luke. I don't think I'll ever forget this experience. Doug started reading and Zoe was babbling and playing with her toys and then suddenly turned and focused right in on Doug. She watched him for a few seconds and then reverently folded her arms. So sweet. The veil is thin for these little ones. She knew that Grandpa was reading a special sacred story. She looked at all of us until we folded our arms as well. We were all in tears at the precious innocence of a child. "And a little child shall lead them."

We only made it through half of the movie because she was so tired and needed to get home to bed. We had her open her presents from us. She kept hugging and "loving" the stuffed Winnie the Pooh toy we gave her. It was a fun, special and sacred day with family.