Christmas Eve Festivities

Christmas this year.  Wow.  Magical and heart-warming.

Our Christmas Eve day was spent with Grandpa, Grandma, and Sadie.  We loved the visit and the special gifts, and the gingerbread cookie frosting contest.  And Easton loved building his monster truck with Grandpa.

{My Gingerbread Girl cookie}

{Easton's}

{Tate's}

{Patrick's}

{Sadie's}

{Mom's (Grandma's)}

{Dad's (Grandpa's)}

Then for dinner we invited a sweet little old man to join us.  Bill lives at the nursing home where Patrick works and we loved having him be part of our family's Christmas Eve.  I think it was one of the most special parts of my day.  Even though it was stressful making cookies and dinner, and getting all of the other Christmas things tied up, I was so glad that we took this opportunity to open our homes and hearts to one of our Heavenly Father's children.

{This is a blurry low-lit picture, but I couldn't help but post it.  While me and Patrick were finishing up dinner preparations, all three little ones were reading stories to and talking to our new friend}

We enjoyed hearing Bill's stories about professional bull riding and milking cows and the rodeos he and his brothers put on while his parents were driving their milk and eggs into the nearest town to the Safeways store.  He told us the same stories over and over again because of his dementia, as well as asking how old the children were and the name of our kitty at least 5 times each.  And we loved every minute of it.  I really can't even describe the feeling of warmth and love I feel in my heart whenever I think of this evening.  I hope we can continue this tradition of bringing an elderly person into our home again next year.  It's a tradition I think would be a very special and meaningful thing for our family.