Last night we enjoyed some traditional "Christmas Eve" activities, including dressing for church (no small task for hop-along Kristen), Miles singing in the Children's Choir, Emery helping open the
"present" during the children's service (the baby Jesus), baking cookies for Santa, spreading Emery's "magic reindeer dust" on the snow outside our house, and finally reading The Night Before Christmas.
Maybe the most exciting part of that ritual was Miles announcing that he wanted to read the book ... and he did! That was a fun parenting moment, to have your child read that story to the family for the first time.
We set the children up with a phone next to Miles' bed, with specific instructions to call Kristen and me when they woke up and were ready to come downstairs. We encouraged 7:00 AM, and added, "... but NO EARLIER than 6:30 AM." At exactly 6:30, my cell phone rang next to my bed with excited voices proclaiming they KNEW Santa had been at our house. Miles reported hearing the sleigh land on our roof at exactly 2:07 AM.
Our family has been showered and spoiled by family and friends with wonderful gifts to remind us of the love we share. Thank you to everyone for making this a special day. We look forward to phone conversations, iChats, and personal catch-ups in the near future to reinforce how grateful we truly are.
Love,
Brayer
More images here: http://bit.ly/4t22KB
