Merry Christmas Eve

This has been a wonderful Christmas Eve, and I know tomorrow will be even better!  We started out the morning by going to Mimi and Papa's for breakfast.  Papa fixed up a big spread, and it was yummy.  After breakfast, we came home to spend some time with Bailey and to fix up some things to take to Mimi and Papa's for lunch.  This year, Uncle Joe and Aunt Charlotte joined us.  We ate a late lunch/early dinner.  Kathryn loved the steak.  This is unusual since generally she doesn't eat much meat.  After lunch, we opened presents.  Kyle and I received lots of goodies, and Kathryn did too.  Kathryn got tons of clothes, a beautiful navy coat, a pair of Hunter rain boots, a pair of cowgirl boots, a wallet, a purse, and a refrigerate.  She received a ceramic tea set from Uncle Joe and Aunt Charlotte...this has been one of her favorite gifts.  AND, from Uncle Michael and Uncle Jay, she received a Pink Escalade.  Kathryn immediately wanted to drive the car (or as Kathryn calls it her "tractor").  She hopped right in and began pressing the pedals.  She has some learning to do, but overall, she did pretty well.  Listening to Kyle's frustration when trying to instruct her on how to drive made me think of how much fun real driving lessons will be one day.
Next, Kyle, Kathryn, and I went to our church service.  This is an important tradition for us.  While Christmas is lots of fun for many reasons, we always want to instill in Kathryn the true meaning of the season.  Kathryn did pretty well in "Big Church."  During the Lord's Supper, after Kyle and I took the drink, Kathryn said in a soft, sweet voice, "I wish I was grown up."  I guess she realized all the adults were partaking in the Lord's Supper, and she wanted to participate too.  Never the less, I cracked up laughing.
After church, we went back to Mimi and Papa's for dessert, and then we headed home.  Uncle Joe and Aunt Charlotte gave us some "reindeer food" so Kathryn and Kyle sprinkled that outside.  Next we wrote a letter to Santa and finally left cookies on a plate for him.  Before going to bed, Kathryn told our elf Buddy good-bye.  I know she will be ready for Buddy to come back next year.  And, after three stories, Kathryn went to bed and did not get up one single time.  This is a huge success!  This Christmas Eve seemed less stressful than any other year, and we have had a great time being together.  Merry Christmas Eve!