christmas eve

 

Normally we eat in the formal dinning room for special occasions.  We didn't for Thanksgiving for two reasons.  I hadn't found the linens yet and the silver wasn't polished.  Everything came together beautifully for Christmas Eve though.  Karlee set the table and did an amazing job.

The china is Moms and the silver and glass bowls are Grandma Steels.  The only eye sore was the pitcher, Tupperware.  Karlee wouldn't allow it on the table when pictures were taken.  I guess that's something my kids need to get me.  That and crystal glasses would be great! (hint, hint)  

After lunch Bailee went to work.  No fun but that's life as an adult.   The rest of the kids really wanted to try ice skating.  Our city has three outdoor parks/rinks they maintain.  Two for ice skating, one for ice hockey.  It was a clear, calm afternoon.  Only 10 degrees but no wind so it was doable. We stayed for over an hour, until Brian and I were too cold to watch and encourage anymore.

By the end they were all doing great.  They were able to skate in a circle and stop without falling.  I should share that Karlee didn't fall the entire time.  She's very proud of that fact. 

 

Once it got dark enough we went to see some Christmas lights at Mooseheart. One area had a light show.

Then this light tunnel at the end was pretty cool! After lights we went home to read the story of Christ's birth then the boys went to bed.  They've been sleeping all week in the basement on an air mattress.  It's so much darker down there that they've been sleeping in every morning.