Christmas Eve

We spent Christmas Eve surrounded by family. We started at Bubba’s with Spif, Granddaddy, and the boy cousins. Helen Grace is still scared to death of William and Ryves. It’s almost comical to watch her jump into my arms when they come toward her. We spent most of the afternoon surrounding Bubba’s dining room table and grazing the spread, while Helen Grace danced to Barney in the sun room (very typical). She got her first shot at tearing into Christmas presents, and she didn’t disappoint although she was a little timid at first. 

Then we went to mass at Christ the King. To be honest, I’ve been very hesitant to take Helen Grace because I didn’t want to be that family with a loud child, and I thought we’d be walking with her outside the whole time. Well, despite waiting about 45 minutes for mass to finally start, she really behaved well. She loved the music and would clap after every song, and she was very entertained by the Christmas pageant that the kids put on. When the angel opened her arms to proclaim the news of Jesus’ birth, Helen Grace, who was standing in my lap, opened her arms wide as well! About an hour and a half into it, she got a little fussy, and we decided to call it. We headed to Grandma and Peggy’s for our Christmas Eve tradition of opening presents in front of the fire. Helen Grace spent the night dancing on her Christmas quilt and putting magnets on her new easel. We might have a little artist on our hands!

At bedtime, Helen Grace and I listened to a recorded book of The Night Before Christmas by Bubba. It brings tears to my eyes to hear Bubba’s sweet Southern drawl telling that story, and it was quite the experience to have my baby girl sitting in my lap listening as well. Helen Grace sat at full attention and at the end of the first page, she clapped with excitement. At the end of the book, Bubba reads, “Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.” Then she adds, “Merry Christmas to you, Helen Grace, from Bubba,” and Helen Grace said, “Bubba!” We will treasure that book for years to come.

Hugs for Bubba “Show me your tongue!” Now to Grandma and Peggy’s house… Grandma and Peggy gave Helen Grace a Christmas quilt with cross-stitched squares, made by a friend at church. HG loved it and rolled and danced all over it. Playing with Daddy This is basically how she spent the entire night…loves the magnets. Sweet kisses