Project Christmas: Day 24

Tomorrow is Christmas!!! Wahoo!!! Well, today, we did what we are beginning to believe is "our" Christmas tradition. We're pretty sure we can't guarantee all traditions during the festive season will change, but we feel these are easily moved and ones our kids can take with them. So we started off with a "just family" Christmas dinner. It was my first (unsupervised) and so we kept it simple, just the things that are essential and I know how to cook: ham, rolls, potatoes, and green bean casserole. In years to come, I'll probably add to the menu and my table settings will be more 'grown up', but for now, it was perfect. Made some amazing green bean casserole from scratch (had to cut my own beans and all) except for the French's fried onions and I was so proud of myself.

We then shoved our stuffed selves into our swimming apparel and headed down to the pool for the Christmas Eve swim. It was perfect. The sun was shining, the water was JUST right, kids were happy. Couldn't have asked for a better time spent together.

Em is learning how to kick her feet and she is in LOVE with splashing people when she does it.

Cooper is daring to "choo-choo" like a train around the edge of the pool. I always enjoy the few moments when he's timid... they're so few and far between.

Then we came back for naps (kids) and dessert (adults). And when all was said and done for the day, we opened our Christmas Eve presents: new pajamas. Yes, this is the same material I used for Em's 2nd birthday dress, but it's as close to Christmas-y as I could get and I really liked the flannel, even in the 1,000 degree heat. We read our story, and Daddy read the Christmas story, then it was off to bed. Em and Coop are still rather clueless about Santa Claus/Father Christmas/St. Nick and the whole present concept. We're actually rather happy about that because we know that means we won't be woken up at 5am to shouts of, "Santa came!" So here's to hoping that you enjoyed your last day before Christmas as much as we did, and from here in South Africa, "happy Christmas to all and to all a good night!"