christmas eve.

christmas eve was spent with my family this past year and we did our usual traditions.  my parents usually rent a stretch limo for the night, this year it was a stretch hummer, (fancy shmancy) and we drive around the valley looking at all the lights.  we always make a pit stop at the mesa temple to see all the beautiful lights and displays.  it really seems to put us in the true spirit of christmas when so many other things are on the mind...(santa, presents, kids, candy, etc.) but really it's all about the birth of christ and i'm glad we are reminded of that especially on christmas eve.  and the temple is such a special place to be.

after we driving around some more and checking out all the pretty houses all lit up, we made our way back to my parents where my dad reads the annual story of twas the night before christmas while we all sip on hot chocolate.  then we hurry home to get all showered up and jammied up in new christmas jammies that our elf, charlie red, leaves for the kids.  they look forward to this every year.  once we leave reindeer food in the front lawn and a plate of some very sugary cookies with milk for santa, its off to bed.  after all the giggles stop and the kids slip off to dreamland its now finally time for santa to come and do his thing.  it was a perfect christmas eve.