Christmas Eve

The Heinisch family Christmas Eve traditions have not changed much over the years - Christmas cookies with Dad, wrapping gifts, children's mass, opening Godparent gifts and watching It's a Wonderful Life.  This year, however, there was one major alteration.  The Heinisch children decided that they were old enough to attend mass other than the one geared for children.  I wasn't surprised when they stated it.  Ever since Father Hire had died the children's mass just hadn't been the same for them - they missed his camel stories around the nativity.  We did all attend another mass together today which  I appreciated very much.

Every year since I can remember Meg has asked for a white Christmas.  Unfortunately, her wish has not always been granted.  This year, however, she was awoken to falling snow which had started early in the morning.  By the afternoon there were winter weather warnings everywhere in northern Indiana.  None of us minded as we planned to stay in anyway and it made for a beautiful setting for our Christmas Eve activities.  The cookies Doug, Brett, Cam and Meg made were delicious.  Brett and Cam's gingerbread train was up and running before dinner.  The gingerbread house that Meg and I worked on did not fair as well, but it made for a hilarious story.  Cal, Meg and Cam enjoyed opening their godparent gifts and Brett joined the group when they all opened their presents from Carl.

We hadn't watched very many Christmas movies before today, so having White Christmas, Miracle on 34th Street and A Shop Around the Corner playing made for a great backdrop during the afternoon.  Doug put in "It's a Wonderful Life" as soon as we finished his delicious lasagna dinner.  Meg opted out of the first hour of the movie, but did join us and the boys for the last half.  She made it down just in time for our favorite movie quotes - "I know people don't like me, but that's ok, because I don't like them either." by Mr. Potter and "Why did we have to have all of these kids anyway?" by George Bailey.  Everyone headed their own way after movie except for Doug and I.  We enjoyed a glass of eggnog, watched A Christmas Carol and waited for Santa to arrive.  As the Heinisch children have gotten older he has arrived earlier and earlier every year.