More Christmas

I have to back track here and post some pictures of our Christmas. We had another great Christmas, although I was really trying to be careful not to do too much and end up having a baby on Christmas Eve or Christmas day. Christmas Eve actually began with a trip to the doctor. He informed me that I was very close to having the baby and offered to induce me that day, commenting that I would not make it to my previous inducement date of Dec. 28, the following Monday. I said I would have to chance it because I really wanted to avoid the 24th and 25th. He wished me luck, offered Dec. 26 as an alternative to be induced (which I quickly agreed to) and that was that. I was really nervous though and tense so that made it hard to enjoy the holiday as much. I did as little as possible and that meant compromising a little bit on the details of our family traditions. And the kids were also prepped on what plan B was in case I ended up having the baby (that is Christmas would still happen, just maybe a few days late.) But, as the end of the story is already posted, after about 9:00pm on Christmas night I was able to breathe a little easier. We made it. I not only wanted the new baby to have her own day for a birthday, but I wanted the kids to have Christmas and all the excitement together as a family. It all turned out well, and for that I am truly grateful.

Here are some pictures of our Christmas Eve dinner. We started the tradition last year to have a journey to Bethlehem themed evening where the kids dress up and we stop at an "inn" to have our lamb dinner, flatbread, hummus, grapes, olives, goat cheese, dried fruit and nuts, etc. The kids were so excited again for the lamb. Maggie had 5 helpings, whereas I managed to eat almost 1. Maybe in time, especially as this tradition continues, I will come to like lamb. After dinner we went to the "grassy hillside" to learn about the birth of the Savior. We read the story from Luke, alternating the narrative with Christmas hymns and primary songs. Xander decided he wanted to change into a sheep.

After our dinner and program, the kids opened one present, as is also tradition. (Joseph grew up opening all his presents on Christmas Eve, which comes from his parents' tradition, which is custom in Sweden and Norway where is ancestors come from.) Usually I get them new PJs, but being in Singapore and noting that the girls needed new swimwear (it gets worn out fast here with all the swimming we do year round,) they got new swimsuits this year. Of course they wanted to try them on, and then since they had on swimsuits, why not jump in the pool . . . well, one thing led to another and it turned out that the rest of the evening was a swim party.

Christmas morning came early. Joseph and I didn't set anything up because we weren't sure if we would have to leave suddenly in the middle of the night. So we scrambled out of bed and quickly got everything set up while we told the kids to wait and minute while we checked if Santa really came. We had it all ready in closets from the night before, so luckily it didn't take too long. Abigail and Maggie got the trunks for their dolls. Abigail also got this piggy bank that she absolutely adores. Xander is obsessed with monsters and dinosaurs lately and wanted a monster that can move. The closest thing Santa came up with was a robotic T-Rex thing. It has a remote control and can roam around by itself--a little advanced for him, but he loves it. Ella was in candy cane heaven, finding and opening every candy cane she came across--most of them not hers. Of course she got some presents (a set of tents with a tunnel connecting them), but this Christmas for her was about the candy.