christmas eve.

This is our fifth Christmas out here in Arizona already.  One of the things I really like since we've been out here is that Christmas Eve has become more of the celebration, not just the day *before* the Big Day, as it seemed in previous years.

We have a few family traditions that happen on Christmas Eve...

Christmas Eve service.  Usually at my brother-in-law & sister-in-law's church...

Luminarias.  This is something we did with Matt's mom when we visited her for Christmas.  So when we moved out here, it was something we definitely wanted to do.    I love how the luminarias look, and it's kind of a memorial to her, too, since she died on Christmas Eve sixteen years ago.  This was our fifth time doing luminarias... I think long enough to call it a well-established tradition. :)

Camp out by the Christmas tree.  The kids started this probably about 2005.  This year I noticed a huge difference in that David & Marissa stayed up later than the younger three kids.  I'm afraid they may be "outgrowing" this tradition, which I guess is to be expected.  This year, I had Marissa's help with being "elf", placing gifts under the tree once the kids fell asleep.

I like to imagine our grandkids in sleeping bags by the Christmas tree in future years.  :)

In addition to our Christmas Eve traditions...

This year, we also got together with Matt's brother & his wife at their house for a delicious brunch.  

We had a great time visiting, opening gifts, and just enjoying the festivities together and then headed to their church's Christmas Eve service.  After church, we headed back home and lit our luminarias.