Christmas Eve

We started a new tradition this year. Jesstine is old enough that Christmas has become more exciting to her. She doesn't fully understand the hub bub, but mostly does. So this year we decided to do what a lot of families do. We devoted Christmas Eve to a family date. It actually started earlier that day. I had to hold off on the cookie making because Jesstine had a stomach bug the day before. So, we made cookies first thing after breakfast! Here is the work in progress as well as the finished product.

Surprisingly, no fingers were licked in the production of this cookie decorating! Just to be sure that none of us caught her stomach bug, we let her eat her own cookies!

After the tree, the star. (Her choice of course.)

The finished product!

Part of the cookies I decorated.

After decorating cookies, we all got dressed and had our favorite weekly fix of Freddy's for lunch. This was followed by a nap. After nap, we got ready and went to the mall to ride the train (as per Jesstine's request). After the mall we took a tour of the lights around town. We went to two PHENOMENAL displays in particular. One was the Lights on St. Paul. This was the first I had heard of it. We thought we would try it since I drive by it every time I go to work. It was really pretty neat! After that we came back to our own side of town and took a stroll down Candy Cane Lane. It is a cul-de-sac of houses where every house is decorated and most are decorated a LOT! No pictures of lights (our older camera doesn't do well in low light). But we did get a few pictures (albeit on my cell phone) of Jesstine's trip on the train. (Trains are a recent fascination for her. She has seen the one in the mall several times and has begged to ride it! Thus the decision to ride the train on Christmas Eve!)

We decided to dress for the occasion of a Christmas Eve family date

She is ready to go!

Just look at the joy on that face!

Mommy and Daddy got to ride with her! She chose the caboose!

When we returned home from looking at lights, we opened a few presents from some nice family and friends who gave to Jesstine. Thank you Papa, Rainbow, Konrad and Kristina! She LOVED the gifts! (Note to Papa: The pillow pet has a permanent spot on her bed now!)

Coming soon: Christmas Day!!!!

In Him,

The Hutchins