December Eve

When to set up the Christmas Tree and decorations is a little bit of a sticking point around here. One of us is always a little bit eager to start the Christmas holidays. The other always wants to hold off just a "little bit longer", perhaps in hopes that some eggnog will magically appear for the decorating festivities (the alcohol free, full-of-fat stuff you buy in the grocery store in North America). Since we would be waiting around a long time for eggnog (and not for a lack of trying, unsuccessfully, to make our own) we decided to compromise this year of doing what we called 'December Eve'.

December Eve was to be celebrated on the last eve of November. We would put up the tree, decorate the apartment, eat special Christmas treats, maybe even sing a few carols, the kids would leave out their shoes (Sinterklaas style) and wake up to receive their advent calendars. And with that glorious First of December morning would come endless holiday cheer and music - lots and lots of music.

It was certainly a good goal, but it didn't quite work out that way. Schedules conflicted and despite December Eve being planned a month in advance, we needed to move the date ahead just a few days before its' arrival. Since the new date was sooner than we had planned that meant no time to bake special treats, some decorations were not yet purchased and advent calendars would have to wait. Despite a little bit of disappointment from the perfectionist in the family (any guesses who that may be?) we went full steam ahead and it was still a pretty special way to welcome the holiday season.

There was music. There was chocolate. There were decorations. There was laughter and storytelling. Most importantly, there was a whole lot of time together as a family. 

The boys fixed up our family advent calendar with crazy glue (it worked so well, we joked about how we should have used it in the first place).

Atticus snuck in for some cuddles with Mommy and Milayla.

Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus were carefully unpacked.

The tree was trimmed as we recalled the stories behind our yearly Christmas ornaments.

Then it was time for hot chocolate, speculoos and games before heading to bed full of excitement and anticipation for the season ahead.

While the evening didn't play out as planned, and the pictures weren't perfectly crisp and clear it was still a wonderful evening full of the Christmas Spirit.