As far back as I can remember, my family has kept some special Christmas traditions. Every Christmas Eve, we would gather by the tree and listen to a reading of "The Night before Christmas," followed by the story of Christ's birth in Luke chapter 2. Since I got married and moved out of state, my family hasn't been together for Christmas in years, and this holiday season will be the first in a long time where we will get to enjoy the fun traditions we used to share. In honor of their visit, here is the poem that my dad will read to us on Christmas eve. Enjoy. :)
The Night Before Christmas'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."Love and Lattés,
Katie
baking cookies...
We did the ceremonial reading of The Night Before Christmas and the story of Jesus' birth on Christmas eve and exchanged presents on Christmas morning. I got a cozy bathrobe and a matching pair of slippers, an Estée Lauder makeup kit, a Dunder Mifflin travel mug and stress ball (which Callie bought at the NBC store in NYC... so awesome!) and assortment of other cool things. Of course, a major highlight of the morning was finally being able to open my special gift from Justin.
Late Christmas morning, we celebrated with the Vaughans in Lugoff. My family (with the exception of Callie) met Emily Grace for the first time. We all had so much fun!
The day after Christmas, we went to the movies and saw The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which I absolutely loved. If you haven't seen it yet, you should.
I hope your holiday was as fun and exciting as ours was!
