{Christmas Eve // Santa Waffles // Stockings // Church}

 This Christmas Eve was probably one of my favorites yet! All three of us were home and made the sweetest of memories together. And, we were able to stay home in our pajamas for most of the day. That's a good day if you ask me! 

We slept in that morning and it was glorious! Then I got busy cleaning the kitchen, just to mess it up again. Nate went out to wash his truck and our sweet neighbor friends came over. I made Santa Waffles and they came out so cute!! They were also delicious. 

So easy! Just make your waffles and then top with whip cream and fruit to make your Jolly ol' Santa! After breakfast, Mason made his Reindeer food. His elves left him all the ingredients to do so that morning. They left a note saying they would come back when we were at church to sprinkle it with magic dust. 

Then we were all set to sprinkle the Reindeer food that evening! Oh, and Mason remembered from a movie that Reindeer love candy canes, so we were sure to add some to our feed!

After making the Reindeer food, we let Mason give the dogs their gifts. He was so excited to do so. He loves his pups something fierce. And then we let him open one small gift. One of my favorite traditions growing up was getting to open one gift on Christmas Eve. I could tell how happy it made Mason, so I think it's a tradition we will continue. Next year I will put more thought into his Christmas Eve gift!! 

Nathan and I typically do not buy each other Christmas gifts because we normally just buy whatever we want throughout the year. Or we just save and take a big trip after Christmas. This year we decided to do stockings for each other! It's 2020, why the heck not?! I really loved shopping for him some things to go in his stocking. Here's what we got for each other:

My stocking:

Google Nest 

Pajamas

Slipper socks

Candy/treats

Hand Sanitizers 

Nate's stocking:

Wireless ear buds

Chemical Guys car wash products & towels

Undies

A cape/tent thing for when he shaves his beard

Candy/treats

Mason helped both of us pick out some items for each other. It was so fun to get to do this.

After we opened our stockings it was time to get ready for Christmas Eve service. Our church held services at 12, 2, and 4 on Christmas Eve. We opted for the 4pm service. This is one of my favorite services of the year. And of course, Pastor Brown taught me something I had never known or thought about. It is crazy how you can hear the Christmas story so many different times and take something new from it each time. I'm so thankful for our church and our Pastor. The whole service was amazing and the music gave me chills! 

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. – Isaiah 9:6

After church, we grabbed some supper and came home. Mason was more than ready for bed! Only on Christmas Eve is that child ready to go to sleep. But, not before sprinkling our Magic Reindeer food, laying out cookies for Santa, and hanging our keys on the door!

Mason went to bed fairly early!! I was amazed. I ended up moving to the couch around 1 am because I was experiencing some heartburn. Laying down made it worse, so I slept in the recliner. I just happened to wake up and catch Santa! And look...he was even kind enough to wear a mask (hashtag 2020).