Christmas Prep {December 24}

Even though it was different being away from family and things that are familiar, we had a fun time getting ready for Christmas. We decided to get a live tree, and were grateful that we had thought to bring some simple Christmas decorations with us (since the rest of our belongings wouldn’t arrive for another month). We had our stockings, some ornaments, a couple of nativities, and some Christmas books, CDs, and movies. It felt like a fairly simple Christmas, but we still enjoyed it and hopefully helped the kids feel of the Christmas spirit, and the true meaning of Christmas.

Two days before Christmas, we went back to the Luxembourg Christmas market and let the boys ride the carousel again. We had one last round of grompères from the street vendors, tried out the colored licorice, and checked out some of the ornaments and nativities at the booths.

On Christmas Eve, we spent some of the day getting food, etc. ready. The boys made Christmas sugar cookies in the afternoon, then we had a yummy dinner. We read the nativity story and “acted it out” with our nativity set, then the kids opened their pajamas and found the wrapped books we had hidden. We checked the Santa tracker before they went to bed, and made sure to set our stockings out. Bennett wrote a sign for Santa so he knew to eat the cookies and we left a carrot out for the reindeer. It was a fun and relaxing day!

A few pictures of pre-Christmas activities:

The tree we brought home from Ikea, our first Luxembourg snow, and decorating the tree:

Adding lights to the tree, St. Nicolas day, and reading ’Twas the Night Before Christmas

 

One last visit to the Luxembourg Christmas Market:

Eating brats and Gromperes at the Christmas Market; Eliza finding the presents hidden in the closet

  

All dressed up for Church   

 

Making Christmas Sugar Cookies on Christmas Eve

 

Christmas Eve Dinner: ham, potato casserole, homemade rolls, veggies, and strawberry tart for dessert; and continuing a Christmas Eve Tradition: hiding & finding books as a present to open on Christmas Eve. The kids all got new PJs too, which they were pretty excited about. Eliza found her book first. Bennett took forever looking for his, and Eliza ended up finding it for him :)