Christmas Eve

One of our favorite traditions that we managed to squeeze in this year on Christmas Eve is making gingerbread houses. For time and convenience, we usually use graham crackers and simple frosting. A friend introduced me to royal icing last year which is the kind of frosting that actually hardens and is typically used for gingerbread houses. I attempted making it this year and thought I was on the right track. However, as the girls houses kept falling apart and the icing wasn't really getting firm, I came to the realization that I had missed something. Oh well, we had fun decorating the houses and snacking on the treats anyway. Here's a few pictures of the girls' hard work and a few messy faces.

For dinner we had filet mignon with asparagus for dinner. (Courtesy of a friend of daddy's from work.) Then we each took turns in our evening program. We all acted out the nativity story. Mom was Mary, Kira was baby Jesus, Dad was Joseph, Tori was the narrator and a wise woman, Alyssa was an angel, and Mackenzie was a shepherd. They loved acting out the story that we've read and talked about.
Nativity costumes.

Next Tori played several Christmas songs on the piano, and she had taught Alyssa and Mackenzie a few songs to sing with her as well. Then we watched a video clip from lds.org about the real meaning of Christmas. Finally we had treats and the girls got to open a present that had new pajamas for each of them. Then it was off to bed!

Christmas pajamas!