Shaun, Diana Robertson (Adrianne's mom), Adrianne, Mike, and Duff. Menu: prime rib, funeral pototoes, green beans with shallots, garlic, and bacon, and Sarah's salad (from the Lion House Cookbook). Homemade crescent rolls, butter, and strawberry jam. Yum!
Duff, Christine, Josh, Meredith, and Natalie. I think we are officially stuffed!
We just pulled our English 'crackers'. They are little tubes filled with treats and surprises wrapped in paper. With the person sitting next to you, you both pull the ends. The 'cracker' cracks ( a noise like a firecracker but not as loud) and it pops open and you get your goodies. There's a Christmas fortune in it too, a toy, a treat, and paper crowns. It is really fun to go around the table and see what everyone got. Last year they were musical with a different note and number in each one. I used a chopstick to direct the whistle choir, and we played carols--that is when we weren't laughing so hard we could blow the whistle! 'Crackers' are one of our traditions.
Every year we have a family program on Christmas Eve. This year Adrianne's nephew, Christian, played Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star on the piano to begin the program. He did very well for being 5 years old, complete with a handsome bow when he was done. Duff reads the story of Jesus's birth out of Luke.
Christine gave us a violin solo of What Child Is This? It was BEAUTIFUL! She played with such feeling. She is getting very good at the violin.
Mike, Adrianne, Shaun, Meredith, and Josh as we are starting the program. Shaun is giving Adrianne some 'sass', but even though she may be on the quieter side she can hold her own!
Duff and Christine. I was just getting ready to give the story, Teach The Children, about all the symbols of Christmas. Notice Santa and his 'bag' (with all the symbols in it) to the side of the piano...
Dave and Alisa Bowen (Adrianne's sister), Diana Robertson with Christian on her lap and Jaden on the floor.
To end the program, we always go into the family room and watch the dvd of Mary Did You Know? It is the song by Donny Osmond with pictures set to it of Jesus's life from the time he was an infant through His childhood, and ending as he leaves the tomb. A friend of mine in our ward put this together for a RS Christmas dinner several years ago. I loved it so much, I asked her for a copy. At the time it was on a vhs tape, and we have since put it on a disc. I don't know what it is, but after our program and the story from the scriptures, it is a perfect ending. It is short, so we usually watch it 2-3 times. And yes, I get teary! I often wonder about Mary and if she had some kind of foreknowledge of what her child would go through in this life and how she loved and taught and prepared him while he was growing up.
Then we kneel and have a family prayer.
