December 5

"O Holy Night! The starts are brightly shining, it is the night of the dear Saviour's birth." - Piacido Cappeau de Roquemaure

This has got to be one of my most favorite Christmas songs. I have wonderful memories of our choir director Ralph Zecchino singing this at the midnight mass on Christmas eve. Today, I would even consider driving the 40 minutes that late at night just to hear it again. Christmas Eve at our church growing up was almost magical. I remember one year being asked by Fr. Hedges to help place the baby Jesus figure into the large, pine bough covered manger. Boy, did that make a young girl feel special! Every year when I set up our manger at home, I wonder if we should put the baby in place or if we should wait untilo Christmas eve to do it, but I always decide to put him in right away. There is just something about the scene being complete that satisfies my need for order.

Today we had a great family day. It started off at 8am by watching the Curious George Christmas special on PBS. I was a little dissapointed they kept interrupting it for a pledge drive. I realize it was a good time to guilt parents into contributing, but the 3 year old didn't quite understand the delays. Then we ran to Barnes and Noble to buy the Christmas Countdown book that they were advertising everytime they stopped the show for a pledge break. After having a quick lunch, we went to the Garden Factory for their indoor Holiday Carnival celebration.

The Garden Factory was a blast! They filled their greenhouse space with decorations, rides, trains, and a light show. You had to walk through the main building to get to the festivities and it was FILLED with Christmas flowers. I don't know why I didn't think to take pictures of it. (If it wasn't on the other side of the world, I would go back!) There were more poinsettias and blooming Christmas cacti then I have ever seen in one place. It was beautiful!

Colin complained that I had "kidnapped" him and made him come, but I think he still had some fun. They had a huge model train display that captured Dutton's attention for a long time. He also loved the train ride, and rode it 3 or 4 times. There was almost a scene when it was time to leave because we had told him he could ride one more time before we left but when we got to it, it was broken down.

Emerson's favorite thing was the light show. I really didn't think he would sit still for it, but as soon as it started he was totally mesmerized. He stared with a very serious look on his face, rocking to the music and signing "more" every time it paused for a new song.

Our ornament for today was plaster with colored jewels. Didn't quite go together the way I would have liked, but fun all the same.