Christmas Eve

I guess we could say it was eventful! Our Christmas Day plans had included meeting Amy's family at the halfway point where her aunt and grandparents live, but, alas, our mysterioso mechanic was MIA and our sad little car is still locked away in his shop. The one we were supposed to have back about two weeks ago, and which has been missing for more than three weeks. Ack. (Don't worry, no accident, just really bad luck). So we spent most of the day cramming ourselves in and out of Amy's truck, running from crowded grocery to more crowded grocery without having eaten any proper lunch to purchase all we needed to make our own delicious Christmas dinner tomorrow. Quite unexpected! But the day did have its highlights...

Clara had the thrill of turning over her favorite long-awaited STAR PIECE on the advent calendar Kerstin made for us. Clara had a big grin on her face when we came home to find a door stoop full of baskets, jam jars, cards and presents from lovely friends and family. Clara made cookies to leave out for Santa (after announcing to us that she planned to not sleep tonight).We always eat dinner as a family, but I must say it was quite nice to have a quiet grown-ups dinner alone tonight after the munchkin went to bed!The special gift of Christmas, Amy's drop-leaf table for Clara made from some leftover wood from a job and from an old chair we had that fell apart. I made a little tablecloth and napkins to go with it (made them tonight, of course. Nothing like a little last minute elving).
And...Santa came!!!! Wow! Actually, only three of these are actually from Santa (who needs Santa with three sets of grandparents?), but I guess he heard Clara's request for a pink present even if she didn't tell him in person. We have my brother to thank for Clara's gigantic stocking.