Christmas Eve

So, as I mentioned in the earlier post, we did some shopping in the morning on Christmas Eve. James, by the bye, LOVES shopping. I haven't the slightest idea where he gets that from. Seriously ('cause typically I don't). He'd say, "More more store," every time we'd go out a door to head to the car. Really. Finally, I'd had it and wanted to make sure he ate lunch at home and got a decent nap, so much to his protests we headed home. Also, as you've read, aforementioned nap got interrupted by the Santacade.

Well, after that final visit with St. Nick, it was practically time to head to the children's service at church. We went inside, and while I was changing clothes, Dan helped himself to a cookie and shared some with James. Well, Jamesy ended up eating TWO chocolate chip cookies himself.

The sugar and chocolate kicked in right about the time we got in our pew. Excellent. James was a spaz. There's no better word. Up. Down. Under the pew. On top of the pew. Talking. Singing. Running. Crawling. Altogether good times. He quite enjoyed helping to set up the creche. This year we brought Mary to the stable. James had become quite taken with the Holy Family in the days leading up to Christmas, so he really got into the creche building.

He was also enlisted to help in the presentation of the gifts at the start of the Eucharistic Prayer. In addition to the bread, wine and offerings, we also present a big basket of food for the needy. Well, James and another toddler were each given a canned good to bring up. So there was James with his can of green beans walking proudly up the aisle. I believe the idea was for the kids to put the cans into the basket as it was presented. However, James put the brakes on at the front of the church. He was ready to takes his beans and run for the border. Luckily, Dan was fleet footed and got the beans into the basket and James back in our pew. Hilarious. Communion was a big hit as usual.

When we got home, Grandpa and Grandma were here making Christmas Eve seafood. After we ate, we all went to a neighbor's house for some festivities. James quite enjoyed hanging with the big kids (and their toys). It was well past his bedtime when Dan and I decided we needed to get him home. He was none too happy and cried the entire time as we walked two doors down and then changed him into his jammies.

He stopped crying to get Santa's cookies ready...

... but then cried again when he realized they were for Santa and not for him.

He even cried during books! And he had a VERY special book from Nana and Pops.

Luckily, he did calm down and listen (and has quite enjoyed it in subsequent readings).

Whew... would he still be on Santa's Good List after all of that?