This was the first time in many years that we have attended Christmas Eve Service at our church.  We started off the evening with a very French dinner of cold cuts, bread, cheese, salad and fruit. I have been pining for a french meal ever since I returned from my grandparents' house.  I just love the meals there because of the time it takes at the table.  There is conversation and no one is checking their iPods or phones. Since it was french there were a variety of cheese and Isaac is a cheese snob.   He had talked me into purchasing some very expensive but good cheese so they had to go out on the table. In the past we celebrated Christmas Eve Venezualan style with our friends but it didn't work out for this year.  I had put together a Christmas Eve gift and Job wanted to open it first thing in the morning.  I made him wait until after service that night.  I saw the idea on pinterest.  I put together a movie (Elf), pjs for all the kids, some microwave popcorn and hot cocoa.  Little did I know that Isaac watched Elf almost every class the last week before break.  Hmmm.  It was the first time I had seen it.  It was cute and I could see it being a "tradition".  Then the kids hightailed to bed while I filled stockings.  Actually I think they needed to come downstairs half a dozen times for something or other but finally they settled down.  Job wanted to be up at midnight.  I think he was the most excited out of all the kids.  He hauled the cranky mattress into Lona's room and slept in there.  They wanted to get up early but Isaac has teenagitis.  He would have slept until noon if we let him.  John and I rolled out of bed around 8am.  He had problems sleeping since he had taken a nap too late in the afternoon.  The stockings kept Lona and Job quiet while we had our coffee.  I slipped the egg and sausage filled crepes into the oven to warm up while we opened presents.  Traditionally we gather in the living room while John reads out of Mathew.  Then we pass out presents and take turns opening.  I have to say that I was surprised with the microwave.  I thought it was an outdoor fire pit but it is very nice to have a microwave that doesn't have a cracked door or handle.  Lona's pajamas were too small.  I grabbed the wrong size bummer.  I think that she was surprised by the 4 foot tall cardboard Tardis that the boys placed in her room.  John got everything he asked for because he didn't ask for much.  This year I had no idea.  And Job has been wearing his prized New Jersey Devil 2012 Eastern Conference Championship baseball hat around everywhere.  He's obsessed with the New Jersey Devil. After all the presents were opened and we eat brunch, Isaac installed the Kinect and we played Just Dance.  We all cracked up laughing.  I can't believe how much of a workout it was.  I think I found something to augment my workouts so I don't get bored. It's so unfair that New Year's Eve comes right after Christmas.  Christmas is filled with goodies but then you need to look good for New Year's Eve.  How does that work anyway?