Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve

I don't know what we would do without the company of our friends.

We feel so blessed to have come to Brazil if not for anything else but meeting these wonderful people. We ate dinner and had a little program. It was just what we needed Home away from Home.

It was hard knowing all of the fun activities going on at home. The smell of beef brisquet and cinnamon rolls in the air. The hours spent making 7 layer Jello. All the preparation that goes into the gifts and the red ball. Here we were a little homesick but determined to have a meaningful Christmas. It all really started coming together a few weeks prior to the big night. The kids were pulling out all the stops trying to earn a few dollars so they could go out and buy each other gifts. We took them to the dollar store and they all went crazy with excitment. They had there treasures and it took all the self control they had not to give each other gifts then and there. The next few days they wrapped and hid the gifts in anticipation for the big night.

Not only were they going to be giving there gifts but they would also be getting there gifts from Grandmas and Aunts. After a fun night at the Jackson's we came home and sat around the tree. Before we give each other the gift we tell the other person why we love and appreciate them. It was such a sweet night. They were bursting with excitement to finally have these treasures unveiled and they were genuine in there comments and gratitude for each other. Afterwards we skyped with Grandma and Grandpa A and we had them open gifts with them. It was really a wonderful night, one to be remembered.

It was amazing how the kids new exactly what each other would want or need.

R babe was so funny. Everything he opened he would say "WOW WOW"