On the 24th, we went to Christmas Eve mass at my parents' church, which was lovely but a little chaotic. We expected it, however, because it was the children's mass. I love it because they do the Christmas story with all the children. My dad was up on the altar during mass assisting Monsignor, so it was almost a disaster for us. Lexie spotted him as he narrated the Christmas story up there and she was waving, laughing, trying to get his attention. I got her to sit in the aisle calmly, watching him, for awhile - it worked until the wise men processed right past her. She immediately jumped up and followed them; if they can go up, why can't I, she seemed to say. So, I had to intercept her, and needless to say, we spent the rest of the homily in the back of the church so nobody could hear her screaming for my dad.
Afterwards we had an awesome dinner which my mom (I don't know how) prepared in the midst of caring for my Grandpa. I think she's bionic, or a saint, one of the two. It was a perfect night, as always. The best part of celebrating our Lord's birth - spending the night in mass, then with family, fully in gratitude.
