Christmas Eve 2012

It has become a welcome tradition to spend Christmas Eve with the Nelsons. We eat, we play, we open presents, we eat some more, play some more....you get the picture. It is truly a warm time of family and fellowship. This year, however, there was some suspense in the air soon after we arrived. We attended Christmas Eve candlelight services at church, and then headed to their house. The boys were full of whispers and side glances, mostly shared with only Grandma :) They seemed to be about to burst with excitement, and  excitement about something more than just all the Legos that were wrapped in glittery paper under the tree. Soon after the last of the gifts were opened, Pa, Hugh and I were escorted to the living room, which had been magically transformed into an exquisite tea room. The tables had freshly pressed white tablecloths and well-placed cloth napkins on top of fine china, and the boys stood nearby with cloth napkins draped over their forearms waiting anxiously for our orders. They proudly displayed the handmade menu which boasted of fresh strawberry cake, cookies, a variety of teas and piping hot coffee. All of us chose the dessert sampler, of course, with coffee. The boys had a fantastic time serving our delicacies and even pouring our coffee in Grandma's best china. They were so proud and did such a great job! They had actually been over to Grandma and Pa's house a few days before and spent the whole day preparing the delicious sweet treats and the quaint cafe ambiance. It was a very special evening that made Christmas Eve just that much more magical....thanks to Grandma and her boys!!