Any day feels like Christmas when you treat it like Christmas! We celebrated our family Christmas in Oregon on December 10th since we were planning a two week trip back east.

We invited our new-found friends, Steve and Debbie over for breakfast and opening presents. I’m loving sharing Christmas with friends!

Because of the early Christmas date here at home, we did an abbreviated version of the Jesse Tree this year, reading only about half of the scriptures tracing the line of Christ. “Christmas morning” we hung the final ornament with Bethlehem’s star and sang our hymn for this year, Once in Royal David’s City. We didn’t have time to teach the kids the third stanza, but these words are my favorite:

Jesus is our childhood’s pattern,
Day by day like us He grew;
He was little, weak, and helpless,
Tears and smiles like us He knew:
And He feeleth for our sadness,
And He shareth in our gladness.

How precious that Christ was once a little child like my babies. He is intimately acquainted with the particular cares, weaknesses, joys, and fancies of children because He once was a child. God with us. Emmanuel.

Stephen read the Christmas story from Luke 2, and then he read Isaiah 53 to remind us of the point of Christ’s coming. The story begins at the manger, leads through the cross, and ends with a crown.

Next came the presents. It’s always a bit magical to watch the kids open their gifts. There’s something in the chaos and the childish gasps of joy that elevate the day. 

We served Celia’s French Sandwich for breakfast (which may develop into a yearly tradition for us). Another tradition we have is watching Elf. This year Stephen convinced Cooper to try eating his pasta “Buddy style” with chocolate syrup, cool whip, and sprinkles. Coop loved it!

The rest of the day was spent enjoying our kids as they enjoyed their presents. Both Silas and Cooper wanted to put puzzles together with Mommy. 

I’d say our Oregon Christmas didn’t officially wrap up until we finally watched It’s a Wonderful Life after our big trip. The kids had never seen it before, and Silas couldn’t stop talking about it. So fun to share our tradition with them!