Christmas Eve in the Stable

1 day to Christmas!

It's a Christmas Eve tradition to do a live Nativity.  Ever since my parents moved to Colorado, my mom has had horses, so the Nativity has become much more elaborate.  Grandpa is always the narrator and reads the Christmas story from Luke 2.  Nana is always the angel.  Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus all vary depending on people's ages and states of pregnancy.  This year it was Paige (who rode Hardy -- the Welsh pony -- from the house to the barn), Chris, and Fox.  Evelynd and the poodles were sheep.  Nick played the piano.  There were wise men, shepherds, and an audience supplied by my parents' friends and neighbors.

Evie was fascinated and terrified of the horses.

After the nativity, people had dessert and the babies went to bed.  We played our traditional bag game and won prizes by playing Pictionary with titles of Christmas Carols.  (Only Nana and I knew "The Friendly Beasts" was a real carol.  "Fum, Fum, Fum," "Bring a Torch Jeanette, Isabella," and "I Saw Three Ships" are also not so well known.  This game was easier for music teachers.)  Eventually, after a rousing game of dominoes, we all settled down for a long winter nap.  Would Santa come?