Alvi Adventures: Christmas Eve at Home

Last Christmas, Adrian came up with a new tradition of a special program that the kids begged for him to do again this year. This year the theme was, "Is Santa Real"? After we had our Christmas Eve program at Grandma's house, Adrian slipped home a few minutes early to set up for this special night! We start in the laundry room (as we come in from the garage) and he sets the stage for the program.

We go into the kitchen and the lights are out and there a candles by a row of cups.

I can't remember how eloquent Adrian said this, but if recall, he said that even though we don't see Jesus Christ, we know he exists by the evidences of his work/word ie. "peace, hope, love, chartiy, faith and joy". We made a toast and drank to the wonderful evidences of Christ and to all the good that Santa does too, even though we don't "see" him either.

The kids had all their presents labeled with their reindeer names so they don't know which gifts are theirs until Christmas. Tonight, they were revealed! The kids had been gussing all season and surpisingly most of them were right on.

Next we watched Mr. Krueger's Christmas. Can't go wrong there.

In the office, there were two pictures of Christ. Adrian asked the kids which one is the "real" picture of Jesus. They took their guesses. Then he got out two different drawings of what Santa might look like. Then he explained that even though there are different ideas as to what they might actually look like, and even though we haven't seen them with our own eyes, that doesn't mean they don't exist.

We then went upstairs and got to open the treasure chest of REAL frankincense, gold and myrrh! We talked about the origins of the gift-giving of Christmas and why Santa gives gifts.

Then downstairs Adrian did a demonstration of "magic". He used the mathmatical equations where you pick any number and do a series add/multiply/subtract etc.

He had the answer already written on his paper. And was he right?

YES! Amazing! He definately had the kids attention then. So then he explains that even though we don't understand how Christ or Santa can do things that seem "magical", there ways and reasons for how things happen. (I'm not as good at explaining it as he was!)

At the end, the kids got to play, "Let's Make a Deal"! What a fun way to get some early Christmas presents!

I loved how Adrian got "into" it! He even had the theme music playing from the computer.

Austin is such a chocolate fan, he stuck with the first prize of a Hershey's bar and that was good enough for him.

Sammy chose prize number 2 which was to open a Christmas present early. She was thrilled to get the purse Lexie got her with her own money.

When it was all over, the kids attacked Dad with lots of hugs. Isn't he just a great Dad?

We always leave out a plate of cookies and a glass of milk for Santa. Austin even drew a special picture for him. I laughed because at first I though Austin signing it "Austina" was because anytime the girls dress him up as a girl, they call him that. Later I realized that he signed it with an "a" at the end because in his Kindergarten class, there is another Austin and he was putting the initial of his last name like he does at school!