It is finally here! All the waiting, the prepping, the planning, it is finally here! It is Christmas Eve!
Usually Team Oakley has a church service or two to do this night, but this year we are free and clear! Our church did a Christmas Eve Eve service so that people like Team Oakley, who serve at church, could have a work free night and hang out with their families. We were so thankful!
We had these grand plans of sleeping in, leisurely wrapping gifts, then heading to Michael's parents early to play games and cook.
There was something entirely different happening in the Team Oakley homestead this Christmas Eve.....finishing. We had so many things to finish before we headed to the Oakley seniors. There was wrapping, ALL the gifts, but we also had some last minute fixes and changes to do on several of them. This is what happens when you make your gifts!
Then we realized that we needed to pack an overnight bag! Also we hadn't went to the grocery store to get dinner items! And we needed to clean out the car to fit everything! The stress was growing and growing, and we were feeling more and more guilty about being stressed on Christmas Eve. That is not what it's all about!
So in the midst of all the stress we had a little Team Oakley meeting. We would finish what we needed to, then wrap, then pack, and no stress! We finish when we finish, and we leave when we leave.
That made all things better. We actually finished EVERYTHING within the hour of our 'come to Jesus' meeting (as michael calls it)! We chose not to clean the house or car, and we would shop after we got settled in for the night. Whew! Our stress levels went from finals week to hammock in less than an hour. Now we can enjoy!
We packed two cars of presents and overnight bags, and headed over to Michael's parent's house. We got there and we were greeted by a wonderfully set table, and amazing smells of Sicilian food wafting through the air. It turns out we did not need to run to the store, as they had MORE than enough yummy food prepared already!
After we all put our bags away, unloaded all the gifts, and finished some last minute food prep, we all sat down to a WONDERFUL meal of authentic and traditional Sicilian food. It was SO good!
After dinner Josie gave out the pajamas.
Each year she buys or makes pajamas for those who are staying in her home on Christmas Eve. We all LOVE this tradition (save for an awkward year of full size footie pajamas....).
This year the girls got matching traditional sleep wear from victoria's secret. They came with slippers too!
The boys got some VERY comfy pj pants. Beka has since adopted these as her own. They are so soft!
After the pjs were donned, we all sat around the fire and talked, played on our phones, and drank tea. It was a warm and very relaxing night.
Then at 11pm our time, and 9pm San Diego time, Beka, Michael, and Roxanne all got to skype with their family. We exchanged gifts via the interwebs, and had a great time "being" together. There is nothing like the real thing on Christmas, but when that cannot happen, this is pretty good.
Then Beka, Michael, and Roxanne opened the gifts that they had received from afar, and missed their families dearly.
After all of that we went to bed in hopes of making the joy of tomorrow come as fast as it could! All the lights were out, and there was just a glow of the tree over the whole downstairs. It was such a joy to see.
Merry Christmas Eve to all, and to all a good night!
Love,
Team Oakley
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