We don’t make it to church often enough, for various reasons, but every year on Christmas Eve, we go to one of the four services.

Every year, we load up the kids, eat dinner somewhere, and find a spot in the packed church. We pass the unlit candles down the pews and anxiously wait for the last song, during which each white candle with the white paper holder will be lit.

Every year, I get nervous as I watch the kids hold on to a candle (with the help of a parent or grandparent), and every year, I watch them with a smile on my face, as they gaze, mesmerized and mystified by the little flame in front of them. I sing that last song, and try not to tear up at the sights and sounds around me.

Sometimes, we dress up in our fanciest clothes, and sometimes, we wear our pajamas. Either way, we enjoy the serene, musical hour and get in the mood for the magical morning to come.

All Dressed Up on Christmas Eve 2008

On our way back home, we play the Christmas station in the car, and we take a minor detour to cruise downtown, along the street on which every tree is lit up. Thousands of lights, never ceasing to amaze and delight. We crane our necks to see the last of them, and then squeal and point at the decorated houses we see for the rest of the drive home.

Once we pull into the driveway, admiring our own colorful lights and decorations, we head inside to change into our pajamas (if we didn’t go to town in them) and eight little legs run off to bed, where they may or may not stay awake in anticipation of the gifts they will open.

And finally, when I am absolutely, positively sure that all eight eyes are closed tight and visions of sugarplums (and Lego sets) are dancing in four little heads, I proceed to make myself a mug of hot chocolate and get to work, stuffing stockings, and wrapping the gifts that have yet to be wrapped.

Christmas Eve 2011 (in pajamas)

Just like me, my parents, and their parents were making memories with their families and recording them with pictures and videos. YesVideo is a company that takes pride in preserving your family’s memories by transferring media to DVDs. They offer video, VHS, film, slide scanning, photo scanning all to DVD and even HD video to Blu-ray! Customers can either mail their media directly to YesVideo or drop it off at four major retailers.  Family movies, pictures, or slides transferred to DVD is a gift that will be cherished for years, by generations.

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I was compensated for this post, but all opinions (and memories) are my own.