Yesterday, I shared our annual Christmas tradition of having family photos taken (read here). Another one of my favorite holiday traditions is going to a candlelit church service on Christmas Eve. Sasha went with me to Houston’s First Baptist Church for the first time last year, and I giggled at how panicked he was about there being 1,000+ candles lit in one massive chapel (plus kids holding real flames!). There is no feeling in the world quite like singing “Joy to the World,” “O Holy Night,” and “O Come All Ye Faithful” amongst so many other merry Christmas-lovers. Just thinking about it gets me so excited.
I love getting all dressed up in festive gear to go to church for the service, and I cannot wait to take Isla this year (real candles will not be involved). Carter’s Holiday Collection has so many pretty church dresses to choose from. When I saw this bright red Velour and Satin Bow Dress, I knew I had found Isla’s first Christmas Eve outfit. It’s so simple and classic and that tiny little bow just melts my heart (I love a good bow). We slipped on these sweet little Patent Mary Jane Crib Shoes, and she looked as cute as a button. My favorite Christmas Eve service outfit choice for a little boy is the Oxford Cloth Bodysuit and Ribbed-Waist Corduroy Pants.
After we leave church on Christmas Eve, we head to my parent’s house and watch National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. We’ve seen it a million times, but still die laughing every year. Do you have Christmas Eve traditions? If so, please tell me about them in the comments below!
If you haven’t read yesterday’s post about our annual family photo tradition yet, click here. Make sure you enter to win the $100 Carter’s gift card and free outfit of your choice (from the Isla’s First Christmas with Carter’s series)!
Photographs taken by the very talented Paige Budde of Awake Photography at Second Baptist Church (thank you to my sweet friend, Allie, for helping coordinate!).
Carter’s | OshKosh B’gosh partnered with me to help promote their Holiday collection. As part of the program, I received products or gift cards. Carter’s believes that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. Carter’s provided me with information on promotions and messaging concepts, but did not tell me what to purchase or what to write in my blog or what to say about the products I used. The winner of any giveaway in this program will be randomly chosen and gift card fulfillment will be handled by a third party.
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8 Comments
Love these pictures! Those shoes are ADORABLE.
Thanks, Mara! Yeah, I have a feeling your next one is going to be a girl and she’s going to have quite the shoe collection 😉
We go to a candlelit service too! It’s so special – I love the carols also. These photos are too cute! I love that Carter’s dress.
Thanks, Denise. The service is my favorite!! 🙂 Makes me feel so festive!
We are a Christmas vacation family too! I think I’ve seen it 30 times. 🙂
I probably have too!! Still funny every year though, right?
Good thing Isla didn’t try and eat the candle 🙂
Ha, yeah that would definitely throw a wrench in our photo session!