Jenn Doing My Best

Today started bright and early with a 7 a.m. store run for a few last-minute Christmas errands.

I picked up batteries for the kids’ gifts at Target. You think you’re done Christmas shopping until you realize you have to buy loads of batteries for your kids’ gadgets and toys. 🤦🏽‍♀️🤣

I also bought a couple of small presents for two of our neighbors — a little way to bless them for always being so kind to us.

Then, it was a quick stop at the grocery store for milk, eggs, and more rice. I must say, the stores were wonderfully quiet that early in the morning — my favorite time to shop. 😌

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🥞 French Toast and Waffles for Christmas Eve Breakfast

After my early morning errands, Travis and I cooked breakfast. The kids wanted chocolate chip waffles, so he made a fresh batch (with little Zaya, of course 😉).

I was really craving French toast again, so I made a small plate for myself.

I think I upped my French Toast game because the way I’ve been making it this past week has been absolutely heavenly. 🤤😍 Travis even said my French Toast recipe tastes like fancy restaurant-style. 😊

📚 A Christmas Eve Tradition: Visiting My Favorite Bookshop in a Cozy Little City

Later in the morning, Mj (23) joined me for our yearly Christmas Eve tradition: a visit to my favorite local bookshop, where I browsed the shelves and picked out books for Travis and the kids.

Every Christmas Eve, I visit my favorite local bookshop in a city just 20 minutes away.

I think I love going to this bookshop because while everyone else is rushing out to stores and standing in long lines, I’m doing the opposite — I’m slowing down and soaking in the cozy quiet of the shelves and stories. 📚🥰✨️

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🙏🏽 Christmas Eve Mass

We ended the day by celebrating Christmas Mass together at church — a peaceful and beautiful way to close out Christmas Eve.

The church was decorated beautifully with Christmas trees, big wreaths hanging on the walls, the Nativity scene, and twinkling lights.

A feeling of joy and peace enveloped me as we sang traditional Christmas hymns and celebrated the birth of our Savior. 🥰🙏🏽✨️

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🎁 And Now We Gift Wrap All of the Presents

Sometime after church, Travis and I started wrapping some of the Christmas presents, but now we’re too tired to finish up the wrapping.

So, we’ll get up early and finish wrapping gifts before the kids wake up. These days, I’m an early riser, so I will be up before the sun rises.

Travis, however, will still be snoozing in the bed. If he doesn’t have to go to work, no alarm can wake him, no matter how many he sets on his phone. 😂

It’s okay—I’ll let him sleep in a bit. He deserves some extra rest after working overtime hours six days a week this past month.

It will also give me a chance to wrap the gifts I bought for him. 🥰🎁✨️ I can’t wait for everyone to open their gifts tomorrow! I hope the kids love what we picked out for them.

Merry Christmas Eve! ❤️🎄✨️🙏🏽

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“For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord.” Luke 2:11

All images in this blog post are my own photography. If you’d like to use a photo, please contact me first for permission. Thank you!