​When we come out of church on Christmas Eve, it’s snowing! I can’t help but do a dance. I’ve always wanted to have a white Christmas.​

​I spin around and stick out my tongue to catch a flake. The snow looks so pretty, falling gently over the twinkling, colored lights that decorate the street. Christmas Eve is my favorite night of the year. ​

​Earlier, we’d eaten dinner as a family. We always have special food on Christmas Eve, like beef wellington and mince pies. After dinner, we’d listened to Christmas carols on the radio while we decorated the tree. ​

​This year I put the star on the tree. I had to climb on a stool to reach it. Evie hung the ornaments down low. I took the middle, and Mom and Dad did the top. ​

Then we went to church. Sometimes I get bored at church, but not on Christmas Eve. First, there’s the pageant, where we act out the story of the birth of Jesus. This year I was a shepherd. Evie was a sheep.​

​After the pageant, there’s lots of singing. We sing all my favorite songs. There are even trumpets that make it feel extra festive.​​

Now, standing in the street outside, I feel warm and safe, even though it’s cold enough to snow. As we walk home, Evie and I slide along the sidewalk, pretending that we’re ice skating. ​

At home, it’s time to put out our cookies and cocoa for Santa. Dad, Evie, and I baked them last weekend. We made cookies in holiday shapes like bells, holly, and reindeer.​

Speaking of reindeer, we leave a few carrots out for them. I put them in the dog’s bowl so they’ll be sure to find them. They deserve a treat too!​

Evie and I put on our pajamas. We don’t want to go to bed, but we have to be sleeping for Santa to come. “Wait!” Mom says before we head upstairs. “I have an idea!”

She goes outside to the round picnic table. We press our noses against the window to watch. The snow has piled up on the table and it looks like a giant cake.​

​Mom has the big tapered candles from the dining room. She sticks them in the snow cake and lights them. We all sing “Happy Birthday” so we can remember what Christmas is really about. Merry Christmas!