After my last post it was time to celebrate Christmas Eve! Christmas Eve day is a pretty big celebration in our family. It always has been. We do a delish Christmas Eve dinner and adults exchange presents the little kids get to open gifts from relatives.
Christmas morning/day is reserved for all the little families within the larger family. At least this is how it was growing up for me and it's pretty much stayed that way with my own family now. I think it works perfectly!
Christmas Eve service was not quite what I planned. We got put into a smaller building and had to watch the service on a projector. The candle light and music just wasn't the same in there. Not to mention, I was busy with the little kids and didn't get to take in much of the service. But, I'm glad we went as it's an add on to the Christmas Eve traditions for my own family. I love being able to create traditions of our own and this is one that is very important to us.
Once we got home it was time to eat but not before we tried to get some family photos! My Mom had been at our house while we were at Church preparing away and what a yummy feast we had. The prime rib was amazing! And I love our Christmas candles (the bananas in the the picture below) for dessert. This was a tradition of my Nana's when she was still alive. I love incorporating my grandparents into our holidays. This was our first one without my Pops. Having a family keeps me pretty busy so I don't have a lot of time to dwell on that fact but when that thought creeps in, the tears start to well up instantly. :(
Seriously, in all of our pictures lately Miss Ems is never smiling. But, that's the stage we are in with her. Having her picture taken is rarely on the agenda, especially family ones! She can be such a pouty little thing and ALL GIRL her Daddy says. These pics are as good as it got. I have to say, I loved all of our coordinated outfits this year. But, I'm wearing the maternity dress I wore last year at 9 months pregnant and b/c it has so much extra material I feel like it made me look pregnant in some of the pics. Having had three babies, the extra love in my tummy area can often pooch out making me look a few months pregnant like in some of the pictures I'll include.
Siblings!
Sawyer on his first Christmas and us and our babies
Sawyer loved dinner and enjoyed looking at all the presents and he especially loved all the bows! Sweet boy.
As soon as we started passing out presents Emerson seemed to chirp up. Funny how that happens. She was hilarious. She just sat in her chair with the hugest smile as the presents started piling up around her. She was SO giddy and was making the silliest happy sounds.
Sawyer did so good and loved playing with his new toys. He was just as happy as can be!
Hayden got a Nintendo DS from his Tio Milton and he was SUPER stoked! He would yell really loud with excitement and do these crazy dance like moves as pictured below. He was so animated and loud this year. LOL.
The rest of the evening was spent doing presents and it was a really, really fun evening. I enjoy gift giving SO much and watching the kids and our Mom's and my honey opening gifts is just pure joy. I think I speak for us all when I say that. The kids made out like bandits and got some really neat things!
Hayden got lincoln logs, an erector set, and tinker toys. Emerson got a calico critter house and two sets of calico critters, an angel barbie, a super cute plush Hello Kitty, and a little people carry castle. She also got a leapster leap pad and Dora game from Milton. They each got portable DVD players and two movies a piece. They got two board games for family game night and most fun, a 'first trampoline' in the just the perfect, safe, doesn't make Mommy nervous size! If we don't have enough to keep these kiddos entertained for the next several months, there's a serious problem!
Sawyer got a cute plush ride on cow. He's so cute! He got some big puzzles, and a little pull toy that he loves. He loved all his toys and was playing all night. I'm so glad he got a few special first toys of his own.
We gave our Moms these picture books that I designed with our professional photos that we had taken. They came out so cute and they loved them!
I got Kris a few outfits and boxers from Banana Republic, the Hunger Games book, the new iphone 4s and he got a couple of other nice shirts from my Mom!
I got some perfume, a new camera, a Kuerig, a MAC gift card, and some new bras/panties. I know, I know, but I really needed them! Kris insisted on taking pics of me opening them, too. He and his friend Bill went Christmas shopping and the stories from their experience are hilarious. I can only imagine!!!
The rest of the pics are just various others and I know there are a TON of pictures. Believe me, it's definitely a chore to get this all posted and it has taken me two days to do it but I know I won't regret this later in life, especially when the kids are all grown!
After presents we put out our magic reindeer food in the front yard. The kids put on their annual matching pajamas they had opened. We put out our cookies and milk. We read the Bible story of Jesus's birth and then the Night before Christmas book. We brushed teeth and got them all snuggled in their beds, said prayers and then off to visions of sugar plums!!
Christmas Day post coming soon!
