Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve morning found our kids out jumping on the trampoline...so much for a white Christmas this year!

We have a tradition with our neighbors of Christmas Eve breakfast. It was delicious and we feel especially grateful to have such great neighbors. After breakfast we continued with tradition and went to a movie at the theatre. We picked a great movie this year that I would recommend to anyone, called Hugo. Great movie, great message...loved it! (Thank you Uncle Nate!)

We gathered at Grandpa's house that evening for our reading of the scriptures and acting out the nativity.


The kids always have such fun acting out the Christmas story and I think it helps make the story real to them. Note to self: when I'm a Grandma, nativity costumes are a must!

These teenagers might think they're too old to get excited on Christmas eve, but I know better!

Finally...it was time to open pajamas.

This year Santa went with store bought ones...nice to know the kids noticed, but didn't care too much. This year my sewing machine didn't get near as much mileage as last year...

the girls were pleased to get "footy" pajamas.

And boys can turn any pajamas into manly, fighting apparel.

These cousins were a tribute to the story of the Grinch...

who almost came out on Christmas because of how late Mom and Dad had to stay up Christmas Eve. Mom with 3 and 1/2 hours of sleep=the Grinch!

This train set is so much fun....but it does take awhile to set up!

We were blessed this year with a wonderful Christmas...much of which had to be set up after all the kiddies went to sleep. Have you ever tried to quietly set up a new table and chairs???

Or a dog house tent? Yes, we worked up a sweat!

My husband spent several hours setting up all the reloading equipment.

Fortunately with the new piano, all the moving had been done weeks earlier and we just had to take off the blankets! Thanks to the Larsen's who helped convince the kids that we were hiding a t.v. for them!!! Finally at 2:30 a.m. we were ready for bed!