Christmas Eve

A week before Christmas, Dave and Karyn called and said they would be driving through on Christmas morning to get to Karyn's family's house.  I talked them into coming a day early and spending Christmas Eve and morning with us instead of being on the road.  (That doesn't sound fun at all!)  So they got there mid-day Christmas Eve and the kids spend a good hour or two out in the snow with their snow-deprived Arizona cousins building a snowman and snow fort.  They came in wet and freezing, but happy.  The kids had each other and their excitement reminded both me and Brian of our younger years.  When you could hardly STAND to wait for the next thing...the dinner, family night, pjs, etc.  When everything seemed to take FOR. EV. ER.

We had a yummy dinner of ham and potatoes, salad, jello, and Christmas cookies.  We watched Luke 2 and opened up just ONE present.  Our kids still haven't figured out the pattern here.  Maybe next year they will guess what it is before they open it.  They were pleased and punch with their jammies.  Jonah lasted just long enough to get a family picture and then he had enough of his first Christmas Eve.  Kids were jumping and wild and they settled down to get Santa's cookies and Rudolph's carrots on a plate and then watched a movie.  Our three boys slept in our room with us.  McKay was pooped right out and fell asleep quickly with me laying by him.  Gavin was restless and excited and took a little longer.  He knew he MUST go to sleep so Santa could come - but isn't that easier said than done??  I remember that too...  But he finally gave in and they all slept soundly and dreamt of sugarplums I am sure.