Christmas Eve festivities

I have been looking forward to Christmas so much this year!  I had some great surprises for each of the kids, and even a few for Eric.  We also had the added bonus with church being just Sacrament meeting, and our ward getting moved up to 10 am.

But before Chirstmas morning, we had Christmas Eve.  This year Christmas Eve was a bit more sedate for our kids, since half of them were sick.  And because people were sick, it ment that they all wanted to take naps (even the 11 year old).  They had just enough time to open our family game/activity and play with it, before it was time to head to Nana and Papa's house.



thanks Tom and Heather for the Play-Doh!

 As usual, we had Christmas Eve with Eric's family.  Dinner and a show, sort of.  A few years ago, Eric's mom really wanted to start having a kids' talent show.  Some talents are more practiced than others, but everyone does something.  This year I had our kids do a family entry, they all sang "I am a Child of God" while Aidan accompanied them on the flute (since he learned it for Davin's baptism). 

We headed home for our own traditions: two stories in front of the fire, setting the cookies out for Santa, putting oats out for the reindeer, and, of course, Christmas pajamas!  This gift serves two purposes: first, the kids get their new pajamas; and secondly, they know which gifts under the tree are theirs!  I don't label the kids' gifts, some years I pick a specific wrapping paper for each child, some years I pick a specific tag for them, and this year I picked a specific color for their tag (thus getting to use more of my new tag cartridge for the cricut).



the boys in plaid, the girls in pinks.

 And after the kids were in bed, Eric and I got to enjoy a few moments alone with some hot chocolate and the soft fire.  Until we had to get to work...