Christmas Eve

So it's almost Easter and I'm still working on posts from Christmas time...

Chris had to go into work on Christmas Eve so I decided to make the day special by letting the kids mix the playdoh colors. I've never let them do that before so they thought it was the coolest thing ever.

By the time Chris came home from work for lunch we were still in our pjs which is always the sign of a good morning.

For Christmas Eve dinner we went to a friends house to celebrate.  The kids had a blast playing with friends and hardly eating any of the wonderful dinner.
As part of the evening plans we had a talent show for everyone to showcase something special.

Abby rocked it singing her ABCs (listen closely, she is super shy in front of groups so I was completely impressed that she sang although it's quiet!)

And Nathan showed off his amazing jumping abilities with Chris and the girls.

We reenacted the Nativity story- Abby as Mary was one of the sweetest things I have ever seen.  She took her job so seriously and was so tender and loving to the little doll.  She kept checking on baby Jesus throughout the night, making sure he was warm and happy.  It melted my heart.

Mary and Joseph making their grand entrance

Abby needed to get more accurate and ride the donkey in

Nathan and Chris were some great wise men while I got to wrangle Elise and take horrible pictures.

It may not have been the most accurate or reverent nativity reenactment, but we definitely enjoyed sharing it with friends; and Chris's child size Harry Potter outfit was pretty awesome :)

Santa made a surprise appearance and Abby and Nathan did great talking to him and asking him for some last minute things while Elise decided he was terrifying and wouldn't go near him.

The after desserts (and lots of talking!) we tie dyed some shirts with the kids (which they actually thought was really neat- except for the whole waiting part...) and then headed home. Thanks Scott Family for letting us join you!

It was so late when we left we hurried through some of our Christmas Eve traditions.

The kids opened up their new pajamas, got some snacks for Santa and the Reindeer, and headed off to bed.  

Chris told them they had to be asleep for Santa to come so Nathan insisted on skipping reading books and singing songs (our normal routine) so they could fall asleep quicker.  We graciously complied.

Then the real fun began.  Of course I hadn't set up or wrapped anything, and had thought of some great last minute additions to the stockings (Nathan loves Gatorade and we never get it for him, and all Abby asked Santa for earlier that night was a candy cane...which we had none).  So Chris set out to find a store open while would set up and wrap presents.  Turns out it was already too late so the stores were closed.  Chris found a (scary) gas station convenience store open and bought some gatorade, then swung by our friends house and picked up a few candy canes from them.

By the time he got home I was on the ground because I had thrown my back out trying to get the darn cozy coupe car put together for Elise. Turns out they had some holes that couldn't line up no matter how hard I pushed, pulled, and maneuvered on top of the car while trying to get a certain screw in place (hence the back problem; and I'm still mad a Fisher Price by the way, good thing we got a screaming deal on that toy) Chris finally busted out the drill and made a new hole and called it good.  It only took about 2 hours. We finished wrapping presents and enjoyed the beauty of the tree fully decked out tree and were finally off to bed!