Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve has always been my favorite day of the year.  It is such a busy day for us.  We go to both family parties.  We start out at Keith's.  This year Kelly was at Jefferson's house, but a lot of Keith's nieces and nephews were there.  It was fun to see every one because we don't see them very often.

We eat a yummy dinner and then read the nativity and sing "Twelve days of Christmas."  Lucky for me, Wyatt needed help in the other room so I got out of singing!  After that we open presents.  Wyatt was excited with his new Jake video game.

Caitlyn got the game Hedbanz.  We have had fun playing this game.

Jonah got marshmallow shooters.  I figured it would be better if he was hitting his siblings with marshmallows rather than darts!  We didn't get a picture of Hallee, but she got a cute doll that she was excited about.  After all of that we packed up all of our stuff and rushed off to my parents house.

We eat more good food at my parents house and then the kids act out the nativity.  Caitlyn and Jonah were Joseph and Mary.  Wyatt was a wise man.  After that we watch the nativity and Hallee and Wyatt made it almost impossible for anyone to pay attention.  Hallee decided that she wanted some attention so she stood in front of the TV and hit herself to make everyone laugh.  All of the kids were laughing so she started getting more crazy and ended up falling and hitting her head.  She was embarrassed, so she just kept her head down on the floor and Wyatt yelled out, "Hallee's dead!"  All of the kids sure thought that was funny!

Wyatt always asks if Rockwell will be at Grandma's and jumps up and down when I say yes.

After the nativity and spiritual thoughts we head back upstairs for Christmas Bingo.  Wyatt was really into it this year.  The adults play their own game in the dining room while Grandma plays with the kids in the kitchen.  The kitchen is so loud and all of the kids are so excited.  I missed Jen during Christmas Bingo, she always had a sarcastic comment for everything my dad called out. 

These two girls are just adorable!  They have similar facial expressions and make the same sounds.  There are so many times that Tessa reminds me of Hallee.  I love how they are just looking at each other here. 

Next, we head back downstairs for the grab box.  The kids all know they get a new book every year. 

Caitlyn was excited to get this book that she has been wanting.

The new Diary of a Wimpy Kid was a big hit for all of the kids this year.  Caitlyn and Jonah have had plenty of good books to read over Christmas break.

Hallee loved her new book.  She is really into books right now. She is always carrying a book around and asking someone to read it to her.   Wyatt loves his new book about space, but he was too busy throwing a fit because he didn't get a flashlight like the older boys did for a Bingo prize.  Wyatt can be the most stubborn kid when he wants to be.  He was also really tired, so that didn't help.

After that we open presents from the cousins.  Jonah was so excited with his new dart guns.  Wyatt cheered up enough to open his present and was excited to get candy and cars!  Caitlyn was so excited to get a Merida Barbie and Hallee loved her new mixer.  Every year at this point I wonder why we bought the kids so many presents because they already have enough!

It was so nice that Keith had the whole week off of work.  I love having him home.   We had another great Christmas Eve!