Christmas Eve

Christmas eve was on Wednesday this year. I got emotional preparing everything and wishing I could call mom and ask her questions.  Instead I texted Tiff an Mel with all my questions. Tiff and I got there early to cook our stuff.  I was still very emotional and used the phrase, "I ruined Christmas" multiple times.  Luckily, I didn't in fact ruin Christmas and everything turned out great. Missing my mom and Jonah made for a very emotional Christmas!

We did Christmas Eve at the church.  It worked out great because we needed all the extra space and honestly it helped a little with missing mom that it wasn't at their house. 

I'm surprised at some of the things that are in style now, Amaire complimented Caitlyn on her sweatshirt and she said, "thanks, my mom said the sleeves look like curtains." We laughed when we looked up and realized that the fabric on the sleeve did in fact match the curtains in the church kitchen, ha!

Hallee and Tessa exchanged gifts while we were getting things ready.  They had fun playing with the kids and playing the piano in the primary room.

I love seeing these four together!

And Mel of course!

Everyone worked hard and all the food was delicious.  I don't know how my mom did this on her own for a lot of years. 

I got Wyatt and Rockwell to smile when I told them they could both hold Wyatt's plate for the picture.

Keith was thrilled that Judah reached for him and didn't want him to put him down. I offered to hold Isaiah so Chelsey and Elijah could eat.  We look good with babies in our arms, I think we are ready for some grandkids!

Isaiah's facial expressions crack me up.

I went around and took pictures of everyone. 

It was great to have time to visit and catch up.

Ofa was a champ, her back was out again and she was sick, but she came and had a smile on her face. She is one tough lady.

It was nice to have plenty of room to spread out and not accidently goose someone when you were going to get food, ha!

Dad was really happy with how everything turned out.  When it was over he said, "Man, we sure have a great family, every one of them is amazing."

Keith and I finally got some food and enjoyed visiting. I made two and a half loaves of cheese bread and we definitely could have used more. 

They had fun playing basketball. Judah wanted to play too.

Wyatt has been enjoying basketball so he was excited to bring his new ball and play.

I'm so glad Mel's kids all live here.  We sure missed EJ while he was gone. 

Mel and Tiff did Bingo for the little kids. The girls loved their new skirts and put them on right away.

We had just enough bingo cards for everyone to play together this year. 

I love our Christmas Eve traditions. 

Dad called Bingo for all of us.

Tessa couldn't hear grandpa so she asked what he said and grandpa said, "Tessa, B-quiet."  She thought that was pretty funny.

Mel, Tiff and I got all the bingo prizes.  

Again, it's crazy how mom used to do all of this on her own. She did let us help more over the years.  It's a lot of work with this big group.

We did the grab box for the kids.

Zariyah helped pass out the presents until she got her present. It was so cute. 

Mel had these cute books about the girls with grandma and grandpa. 

Of course Clara wanted grandma to read it to her right away.  Mel is such a cute grandma.

The grandkids got books and gift cards. 

Grandpa handed out presents to everyone. 

It was a great night.

Cousins really do make the best friends. 

Wesley is the happiest baby, he is always smiling. 

Mel blew up this picture that dad loved of him and mom.  He loved it.  We got him a calendar with pictures of him and mom. We all miss her so much and love to talk about her and see pictures of her. I'm sure she loved seeing her family gathered together. She has done such a great job of creating family traditions and I'm so grateful for that. She always made Christmas so special and exciting. It's hard to carry on without her, but I know that is what she would want.