Christmas Eve

Can I just say that as a kid I thought Christmas was the best ever and couldn't get any better, but being a parent at Christmas time is way more fun!!!  We almost did our family Christmas a few days early simply because Daniel and I were so excited for our kids. 

 

We did our family Christmas the morning of Christmas Eve. 

 

The kids coming down in the morning.  

 

 

 

We started the morning off by finding baby Jesus for our manger scene.  You can't have Christmas without baby Jesus. 

 

Placing Jesus in the manger. 

 

Kayla insisted on eating breakfast before opening presents.  She must take after her Mama in that eating comes first in life :)  If you eat first you are in a much better mood. 

So we ate our oatmeal and true to our tradition we added colored sprinkles.  We also started a new tradition of monkey bread.  YUM-YUM!

Opening stockings. 

Kayla squealed with such excitement in notes that the human ear was not meant to hear. 

Levi found some puffs in his stocking and enjoyed them on the stairs.  Probably so nobody could take them away before he finished them off. 

 

Waiting to open presents. 

 

Every year we have the kids get a present for each other.  They both really like picking out presents for the other one.  While opening presents we could really tell that Joshua enjoyed giving gifts rather than opening them.  He also is a very thoughtful gift giver.  When talking about what we should get Daddy for his stocking he said, "tree seeds."  Then he said, "chocolate tree seeds so he can grow a chocolate tree."  Daddy's two favorite things, plating tress and chocolate. 

 

Kayla's excitement always tied in to her babies somehow.  Her new bike came with a baby doll seat.  She didn't say one word about getting a bike but she did shriek with excitement that it had a seat for her baby!  I put one of her old baby dolls on the changing table of her new nursery set she got.  She got so excited at the site of that baby even though it was an old baby. 

 



Trying to climb in Kayla's baby doll swing. 

Levi thought Kayla's new baby doll nursery was a jungle gym for him. 

 

Kayla with her real life baby.  

 

Later in the afternoon My Mom, Mark, Aunt Brooke and Aunt Sydney came over for dinner, games, and presents. 

Christmas ornament hunt.  I love that they still like this game.   

Loving on the bear Mimi gave him.   

 

Blessed to live so close to family and to spend such special days with them.