Christmas Eve

Hannah jumped out of bed on Christmas Eve morning all smiles and declaring that nothing could make her sad on Christmas Eve.  She is so much fun on holidays.  She just enjoys every part of the traditions we have built.

 

She wore her Santa hat all day.

 

I had promised the kids I would make one batch of their favorite Christmas treats once they were out of school for break.  Hannah wanted cut-out sugar cookies that she could decorate.

 





Homemade butter cream frosting that we colored red and green.

 

 

 

PK's favorite is fudge.

 



 

Aaron asked for buckeyes.

 

Rachel doesn't really have a sweet tooth so she asked that I make pigs in a blanket as an appetizer on Christmas Day.

 

We opened gifts from each other and extended family that afternoon.

Hannah insisted that I open my gift first.  I told her I could wait and she said, "But you never open yours first."  I thought that was sweet.  PK and the kids gave me a new laptop.

Aunt Ragini sent Aaron and Hannah Doctor Who calendars.

Mamaw Annie sent Hannah an American Girl Doll school desk.

She was already excited when she saw the box and knew there was something from American Girl inside.

She especially loved that the books had real information printed in them.

There have only been a few times in the almost twenty years PK and I have been married that I have managed to buy him a gift he truly likes.  He is particular about his clothes and he loves books, but only certain ones.  This year the kids and I gave him two hats that have wicking to help keep moisture away, a shirt made by the same company and a small screw driver that looks like a pen with multiple heads to change out and some of his favorite chapstick.  He loved them all.

We went to have dinner with Doug, Shannon, Lori and Noelle at their house and then joined them for the Christmas Eve service at their church.  Brian and Cynthia also came down.



 

Rachel, Lori, Hannah, Aaron and Noelle sitting in church together.

 

After church we went home and got cookies and milk ready for Santa and some carrots for his reindeer.  Aaron lit the candle he painted in preschool.  We light it every year to help Santa find the goodies.

 



 

The kids were off to bed in eager anticipation.  Aaron received a very large Lego set as a combined gift from the grandparents.  I walked down to his room to find him getting ready to put it together.  "Dude, it is time for bed!"

All of the gifts from Santa around the tree.