CHRISTMAS BEGINS - A FEW DAYS EARLY - Dec 23rd

We used to go to Tim's parents on Christmas Eve for lunch and an afternoon with them. However, a few years ago our church started having Christmas Eve services too early for us to continue that tradition so we moved our lunch/afternoon with them to the 23rd! We really enjoy it this way because it's not as rushed as trying to fit everything into Christmas Eve day. We also go over there around lunch time and have Onion Soup....

.....Vegetable Soup.....

..... and Popovers...... YUM YUM YUM!

After dinner we always clean up the table, dishes, etc while the younger ones (now Josh and Nathan) start setting out the packages. Here Grandma is cleaning and Grandpa is supervising the package distribution.

This year I was so tired and sickly that I had to lay down and rest right after we were done eating. The girls helped with the cleaning up while Nathan and I laid down to rest. I knew I better take it easy this morning and afternoon so I'd have enough energy to play for 2 services tonight.

We have had a tradition for as long as I can remember that we all open our packages one at a time so that we can all see what the others are getting. I was too tired to even sit up to open my packages. I guess you could say this was a VERY restful day-before-Christmas-Eve gathering. Here's the cute snowman card holder that Tim's mom made for me.

and I now have 2 more angels from the Willow Tree collection! I LOVE the Willow Tree angels.

Grandma Jean made these cute hats for the girls:

Josh was wondering what in the world could be in that HUGE sack with his name on it. He practically got lost in it (LOL).

Grandma made really cute pillowcases for the boys. Josh has a dog and Nathan has a kitten... of course we ALL know that he LOVES his kittens! I will have to do a separate blog posts that show these pillows because the ones I have right now don't show all of the detail.

All of the adults really enjoy watching the kids the most and we save most of our packages for the end.. except when the kids insist we open one!

Hmmmm.... not sure where Amanda gets the talking-with-her-hands gene (LOL)!

We have a few gift giving traditions..... peanuts and mixed nuts for grandpa and Werther's candy for grandma...

Last year we started a new "main gift" tradition for Grandpa and that is books..... enough to settle in for some good winter reading. Last year we had a weather theme with Isaac's Storm and The Children's Blizzard. This year it's an ocean them with Ship of Gold and Heart of the Sea. I'm not sure what next year's theme will be, but I'll be getting inspiration from my SHS friends who have recommended all of the books we've given so far. Grandpa seems to enjoy getting the books so we'll continue with this tradition!

Josh was VERY EXCITED about this LEGO crane. It's HUGE! It kept him busy all morning Christmas Eve... it was a good way to focus some of the extra energy and excitement that Chrismtas brings! More pictures of the building process in another blog soon to come.

Poor Nathan didn't even feel well enough to stay awake long enough to open all of his packages. He laid down beside me on the floor and tried to stay awake.

finally he just couldn't keep his eyes open any longer....

More pictures from our pre-Christmas-Eve celebration.

Before Nathan fell asleep.... he was even too tired to stay awake and play with his new toys.

The kids stayed at Grandma and Grandpa's for a few games of cards while Tim and I left to get ready for the services being held on the 23rd. Then, the kids came home and cleaned up the house and got things ready for the busy Christmas Eve day to follow. Amanda wrapped all of the presents from yesterday's shopping, too. I fell asleep on the way home from church and went right to bed. I'm not sure what everyone else did (LOL).