"Christmas Eve" Sunday

My family has been celebrating Christmas Eve on the Sunday before Christmas for a few years now.  It's nice because no one has to hurry to another family so we have time to eat lots of good food and do all our favorite traditions.

It was sad to not have my parents there, but at least they will only be gone for one Christmas.  Because of their absence, this post will be somewhat picture heavy.  I hope my readers don't mind.

 Jeff and Vivienne here from Georgia

 Jared and Blake.  He told me his mom gave him the sore on his nose, but the one on his head is from a parking lot.

 Sadie and Cohen

 The kids having fun.

 Shon and Bodie playing with the toy Nativity set.

 Michelle here from Oregon and Brandon.  Not her baby though.

 Tim home from his mission with the twins.

 Sydney giving me her prettiest smile.

 Brynna showing me her dinosaur.

 Rachelle's grown-up kids.

 Stephanie never wants me to take her picture ever again.

 Melissa wasn't sure what she wanted to do for the camera.  I'm glad I got her though, she wasn't feeling well and had to leave early.

 Her brother Zach.

 So many fun things to do at Rachelle's house!

 Taylor here from Oregon, watching Brynna's dinosaur for her.

I wasn't the only shutter bug there that night.

 Cousins Brandon and Cohen.

 Cohen was so good to just sit and let us take pictures, Brandon kept wiggling around.  So cute!

I was a little surprised when Gracie wouldn't pose for me, but she still looks cute.

Austin wants his two front teeth for Christmas!  I heard that Chris might have helped it along earlier that night.

So much good food.  At the bottom of the picture you can see my jigglers.  A long time Christmas Eve tradition.  I had to make 16 boxes to feed everyone and it weighed 16 lbs!  Perhaps the most impressive part: I didn't have any leftovers.

Time for the Nativity!  Lots to do to get ready.

 Nathaniel was a wise man this year.

 I think Jonathan was originally supposed to be a shepherd, but when Zach and his family had to leave, a second Joseph spot opened up.  He didn't want to be Joseph but got excited when I suggested he be a sheep.

 I had been looking for Brigham all over.  I found him cuddled up next to Rachel.  I didn't push for him to be involved this year.

Chris narrated and Don held up the iPad so my parents could watch and hear what was going on through Skype.

 One of the Marys riding on the donkey.

 Two Marys but only one Joseph.

 Jonathan took his role as sheep very seriously.

 Some of our shepherds.

 The beautiful angels.

 The three wise men.

 Davin, the cutest little shepherd.

 

 Sorry, I had to post this one too because it was so cute.

Merry Christmas!


Bodie got a little tired of standing there getting his picture taken.

We were also sort of celebrating December birthdays.  Melissa's birthday was first but she had to go home.  Rachelle was so nice to make these cute cupcakes for the birthdays.

 Jonathan's birthday

 Kristy's birthday

 Taylor's birthday

 Maddy's birthday is the 23rd!

Time to open presents!

Our turn was here, but I was the one opening the present so there's no picture.  Scott's family gave us some gift cards wrapped in candy!

Presents: check!

With all the main activities done, there was time to just hang out a little.

Time to hold babies.

Sing songs.

And play with Tim!

It was a good Christmas Eve.  I made sure to take lots of pictures for my parents, so I hope no one minds.