Christmas Eve

When I was growing up we would always open gifts with Mamma and Pampa on Christmas Eve. I'm sure this sounds odd to most, but we would always have pizza, usually from Papa's Pizza, which was wonderful and pie and of course open presents. My mom is any only child, so it was just my parents, me, Crystal and then Mamma and Pampa. This tradition continued until Crystal got married and they would come every other year and then when I got married Justin and I started spending Christmas Eve with his family. It's hard working in all the Christmas' when you have to work with other families too. So, now on Christmas Eve we go to Justin's parents and have dinner and open gifts and then go to Christmas Eve service. It is a crazy time- it seems like we are rushed, I guess when you add kids into the mix, everything is always a rush. This year, Bobbi closed her store early, so we could have more time together and it worked out very nicely. Of course sitting through church service with the kids when they should be in bed is quite difficult, but it was a nice service...what I was able to take part of. Lawson and I spent most of the service in the nursery. That pretty much sums up our Christmas Eve. After church we went home to make sure we got Santa's muffins and milk set out and kids tucked in to wait on Santa.

Amber and I got the girls the same thing...makeup. It works out good getting them the same- much less arguing.

 Trying to get pictures..it was hopeless!

 The best I got of the four of them...can't even see Kennedy's head

 Thought these were good of Avery

 An awful family picture. I turned my flash off and forgot to turn it back on :(

 Notice hte eyeliner on Avery...don't know that the makeup was a good choice

 This is how we spent our Christmas Eve. Lawson was OUT when we got home, so he was in bed waiting for Santa to come. Avery on the other had was too excited to sleep- I think she watched TV all night.

Christmas with Papa and Grandma Robyn

We had Christmas with my parents on Tuesday, December 20. This is a subject that I don't want to get into, but to make a long story short, my parents are divorced. That being said the holidays are kind of awkward for all those involved. We had Christmas at my grandpa's house, which is where my mom is now living. It was of course a rushed evening since we all had to work the day of and most of us had to work the next day. It was nice evening and it is always bittersweet to be together for the holidays and in my mind I can't help, but think about how things used to be...how they should still be. I will stop there and get down to the pictures.

Lawson not sure what's going on

Lawson helping Cade

Avery just opened her Easy Bake- not sure who was more excited, Avery or Jay :)

More Easy Bake stuff...yay!



He wouldn't set still long enough to pose for a picture...always on the go!

Finally got one- he loves this doll

Getting the oven going...ready to start baking!

They made a cake- didn't get any pictures of the finished product :(

This was Lawosn when we got home...1 down 3 to go!

Misc Christmas and Church Programs

December is always a busy month, but you always have to have a day to decorate cookies. Avery, Cade and Grandma Robyn decorated sugar cookies one Saturday and had a great time. Avery can't seem to control her tongue...she like to lick/eat the icing off everything! She has a sweet tooth...she got that from her daddy, because I'm not a big fan of sweets. 

My cutie pie!

The cookies in progress

Church Christmas Program

We attend a small church. It's the same that my dad attended as a young boy, where my parents got marred and where I grew up. It is a church small in number, which is sad, but we enjoy it. When I grew up we had the "real" Christmas program- it was always the the Sunday evening the Sunday before Christmas. Now that there are hardly any kids, we have an all church program. People from the congregation do specials and we as a congregation also sing..I always cry when we sing Silent Night and Justin makes fun of me....it's a tradition I guess :) Miss Avery and Grace were going to sing, but of course Avery wouldn't cooperate! (surprise) The below picture is Avery watching very carefully what she would have to do....she wasn't doing it- end of story. Until, Cade convinced her that he would sing with her- along with me and Lawson too.

Poor Cade was who did all the singing. I was trying not to laugh and even Lawson was wondering what was going on. Cade it a great job- thank you, Cade!

Tanner singing Jingle Bells (he was vising his grandparents)

Grace

Lineleigh and Nana, Linda

Three of the HS girls

Always have to get a family picture :)

Live Nativity at Miller



My sister's church decided to try a Live Nativity at their church and it was fantastic. I know she and Jay put A LOT of work into do this and it was sooo good. They hauled in animals and even looked into getting camels, but they were too expensive. The cows bellowing in the back ground made it seem so real. It was very moving...just to think that our Savior was born in a stable. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

I didn't get very good pictures I was holding Lawson, who was bundled up and was hard to hold onto. I also didn't get to watch all of it- Avery and Lawson were very cold.