We had a fun and festive Christmas Eve. Before heading to Ma and Pa's house, we stopped by Mamma and Bampa's house for a visit. We were glad to see aunts, uncles, and cousins while we were there.
We have been excited for Gwen to experience her first Christmas. She loved her Christmas Eve dinner! Especially the mashed potatoes!
Adam, Ares, and Tessa
Showing off his olive fingers.
Tessa's dinner consisted of rolls and mashed potatoes.
After about 16 years of not acting out the Christmas Story, my Mom decided it was time for the grand kids to start acting it out. She eventually made my siblings and I stop because of our irreverence. It always turned into a huge giggle fest. I'm not sure the grand kids doing it was any better. But they sure looked cute!
Gwennie was our Angel
Adam was our Joseph
Tessa was our Mary-and yes, that would be Perry the Platypus as the Baby Jesus.
We really wanted Gwen to yell, "Shazam!".
Aunt Katy was the donkey (with reindeer antlers).
Pa read the Christmas Story and the kids "acted" out their parts. Tessa took her role as Mary very seriously. She decided to use Gwen's booster chair as the manger.
Then, Mary and Perry made off with the gifts from the Wise Men.
Pa always reads the Polar Express to us and shakes a bell to see if we still believe.
Ever second he could, Adam was checking on Santa's progress.
The weather and roads were pretty nasty, so we were thankful to get home safely later that night. The kids were quick to get into their jammies and got Santa's cookies and milk ready for him. Gwen fell asleep on the way home, so she missed out on some of our fun.
In keeping with Nielson tradition, we got to open a book on Christmas Eve.
Tessa got a new Pinkalicious book and Adam got the first book in the Magic Treehouse series. They wasted no time reading their new books.
Daddy got a new Glen Beck book and Mommy got a funny book on motherhood.
Adam and Tessa went right to bed, but had a hard time falling asleep because they were so excited for Santa to come!
