Christmas Eve

The kids were so excited to wake up Christmas Eve morning! It meant they were one day closer to Christmas!!

Mommy got the mail on Christmas Eve and we were all shocked to find letters from Santa in the mail for Adam, Tessa, and Gwen! They tore them open and read what Santa had written. Each letter was personalized to each of them. Santa told Gwen he couldn't bring her a real horse because of laws and boarder regulations, but he would do his best to bring her a toy horse. 

 They couldn't believe they actually got letters from Santa!

We treated the kids that afternoon to a movie. Something we rarely do. We went and saw The Good Dinosaur. We loved it and I loved watching Tessa's face through the whole movie. She couldn't stop smiling. 

After the movie, we headed to Ma and Pa's house for some Christmas Eve fun! Aunt Katy helped the kids make luminaries and then they lit them along Ma and Pa's sidewalk. We used to do this every year. It's a tradition I miss seeing in their neighborhood. 

 Ma and Pa made a delicious Christmas dinner for all of us to enjoy. 

 We were glad to have Uncle Ben home with us this year!

 Tessa with her Christmas quesadilla. 

After dinner, the doorbell rang and to the kids surprise, they found our Elf, Christopher on the front porch with a note for them! I wish we had recorded the screams that came out of these kids! They were ecstatic!! Adam cried from laughing so hard. Christopher's note had some clean up assignments for the whole family, so we could get dinner cleaned up and all have some fun together. Christopher popped up in a few different spots during the evening, surprising the kid and bringing them treats. They loved it!

 We played some fun games. We tried to pick up marshmallows with chopsticks. 

 Christopher appeared on Pa's shoulder!

 We played a silly M&M game that didn't really work, but it was funny to watch Daddy and Danny try it. And Uncle Danny filled the house with smoke when he built a fire. We all went home smelling like we had just been on a Christmas camp out. 

 We played Christmas scattegories. It's not a Lemley party if we don't play scattegories. 

 After games, Pa read us the Christmas story and the Polar Express. Then we hurried home to get the kids ready for bed so Santa could come!

The kids quickly got their jammies on and brushed their teeth and got their reindeer food spread out in the snow. 

 They got their Santa treats and milk all ready. 

 Then they got to open their Eve books. They were so anxious to open a present!

 They were so happy about their books. Caleb got an Animal book, Gwen got a Sophia the First book, Tessa got a Dinosaur book, and Adam got a Space book. 

They got into bed so quickly so they could read for a few minutes and then get to sleep so Santa could come. Their enthusiasm was contagious. Christmas is so fun with these kids!!