We started our Christmas Eve with a family breakfast of egg nog French toast trees with whipped cream "snow" and blueberry balls and sprinkles. The kids loved decorating their trees with the whipped cream. Some trees got really snowed on!
Next, we talked about our manger with the service straws in it. We talked about Christ, and Scott and I bore our testimonies of Him. I often think that our kids know we have a testimony, but if they never hear it, how do they know? So this was a good opportunity to reinforce our beliefs. It was a sweet experience.
Next, we gave them their new jammies. Keaton and Waverly didn't get any, since they didn't really need any, but I gave them both a small Christmas book so they had something to open. Waverly kept demanding where her new jammies were. Keaton didn't care.
We opened the gifts youngest to oldest, so that meant, as the younger twin by one minute, Keaton went first. Savannah held him on her lap as he opened his gift, so of course Waverly had to have her turn too.
That started a trend because Brighton plopped down on Nana's lap when it was his turn.
As did Irelynd, which got us all laughing.
They were both very excited about new jammies.
And couldn't wait to put them on.
Next we finished our Christmas book countdown with the last book, plus our new book, A Year Without Santa Claus. Santa's First Flight is a very cute book, by the way. It's one of our favorites. Please don't look at my picture. Awful!
Lastly, we decided to have our kids give each other their gifts on Christmas Eve so they don't get lost in the madness of Christmas morning. It was a great idea. Waverly was excited to get "pink Princess slippers" from Nana.
Brighton loved his Toy Story coloring page.
And Irelynd about kissed Savannah's feet to open a Pet Shops coloring book and crayons. Good work, Savannah!
Christmas Eve was spent with Scott's family, minus Grandma and Grandpa, who are in England. We missed you guys! We had yummy appetizers. I made pizza rolls, spinach balls, and a cheese ball. What's with the round thing? Everything was so good!
Sallie just got a new camera, so I had a partner in snapping so many photos. We couldn't resisit a mutual shot:)
We played Minute to Win it, with families as teams. Lizzy came to me on one of the last rounds, and said she got to do everything because her parents were too lazy to get up.
The first round was blowing a marshmallow on a string and catching it with your mouth. The first to eat it won.
The next one was Santa's beard, where the dads lathered up in shaving cream, and the kids threw mini marshmallows at them, and whoever had the most sticking to his face after the timer won this round. That was Stuart, with Scott as a close contender. This one was hilarious to watch. I found it comical to see the 3 dads...
...and then pre-pubescent Baker.
Keaton would have nothing to do with Scott after the shaving cream. He screamed like a banshee and clutched Savannah tightly any time Scott came near. Look at that face!
The next one required moving a cookie down the face using only facial muscles. It was harder than it seemed.
I almost had it when it dropped!
Scott won this round. I knew he had a big mouth!
Next the contestants had to flip a pom pom onto their peanut butter-covered nose and have it stick. Neither Irelynd nor Lizzy could do it, but Maddie got it right away.
Next, they had to blow a pom pom across the floor and land it in a boxed area. It was supposed to be ornaments, but they wouldn't roll right!
When Brighton lost to Camden, he barricaded himself in the couch.
Chloe and Lizzy's turn.
Last came jingle in the trunk, where they had to jump around to get the bells out of the tissue box strapped to their lower backs. That one was hilarious. We finally had to make some adjustments when Shawna's weren't budging, even with her funky moves.
Irelynd and Lizzy give it a go and tie.
We ended the night with singing and scripture reading. It was a great time!
