Christmas Eve

I think Christmas Eve was the hardest part of staying home this year for Christmas.  Christmas Eve in my house growing up was even bigger than Christmas Day most times.  There are so many traditions that we did to get ready for Santa to come.  I missed the hustle and bustle of going to my Grandma Rosell's house, and all that fun things that come along with that.  I missed having family to gather with. We've enjoyed Christmas Eve's at Jeffs home as well with lots of yummy food and it's always nice to just be with family.  So I did miss that this year.  But it was nice to just be focused on my little family.  To spend time with just them.  We woke up that morning and started the day off right by opening some gifts they had gotten from their cousins!  The toys they got kept them pretty entertained while we finished the last minute things we needed to get done for Christmas Day.  We decided to go out to dinner, and Olive Garden was the place.  On our way home we picked up a darling sugar cookie kit  from "THE" Sugar Cookie to get ready for Santa.  We went home, decorated our cookies, wrote letters to Santa, re-inacted the Nativity and enjoyed some hot chocolate before going to bed.

Halie and Jeff working on a puzzle.

Dinner at Olive Garden

Brock enjoyed every bite!

We didn't realize that this might gynx Jeff on Christmas Day!

The kids opening gifts from Big Guy!

Opening Gifts from Gma and Gpa Hyde!  They loved what they got!

The Nativity!  Loved that Brock was the donkey.

Might need to frame this one!

Halie was in her element!

Jeff filled in as a substitute donkey considering the fact that Brock would not cooperate.

Seriously she was made for this role!

So excited for Christmas!

Decorating Sugar Cookies.  Pretty sure Santa was THRILLED with the yummy cookies this year!

We ALWAYS HATE SAYING GOODBYE TO ELFEE!

Halie's Letter:  I WANT A BIKE AND BABY STUFF AND A BABY CHAIR AND A BABY.

READING MICAH'S LETTER TO SANTA YOUD THINK HE WAS PRETTY DISSAPOINTED CHRISTMAS MORNING!  BUT "HE GOT EVERYTHING HE WANTED"  THANKS GOODNESS!

We tucked the kids into our bed.  Jeff layed with them for an hour they were too excited to sleep!  I finished putting our gifts under the tree... and sometime in the night Santa arrived and made magic happen!

Merry Christmas!