With the wedding over, we could now concentrate fully on Christmas! On Christmas Eve, our tradition is to spend it over at Brandon's parent's house. Usually Jeremy and Tisha and their kids are there too, but this year they were vacationing in Cozumel so it was a smaller celebration. We still had fun though. Brandon's mom always makes sure to plan lots of yummy food, and fun activities for the kids. After we ate and lounged around for a bit, Nana brought out some presents that Grandma Simmons had sent for us and the kids. She gave each of the kids a cute little stocking with some nick nacks and 2, two dollar bills! Thy were thrilled! She gave Brandon and I a framed picture that she had painted. The last time we were at their house, Brandon had mentioned to her that he would love to have one of her paintings, and she remembered. It meant so much to Brandon. I didn't get a picture of it, but it was so pretty!
Nana always gets each of the kids a present to open on Christmas Eve that is some kind of fun activity for them to do that night. Levi got this fun game, that blows up little styrofoam balls, that you shoot with a nerf gun.
Nana got Alexis and Tori some bracelet making kits =)
They all had fun playing with their new toys for a bit. We then started watching Pirates of The Caribbean. After about a half hour we decided we would rather play a game, so Jana got out Yahtzee. That is me and Brandon's favorite game. When we were first married we would always play it, so it brought back some fun memories and we had a lot of laughs =)
After the game, it was getting late, so we decided to open up our Christmas Eve pajamas. The kids each got some warm jammies and new slippers!
I got Brandon some Superman Pajamas, and he got me some cute green festive ones from Old Navy (actually, Cindy picked mine out in Utah and wrapped them up. So it was a surprise to both of us! I love them! =) ).
We headed home around 8:45. The kids were so excited to get things ready for Santa to come!
We took a few pictures in front of the fire place, and then opened the gifts that they each had made each other. Levi was excited to sprinkle his reindeer food that Alexis made him, all over the front lawn for Santa's reindeer. Alexis wrote a long letter for Santa, and they set out cookies and milk for Santa, and carrots for Rudolph.
After that, AJ, Cindy and Lyla got back from my parents house, so we took a few pictures of all of the kids in front of the tree.
Growing up, on Christmas eve all of my siblings all slept in the same room. I have to keep the tradition going! 
It's so much fun to see how excited the kids get for Christmas. It brings back so many fun memories from when I was a kid =)
It's so much fun to see how excited the kids get for Christmas. It brings back so many fun memories from when I was a kid =)
3 comments:
What a nice tradition! I love continuing family traditions, that to me makes the season all that more meaningful.
Cute, cute pictures!! I love the ones of all the cousins in front of the tree--that will be a special memory for all of them someday!
What a fun Christmas Eve! I'm glad your kids sleep in the same room!
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