Christmas Eve 2017

Well, sadly we were all still rather sick on Christmas eve. The children were basically over the flu, but had terrible coughs. Marc and I both have colds so we were just hanging in there.  Fortunately, our Christmas Eve traditions are firmly in place and move along with or without us being 100%.

We went to Mass Sunday morning and Marc and Tucker altar served.

We heard firetruck Santa coming down the street and ran out to greet him.  Sadly, for the first time in years- he didn't come!  He came to the stop sign down the street and turned the other way!  We were disappointed.

 BB and Poppy arrived and lifted our spirits. Then it was time for Secret Santa.  Each year the children draw names and buy one sibling a gift with their own money.  They really get into this and think about all year what they will get their secret partner.   Marky had Charlie this year-

Julia had Tucker-

He got a glow-in-the-dark Newton's Cradle, which is exactly what he wanted!  He played with it ALL NIGHT.

Tucker had Julia and got her a horse calendar (which she loved) and a remote-controlled fish for our fish tank.  :)  Ha!

Charlie had Marky and bought him many nerf ball bullets and cartridges.

Then we had our annual Christmas Eve steak dinner with my Nanny's salad-

After dinner and dessert we had our annual singing.  Every year we have the children preform the 12 days of Christmas song and a few others.  Tucker still gets to sing "5 golden rings"- Charlie was too shy.

After singing we drove around and looked at Christmas lights while listening to Christmas carols.  Then we came home and Daddy read the Christmas story-

Then it was hugs and bedtime-

After the children were in bed we tacked wrapping all the gifts- even the family gifts that came from Amazon.  :)  And we had to search all over the house to find where we had hidden them.  :)  Thank goodness for BB and Poppy- they wrapped so much! After all the wrapping we watched "Christmas Vacation" and then hit the sack.  Another wonderful Christmas Eve in the books!