Christmas Eve 2011

After a very busy month preparing for Christmas, we took the time to stay home for two days and enjoy the holiday.  The morning of Christmas Eve, the boys let the girls sleep in and I found these three cuties on the couch with their reading materials.  Oliver with Daddy's iPad, Daddy with his laptop and Kellan with a book.

After a great breakfast that Anne brought from an amazing pasty chef in Fallon, Kellan helped clean up. It's probably a good thing since he is usually responsible for most of the disaster on the floor.

Keith and Oliver spent some time outside building the igloo, which was the talk of the neighborhood.  We later found out that the neighbor kids were checking it out while we were away at work and school. Their Mom also threatened them dearly if they dared ruin it.  What a great neighbor Mom!

Oliver was in no mood for a photo with the igloo so this is a picture of Oliver crouching in the snow with his Daddy.

Our family tradition is to go to Christmas Eve candle light church service to celebrate the reason for the season.  Lucky for us, the church is in our back yard, literally.  The girls drove to church since there was snow between us and the church which was not a good combination with our girly heels.  Oliver escorted us to ensure that we arrived safely.  Daddy and Kellan walked since it was much easier than strapping Kellan into the car seat, which he usually detests.  Prior to church, Anne got a great family photo of us.

After church we came home for more Christmas Eve festivities which included Auntie Anne pushing the boys around and around and around in a clothes basket.  Oh the fun a clothes basket can provide!  The giggles echoed throughout the house.

Then Kellan discovered that Auntie Anne was a viable source for story time.  If you have a lap and you're willing to read Kellan a story, he'll be your buddy, instantly.

After an amazing dinner of pork tenderloin and sweet potato risotto, provided by Chef Keith, we let the kids open a gift from under the tree.  Since we knew Uncle Jerry was usually good for a great (and usually obnoxious) toy, we steered them in that direction.  Once again, Uncle Jerry did not disappoint.

Oliver was very serious about opening his first gift, as he usually is about tasks.

Oliver encouraged Mommy to open the gift he had made at school for both Mommy and Daddy and he  took a picture.  It was a very cute wreath that he had made out of different shapes.

Behold!  Oliver's gift from Uncle Jerry, which included a respiratory work out for Daddy.

Kellan chipped in as much as he could.

I have no idea what these things are called but Oliver (and Kellan) LOVE it!  It's like a weeble wobble that won't fall down with Uncle Jerry's favorite team, the St Louis Rams.  You can tackle it (which the boys do), wrestle it (which the boys do), punch it (which the boys do), sword fight it (which the boys do) and the list goes on!  The only rule is they have to watch where they are playing with it and it's can't take out Kellan in the process.

Kellan helped Daddy open his gift of new Christmas PJ's.  Mommy, Daddy and Auntie Anne all got new Christmas PJ's since Christmas morning is always filled with lots of photos.  Good PJ's are a must!

Kellan was a bit nervous about his gift from Uncle Jerry, but he warmed up to it.  The adults in the house wondered if they had to actually put batteries in Kellan's new Rams Dinosaur.

You see, our nephew Rio has the same toy and it plays a song that is loud and obnoxious.  It is one of those songs that will stick with you for DAYS!  It could be the Enigizer commercial as it keeps going and going and going.  We did put batteries in it, Kellan did warm up to it and it may mysteriously find a new home at the bottom of the toy box.  Shhh... don't tell.

The gifts were a big hit on Christmas Eve, as was dinner and the candle light service.  As the evening wore down, it was time to prepare for the arrival of Santa Claus.  Oliver had placed his order the week before for a silver remote control car.  He later realized that he forgot to tell Santa that he wanted a silver bike, so he sent a message with Silly Sam.  Now, it was just time to put out the cookies and milk and hit the hay.  Oliver's choice for cookies? Warm chocolate chip with whip cream. 

The cookies were carefully baked, decorated and placed along side a carafe of milk.

With the quick change into PJ's and elf slippers, the boys snuggled on Daddy's lap for a traditional reading of the Night Before Christmas.

The story is the same, year after year.

Year after year, the magic and wonder grows bigger in the hearts of our boys.

Through our boys, we are reminded of the true meaning of Christmas and the precious gift of life.  We also get the pure joy of re-living pieces of our very own child hood and the magic that surrounds Christmas.

With the closing of the book, a tight tuck into bed and visions of sugar plums dancing in our head, we drifted to sleep in hopes that St Nick would soon be here.