Christmas Eve

So this year is Christmas with the Kidds.  Which means a pretty long car ride and some creative wrapping and "hiding" in the car.  Cue the black garbage bags.  I got this.  :)

Shaun got off work early- which I think is awesome.  Thank-you Shaun's boss.  When he got home the car was packed and the kids had potty-ed and were ready to go.  We jumped in the car and slept until we hit the state line- except for Shaun.  Who is- like his boss- also awesome.  From the state line all we heard was "Are we there yet?"  and "How much LONG-ER?" (you've got to love it when the whine starts making one and two syllable words even longer).  

Eventually- much to the relief of ALL... we made it.  We pulled in just in time for some yummy dinner with Shaun's parents and the Chase and Dani Kidds.  We played around most of the evening and watched some Christmas movies.  Eventually we moved back into the kitchen and let the kids decorate some special cookies for Santa.

Once they had finished making some (for lack of a better word) YUMMY looking cookies for poor Santa, the kids got in their jammies and then pulled out Grandma's Nativity things.  This year, since the kids were getting a little older- we thought it would be fun to re-inact the story.

Kate was the angel and Deja was Mary.  Mary was excited about the news of her upcoming pregnancy- so she hugged the angel.  I'm pretty sure that wasn't part of the original story- but it was so cute.

Ty played Joseph and Ryan was a Shephard/Wiseman.  Cousin Krew was a sheep.  And a donkey.  And a thief.  Again- probably not part of the story- but we just went with it.  :)

Zombies made an appearance when Kate was telling the shepherds to not be afraid.  Sigh.  I kind of wish I had recorded it.  I don't think anyone believes me.  It's hilarious.

To kill a little more time before bed, Aunt Dani pulled out some cute games she had made- the kids LOVED it!  Which reminds me- Dani if you are reading this... I want the "Don't Eat Rudolf!"

We just finished playing when Ty checked my NORAD app on my phone to see where Santa was at.  He had been checking it throughout the night to check on his progress.  Suddenly he dropped the phone and said, "It's time for bed RIGHT NOW!  He's in South America and that's just too close!  We have to be asleep by the time he gets here!  Everyone in bed NOW!"  

And you know what?  They did.  It was 8:00 and all 5 of them made a mad dash for their beds.  Again- I wish I had it on video.  So funny.  

And it was off to bed for the rest of us too!