Christmas Eve

In our home we exchange gifts on Christmas Eve. First we eat a simple meal of favorite foods. This year our meal included crescent rolls with and without hot dogs, homemade rolls, and homemade ham and cheese rolls! Kara was making sure she had some of everyone's favorite rolls--or she lost count of the different types of rolls she was preparing?!

After our meal we had a short concert of Christmas music courtesy of Jake and Bentley. They didn't play songs on their ukulele, but on the piano. Jake has been practicing every day on the piano and he did a great job. Bentley went next and we enjoyed his songs, too. Lincoln insisted on going third. He was entertaining, but it wasn't traditional Christmas music. After Lincoln, Evan demanded a turn. Viva did not join the boys' concert. We then sang a song or two. We read the Christmas story at some point--before or after the music, I'm not sure.

Then the children handed out the gifts under the tree. We opened gifts. The boys received Legos, books, and Ninja costumes. Viva was given a sewing machine, books, and duct tape. Viva made quite a few Christmas gifts for others. Most were made from duct tape, but she also made a bead necklace for Jake (see last photo). It was a nice evening. It is good to be with family for holiday celebrations.

Our tree without the lights on and missing ornaments on the top part. 

The bottom part is rather bare, too!

J plays.

B plays.

L plays.

And, yes, E plays!

B & L distributing gifts.

L opening a gift

 J opening a gift

B verifying whose gift it is before opening it.

V admiring a gift.

E working hard at opening a box.

(E refused twice to take a gift out a gift bag.  

He forcefully pushed the bag away. Why?) 

Great-grandma!

E loving a gift.

J showing off a gift.

L checking out a gift.

J displaying the gift V made him!