This year we had an extra-special Hoosier Christmas because my family came all the way out from Utah and California to join us. Dad, Susie, Kyle, and Kevin all showed up on Friday, bearing gifts, good cheer, and soda. Lots and lots of soda. Seriously, this Christmas was the Soda Christmas. It was a very caffeinated holiday.
Anywho, Spencer's school district apparently has a bit of a problem in their calendaring, in that they don't know how to calendar. He had school through the 23rd of December. Can you believe it?! So when he finally got home from school around quarter to four we were ready to start our Christmas Eve activities. Wait - that's not Christmas Eve? Wrong. In our house we specifically asked Santa to come a day early so we wouldn't have to rush Christmas morning in order to get to church in time. And because we're extra cool, he agreed and we got to have Christmas a day early. Be jealous.
We started with our traditional Christmas Eve Dinner. This year, because we had so many people, we had a kid's table in the kitchen for Josh and Cole. They quite enjoyed sitting there for the entire 4.7 seconds they sat for dinner. Punks.
The adults (and Spencer) behaved a bit better at their table. We even used our fancy wedding china, because when else are you going to use it if not at Christmas time? (Okay, besides Thanksgiving. And Easter.)
Then is it was time for opening our first gifts of the season - new jammies for all Madsens, of course!
We also get a new Christmas book on Christmas Eve. We change into our jammies and then read the book. I try to get a book that helps teach/remind the kids about the true meaning of Christmas. This year's book was Humphrey's First Christmas, which I thought was really cute.
As per usual, the kids could barely contain themselves for the book, but I like to tell myself that they got a little something out of it. (I also tell myself that Christmas cookies don't have any calories during the holidays, so there you go.)
Then we posed for our annual pajamas on Christmas Eve picture. Since we didn't have to do the self-timer this year one would think that it would have been easier to take. One would be wrong. You saw the best one in the previous post. Here's one that shows what the rest all pretty much looked like: Josh misbehaving, Tess crying about who knows what, and Cole freaking out. Love at home, people, love at home.
We then played a rousing game of Christmas Eve bingo, which Spencer and Josh look forward to every year. The competition was pretty intense, which is why I apparently didn't take any pictures. But with fabulous prizes like SpongeBob toothpaste and Whoopee cushions, who can blame me for getting caught up in the moment? (Note to Kyle and Kevin: no way did I ever cheat. It just so happened that I could see what card needed to be drawn for someone who hadn't won yet needed to be won. And then it just so happened that I could quickly find said card. Just call me the Santa of Christmas Bingo.)
We eventually got all kiddos into bed, including Kevin, who apparently needs 18 hours of sleep a day because that's all he did while he was here. Just sayin'.
We got to work getting all the gifts out and putting everything together, including this most excellent 2,567 piece kitchen set for Cole and Tess. Lance did most of the work, with the rest of us helping here and there and losing only one piece. Or two. Nothing brings family together like combing through the garbage for a small piece of plastic you accidentally threw away, especially at Christmas time.
Everything was finally set up. The stockings were filled (Thanks, in part, to the stuff I rummaged from around the house to put in mine. I'm just sayin', Lance, that after 11 years of marriage you should know that you need to fill my stocking. Sheesh. Perhaps this public forum will help you remember? Yes, this is a call to repentance.)
I love the living room on Christmas Eve, with all the gifts out and only the Christmas lights on. It's still magical, even as an adult.
A very merry Christmas Eve!
No comments:
Post a Comment