Let's start with Christmas Eve because that feels as much a part of Christmas to me as the day itself. David takes the kids out for some serious 'wear them out' time - bike riding, playing in the park, swimming, jumping on the trampoline - whatever will help them to sleep that night. While he does that I cook, cook and cook some more. I do as much preparation as possible on Christmas Eve to hopefully enable me to be a little more relaxed on Christmas day. The kids become super excited, but fall into bed exhausted (that's the plan anyway, it doesn't always happen that way).
Some of that excitement shining through!
Sisters ready for bed on Christmas Eve.
Making sure Santa and his reindeer have some snacks. This year we left out a carrot, some ginger biscuits and green cordial. Lucky Santa :)
Opening presents on Christmas morning. A Beanie Boo for Erica.
And a gymnastics mat. She was thrilled with that one.
Some new keeper gloves for Ethan. Ethan is happy with pretty much any product from the Nike store (maybe not women's clothes). Ethan also received a Fitbit. For those who are Fitbit friends with Ethan, he is taking the steps count very seriously. I found him jogging on the spot in his bedroom last night - he was supposed to be reading and falling asleep.
A chocolate bar maker for Erica. It has been used many times since being unwrapped. Erica comes up with some creative ingredient combinations. I think every guest to our house over the past few weeks has been treated to a special Erica Jeffrey chocolate bar.
Clara with her own Beanie Boo. Both very cute (or 'cooteeees' as Clara would say). Sometimes owners look like their pets :)
Clara with her Peppa Pig hide and seek toy.
Breakfast time.
We do Christmas Crackers at each meal. Despite repeating some of the same jokes from one meal to the next, sometimes we still forget the answers!
Ethan and Erica insisted that we needed to have pancakes and whipped cream for breakfast. This is why - way more whipped cream than pancake there.
On to lunch. Happily this year the weather co-operated with me and my menu plans. Thank goodness for that because it would have been difficult to seat everybody inside.
Every year we act out the nativity as a family. Here is Erica as Mary, Ethan as Joseph and Clara as a shepherd. Mary is riding her 'donkey'.
We roped in some of our guests to help out with the nativity. They were very kind to participate with us. Here are two of the missionaries currently serving in our ward (church congregation) and one of our friends from Church. They were our wise men.
A closer picture of our little shepherd. So adorable I could just eat her up.
Post-dessert wind-down/I'm so full I don't think I can move anymore. Watching Home Alone.
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