Christmas Eve

 My sister came to town a little before Christmas and we finally got to meet baby Deacon.  He is so big already it makes me sad they don't live closer.

 Christmas Eve dinner with the fancy dishes.

 Then on to cookies for Santa.  Paige mostly made a mess with the flour.

 Our kids refused to put sugar cookies out at our house, because they like to leave Santa oreos, and Santa seems to enjoy those so we don't argue.  We had fun decorating and eating some though, and Paige left some out for him and Grandma and Grandpa's.

 Christms Eve program.  Grace sang "Once there was a snowman."  Somehow I have no pictures of the boys performing, but they both played Christmas songs on the piano this year.

 Then the nativitiy dash and acting out of the nativity.  Mom was the angel, but this year went with wings and a tiarra as a costume.

 Evan as Joseph, Paige as Mary, and Deacon as baby Jesus.  Deacon behaved quite well considering we stripped him down and put him in a basket awkwardly.  

 Brandon, Kyle, and I were wisemen.

 Grace wanted to be a donkey, not a shepherd.  Whatever makes them happy.

 Dad as the narrator - or perhaps the super narrator.  Katie and Ben were shepherds but somehow I missed them.

Last but not least the kids opened their cousin presents.  Kyle got a Lego Hero Factory from Graham and was very excited to put it together.  Looks like it was pretty intense work.  We headed out to look at lights about 7 and had 4 of the 5 kids asleep by 7:30. Evan crawled in as soon as we got home and was asleep by 8:30 or so.  By far the easiset Christmas Eve bedtime ever.  All the festivities must have really worn them out.