Merry Christmas

We celebrated Christmas Eve with Grandma Renae & Grandpa Ken's Christmas party at the church in Vale. We had a delicious prime rib dinner followed by the nativity acted out by the kids, Santa's arrival & giving of presents and ending the night with the parents gift exchange. A standard Vale Christmas Eve that is always a good time. I love that we have added the nativity to our activities.


Spencer & Emma Lynn were Mary and Joseph


Austin & Braxton were Wise Men


Brooke & Ruth were Angels


Emma Ruf loved the baby Jesus doll and sat in the manger most of the night. Who needs toys?

We came home to get ready for bed and opened the new Christmas jammies from Grandma Richards. They were super cute and soft, thanks!



Emma set out the milk & cookies plus a note she had written, "This is the one thing I don't know about Santa!"


Santa and his elves had a lot of work that night. One elf even took a nap before finishing! Around 2 am the work was done and Santa went to bed just hours before a very excited 7 year old boy woke up at 5:22 AM. Yikes! Emma Lynn wasn't to far after him. By 6 am I couldn't hold them off any longer and we woke up the younger two. I kept wondering at what age the I'm-too-excited-to-sleep excitement would hit the kids. I would officially say we have reached that stage.

Ruth
Santa brought the jammie obsessed girl new Tinker Bell jammies.


Mom & Dad gave her a vanity with all the necessary beauty tool. She didn't leave the stool for 3 days straight.


Spencer
Santa brought the Super Hero Headquarter and action figures


Mom & Dad put together a Super Spencer Super Hero suitcase.


Inside were the costumes to become Ironman, Batman, Spiderman, Superman & Buzz Lightyear.


Emma Lynn
Santa brought the greatly anticipated and impressive doll house. Mom & Dad added art supplies, Strawberry shortcake and Barbies.


Austin
Santa brought Spy Gear {grateful the Ipod Touch was not mentioned.} Mom & Dad gave 2 new enclyopedias (Space, Answers to Questions) and a Dragon Lego Set.

Sporting the Night Vision Goggles. The invisible ink pen has probably been the biggest hit.

I love the sibling gift exchange {it has to be a home made gift.}
~ Emma Lynn made Austin a book, a variation on The Cat in the Hat classic. The whole time is was making it she would say, "I'm imaging his face when he opens this!"
~ Ruth made Spencer a Christmas ornament {a glass ball with a double S - Super Spencer}
~ Spencer made a pencil/pen holder for Emma's art supplies.
~ Austin made a nativity scene from nuts and bolts {with dad's help. Classic.}



We are blessed. Merry Christmas!