Christmas Eve

Let me back up a minute to Christmas Eve Eve.  Probably the two biggest days of anticipation of the entire year.

Paolo the Elf brought he boys Krispy Kreme donuts for breakfast. 

 

 

 I had several things to do before the big day, and I did get those done, but we had a minor interruption with a trip to the doctor for Cooper who had strep.  We are lucky in the fact that it is mild since he doesn't have tonsils, but it can be tricky to figure it out.  He never runs a fever with it and only has minor pain.  It takes a few days to realize he might really be sick.  Just thankful it was something that could be treated and we got it in time so he wasn't sick on Christmas.

 

I had to pick up a few things at the store so we went to Meijer for free antibiotics and we also ran into Luke and his family.  Double Score!!

 

 

Now on to Christmas Eve.  Paolo leave the kids a departing gift on Christmas Eve and this year it was miniature glow up light sabers that had M&M's inside.  So I did what any good mother would do and let them have M&M's for breakfast.  It's Christmas Eve, who cares.

 

We had our annual McDonald's breakfast with friends.  I love this little tradition we have and it allows me to see Gretchen while in town during the busy holidays. 

 

This is 2011.  Look how much they have all grown.

 

Christmas Eve night was spent having dinner at Scott's, going to our Christmas Eve service, and back to Scott's for a gift exchange with Steve's aunt and cousins.

They waited so patiently while the Christmas Story was being read.

 

All bets were off when it was time to open gifts, they went straight for it.

 

They got so much, I'm not at all blind to how blessed we are and how much our family loves these two kids.  So thank you, from the bottom of my heart, we appreciate it all.

 

Cameron fell asleep on the way home so it was just us and the big one to help put out the reindeer food and cookies.

We took several pictures.  He was just so darn excited.

 This was supposed to be our silly one but I cut Cooper out so we did it again.

 

 

The big day is just a few hours away!

 

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

 

Isaiah 9:6