Catching Up: Christmas Eve and Day 2013

For christmas Eve 2013, we went to Uncle Roger and Aunt Mary Kay Tall's house for dinner. Usually we spend this night at Nanny's but the DaBells (who usually arrange the whole thing) were spending Christmas break up at a Montana cabin. So the Talls had their own dinner and invited us, since we were in town. We like to have Christmas day at our own house, then travel south afterwards.

There is no more beautiful place to spend a special occasion, and Aunt Mary Kay goes all out! Uncle Rog made his famous enchiladas, and even Mitt Romney (their life-sized paper cutout - yes they are fans!) was in attendance!
 

The adults table, above, and the kids table, below.

We love our Nanny!

 I made the cheesy rolls.

 

And then we had the talent show/nativity part of the evening. We played Christmas carols on the pipes (and Nanny pounded away at the piano), and we favored the company with our special rendition of "the Hat I Got For Christmas Is Too Big." Then came the Nativity, and even Mitt got in on the action!

 Spencer's the star, there, and Sophie's an angel. Maggie's the shepherd with the green headdress.

 Sophie played a song on her little lap harp. And Nanny's still got it, folks!

And then... it was home for bed! In our Christmas jammies!

 All set up... but the biggest surprise was their new bedrooms I arranged overnight! They had to sleep in the floor of our bedroom on this particular Christmas Eve. We were up until 3 AM, hanging curtains and pictures, changing around bedspreads, and arranging accessories.

 I made each kid a letter like this one, about 15 inches high, for their rooms, with special pictures on them to match their decor. Yes, I pulled a Martha Stewart this year!

Let the fun begin!

 Spencer and Gary both were super hero themed. I don't think Spence took off his Captain America outfit for three weeks straight over the break!

 When they were done with their "upstairs" presents, I told them to go take their booty to their rooms. They had no idea that their spaces had been transformed to their own personal little areas! Fun to see their faces and hear their cries of delight.

On Christmas day we stay in our jammies all day, play with our new stuff, do Christmas pedicures, watch a movie, play games and puzzles, nap, and no chores or nagging. Dinner is usually of Chateaubriand, cheesy potatoes, poppyseed/pomegranate salad, and homemade crescent rolls. And sparkling apple cider. YUM!

 And of course, our version of Hula pie (graham cracker crust, Haagen Daas dulce de leche ice cream, Mrs. Richardson's fudge topping, whipped cream, and macadamia nuts)