Christmas Eve

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house...

So much to do to get ready for Santa!  The cookies were made special by my two little elves!  They hand decorated each one with plenty of M&M's for Santa.

Tanner didn't really understand the whole concept of making cookies for Santa, but he wasn't going to complain that we were making cookies.  After the cookies were out of the oven I had put them on the cooling rack and was downstairs on the computer.  Tanner came down to me with a chocolate face and a smile and said, "I ate 3 Santa cookies!" 

Ashlyn on the other hand fully understood the concept of Santa cookies.  She was hesitant to eat any herself because she didn't know how many Santa would need.  I assured her there was plenty and then she helped herself to plenty of cookies.  Before going to bed that night she made sure to set out the cookies and milk for Santa and then set out some carrots for the reindeer.  She left a note saying, "The cookies are for you Santa, and the carrots are for your reindeer.  Make sure the other reindeer share with Rudolph!"  She was so concerned that they would leave Rudolph out! 

Before we went to dinner at Grandma and Grandpa Wells they opened up their Christmas PJ's.  Tanner didn't want to wear his Buzz Light Year jammies right away but brought them in a bag to Grandma's.

Ashlyn had her Princess jammies and slippers on before Tanner had even finished unwrapping his!  She was all about wearing PJ's to dinner!

My mom made a fabulous dinner.  Way more festive then my family would have gotten at our house.  The week before Christmas Brad and both kids came down with strep throat.  I was lucky enough to not get it then so I could take care of them all, but then it hit me like a truck a few days after just in time fore the holiday.  On top of the strep throat and being pregnant, I got the stomach flu.  Needless to say I was EXTREMELY grateful to my parents for providing us with something to do on Christmas Eve! 
The red jello in individual cups was a big hit for Tanner!

Ashlyn didn't like the jello, but devoured the ham!

Sitting back getting ready to do the nativity with the kids. 

Ashlyn and Tanner with their cousin Sierra put all the characters in place as they learned about Jesus' birth.

Tanner wasn't about to let his puppy miss out on the Christmas fun!

Tanner sang Jingle Bells at the top of his lungs while running around in circles dancing.  It was so funny!  He entertained us all.  When we got home he didn't care about putting out the Santa cookies or anything he just wanted to go to bed.  He kept saying, "I'm too tired from singing all those Jingle Bells!"  So we didn't have to fight him at all, he went right to sleep!