Christmas Eve photo

 The kids were so excited for Christmas they actually started asking in the middle of the afternoon if it was time for bed yet. Bed=Santa coming, so going to bed earlier meant he would come sooner. We probably should have planned something more exciting to keep them occupied on Christmas Eve, but I didn't, so we hung out at home. I can never decide what we should eat on Christmas Eve. I debate between a big dinner and then less cooking on Christmas or Chinese food or some new tradition. We have done the Chinese thing in the past, but in my opinion, there are really no great Chinese places here, just average ones. I wasn't up for making a big dinner, so we went totally non-traditional and ordered pizza! Although the food wasn't traditional we did do our nightly Christmas Eve activities of reading The Night Before Christmas and the Christmas Story from the Bible as well as opening one present...pajamas. We also made some treats for Santa. The boys went right to sleep...or at least they were quiet so we think they did.

 

We have been very lucky thus far to not have a really early Christmas morning. Colby got up about 7:45 am, which is a pretty normal time for him. Carter was still asleep, so he woke Carter up, and Christmas morning began. Carter really wanted the Jake and the Neverland Pirate boat, telescope, and a scooter for Christmas and had been set on those things for several months. I think he discovered the pirate stuff when we were shopping for Colby's b-day in September. During one of our "lets see what we want for Christmas" laps around the toy section of a store Carter pointed out what he wanted to Colby and Colby also put the telescope on his list. Fast forward back to Christmas morning...Colby opened the first present of the day and it was the telescope. Carter flipped! He was trying to take it from Colby insisting it was his, and was upset Colby had opened his present. Colby wasn't giving it up because he clearly read HIS name on the package! We quickly found a similar shaped package with Carter's name on it. He opened it...it was the telescope...problem solved. It made for a dramatic and not so happy beginning to Christmas morning!

We let Colby take some money to school and shop in the Secret Santa shop for Mom, Dad, and Carter. He was VERY proud of his selections and had a hard time keeping them a secret. He was especially excited to give me this snow globe in the pic below. In fact, when I packed it up with the rest of the Christmas stuff he got really upset with me and rescued it from its box. It's been on one of our end tables ever since. 

 Colby got several games for the Wii and one for the Xbox. His favorite has been one he didn't even ask for, Lego Star Wars. He is also hooked to his Leap Pad2.

 

Carter opening his scooter. It turned out to be the favorite present (that telescope has barely been toughed by either kid). We told him he could ride it inside until it warms up and he has been around and around the house non-stop on that thing.

 

 I did at least cook a little bit on Christmas. We had loaded baked potato soup in bread bowls. We didn't have a white Christmas, but the day after Christmas we got a "blizzard". I wouldn't call 4 inches of snow a blizzard, but because it was mixed with lots of wind that's what they called it here. It pretty much shut down the entire city. Most restaurants, the malls, and most stores closed. We did find Arby's open for lunch (me boycotting cooking came with its consequences as there were no good leftovers to eat). Jordan took the day off anyway, but since his office closed he got a day of vacation back! We got more snow over the next few days which made for some good sledding during Christmas break. We also enjoyed a visit from my parents for a few days after Christmas and having Jordan home from Christmas Eve until January 3rd.