Christmas Eve Fun.

OK, first off, I know I have an addiction to taking pictures.  I am sorry.  I can't help it.  So bare with me. 

Once again we headed to grandma and papa's house for the yearly Christmas Eve traditions.  First off, gingerbread house decorating.  This year Carol made extra houses because she wanted the adults to participate and not just help the kids.  I was so proud of Rowan doing his all by himself this year.  Clearly we know what his candy preference is.  So many options and I think all but four pieces on his house are Skittles.
EEK.  NO wait.  First off was soup in bread bowls.  Had that early this year.  Later that night we enjoyed the Danish rice pudding dessert/game after the soup had settled.  Man I love that stuff.

                              From left; mom's house, dad's house, and Rowan's house.

And then they were all awarded with a title.  All the kids got a Pez dispenser and the adults got candy.

Then while the girls cleaned up the mess from gingerbread houses, the kids and dads took the kids sledding in the yard.  Rowan had a great time.  After sledding it was time for the kids to play the games that grandma and papa had prepared.  There were five games (I think) and the kids earned money.  ($25 each + the dollar amount equal to your age)  So Rowan scored himself $30 that he can put towards whatever toy he wants.  I however put it in his savings account cause he doesn't really need another toy right this second. 

Then it was time to exchange gifts.  Youngest to oldest.  Sawyer got a fun little Leap Frog toy from cousin Carter (I think).  Maybe it was Bryce.  I am not sure.  One of the Stevenson cousins.  He's had fun carrying it around the house and pushing the buttons.

Rowan got a Hot Wheel's "Crashin' Rig" with cars to go with it.  Totally up his alley.  He's definitely into Hot Wheels right now.  Daddy got a Kinect from Aaron, so now he can start that workout regimen he said he'd do once he had a Kinect.  I got a cute Gap sweater and chalkboard labels/signs from Kelly.  Now I need to host a party so I can use them!

I totally thought I had Kelly this year and went ahead and bought her gift before double checking the Christmas list.  Turns out I actually had Megan!  Luckily Erica, who really had Kelly, was cool with switching me so she took care of Megan and I kept Kelly.  I got Kelly a medal display, cause she's got like a bajillion running medals and I don't know about her, but mine are just sitting on my dresser collecting dust.  Maybe I will buy myself one down the road once I collect a few more.  Jon picked out a sweater/coat that he liked, so he figured Wade would like it too.  We got Drew a fart machine and Lego's.  Course Rowan saw the dinosaur Lego's and went ga-ga, so that's the one we got.  Story behind the fart machine.  I first saw a Despicable Me fart machine at Target.  I immediately thought of Drew, but it just seemed like a toy for a younger kid.  So I passed on it.  Then I remembered one of my brother's having a more adult fart machine, so I searched Amazon, and bam, there it was.  I couldn't resist.  For Kate I searched my Pinterest boards for inspiration.  Having only boys doesn't give me many opportunities to sew half, more like all, the things I have pinned.  So here was my opportunity to make the overnight/travel pillowcase. 

Nativity time!  Rowan wanted to be a butterfly, aka, angel, again.

Group shot.

Once we got home I gave the boys their Christmas pj's to open.  You can see how thrilled Sawyer was about the whole thing.  I put him to bed in the pj's he was wearing since he wasn't having it.  It had been a long day.  Poor kid.

But Rowan was happy and willing to pose in his pj's.  I got the boys matching "Chillin with my homies" jammies.  I got them for super cheap at Old Navy last year (2012) after Christmas. 

Then dad read The Night Before Christmas while Rowan snuggled up with blanket. 

Rowan left some milk and cookies out for Santa and went to bed.  Then daddy and I got to work!  Daddy had to build Sawyer's gift and I got the stockings all loaded up.  And after that all the gifts got placed just so under the tree and it was time for us to call it a night.  I left the lights on all night so Rowan would wake up to the perfect "Santa was here" sight.  (He wakes up when it's still dark out)

Next up, Christmas!