Christmas Eve 2010

Christmas Eve was quieter this year, as several of our family were busy with other family obligations, but still a lot of fun.  Steve and Lisa sent us a smoked turkey from Texas, and Mandy made a great dinner.  Noah proudly announced that he had set the rarely-used dining room table, and we sat down to enjoy some pleasant holiday conversation over a nice dinner.  That lasted less than a few seconds, as Noah got sick to his stomach before we even had a bite, and Elliot decided to go on a food strike and threw a fit as he tried to escape his restraints.  They quickly snapped back to good health and good cheer as the time came to open presents.     

Noah with his new shirt from Grandma

Elliot was starting to get into opening presents, but Noah was only too happy to help (take over).

Opening his gift from Grandpa - a remote control car

Looking at Elliot's gift from Aunt Laurie - a hot wheels racetrack.  Looks complicated...

Grandpa to the rescue

"Sharing" the remote control car

Reading stories on the couch.

That night, we set out milk and cookies for Santa Claus to find.  Noah wanted to give him eggnog, but we were out of it so he decided chocolate milk would be the next best thing. 

Making sure Santa's chocolate milk is ok

He wanted to put them right at the foot of the chimney so the big guy wouldn't miss them.

We finally got them dressed for bed in their new Christmas jammies, when Noah remembered he had to put out the "reindeer food" he made at school last week (cheerios, hay, glitter and little m&m's or something). We spread that out in the yard, and finally put the boys to bed.

Mandy and I stayed up until 11:30 assembling and wrapping presents (and drinking chocolate milk and eating cookies). 

To be continued....