brett & i hosted my family at our house for Christmas eve for the second year....we love it!!....of course, the waiting for everyone to get there part is a bit hard for these two....
once everyone arrived.....the family fun began!! there was of course first, the obligatory cute pics that *had* to be taken...
then, without wasting too much time, lunch!! rotel dip, sausage balls, bacon rods, shrimp dip, spinach dip, hummus, muffulettas.....and more....yummy!! good food is one of our passions :)
a little play time for the kids and then it was our first fun activity.....cookie decorating!! all those cookies we baked the night before were for a good cause....
as always....grant would rather eat than decorate!!
some of the "big kids" had to get on the action too!!
a bit more playtime/clean-up time....a sneak peak under the tree.....and then time for more fun :)
....painting bird houses....
audrey, of course, was so serious & was the last kid through....she could have painted for hours!
more "big kids" getting in on the action....
Grammy's Gang!
after we said our good-byes & everyone packed up their cookies for santa, we got changed & headed to our church's candlelight service...
during silent night, as we are all holding our candles, i look down at audrey...tucked in tight between brett & i, with the soft candlelight flickering on her face....i got so overwhelmed with absolute joy & awe.....how truly wonderfully blessed am i!!....
....after service, a small snack & putting out our milk & cookies ~ we all snuggled in our bed for a few stories....here is my attempt at using the timer on my camera :)
we always read the night before christmas but this year i thought we would add another story as well....the crippled lamb....so, so sweet...
audrey was out as soon as the first book was over.....grant made it barely through both....before long they were both tucked in their bed....with visions of sugarplums, that is :)
