christmas eve eve eve

Our family celebrated Christmas a few days early this year because we have plans to go skiing with Brandon's family in Colorado on the real Christmas Day!!!! We didn't tell the kids we were doing Christmas early, we just started our countdown calendar two days early and let the boys think that Christmas Day was here for everyone. Lucky for us, they are still young enough that they still don't quite understand time and so they were easily fooled!! So, on December 22 we had our Christmas Eve. We slept in (hallelujah!), played the wii as a family, baked and decorated cookies for Santa and were even surprised with a phone call from Santa himeself!! It was a fun day!!

We made simple cookies for Santa this year. Sugar cookies decorated with vanilla frosting and M&M's! They were yummy!!!!
For dinner, I made a twist on the traditional Christmas meal!! Usually, we would have turkey with all the fixings with one of our families but since it was just the four of us (and really three since Ash had his typical chicken nuggets...) I found some traditional foods at the grocery store that came fully equipped with a bit of an easier cooking process. Sure it wasn't the norm but it was really good and I didn't have to slave away in the kitchen all day by myself!! First, we had turkey with brown gravy (made by Hormel) that you just heat and serve...and let me tell you, it was GOOOOOD!!!! Brandon asked if we can have it again!! I did make homemade mashed potatoes but then I purcahsed half a pecan pie and half an apple pie from the bakery at Wal-Mart!! Sure, they weren't mom's recipe but they did the trick!!

After dinner, the boys had an extra special surprise!! Brandon found an online program through Google where you can input all sorts of information and Santa will actually call your house!! When you answer the phone, Santa addresses your child by name and tells them how good they've been and to make sure they go to bed early!! It was really cool!! For some reason Ashtyn was scared to talk to Santa on the phone but Maddox was totally into it. I love the look on Maddox's face as he listens to every word Santa says!! You can see the magic in his eyes!!

After the boys were in their PJ's we filled a plate of cookies for Santa and put it under the tree...

Maddox put out some chocolate milk...

and then we put out some food for Santa's reindeer!! Maddox's class at school had made reindeer food (which was dry oatmeal with glitter in it! Maddox said the glitter was so the reindeer could see the food!). We set it on the porch in a bowl and when the boys woke up Christmas morning the reindeer had eaten nearly all of it! They had made quite a mess too, scattering dry oatmeal all around the bowl!!

Before bed, the boys enjoyed one of the cookies they made earlier!

And then it was off to sleep. Once the boys were safely sound asleep Santa quickly ate his cookies, drank his milk (Mmmmmmm!) and left all sorts of goodies and presents under the tree!

I can't wait for the boys to wake up and find all their gifts!! This is our first Christmas that we've just been home as a family to open gifts!! We're really looking forward to it!!