Christmas Eve

After much anticipation, Christmas Eve finally arrived. Because most of our countdowns ended on Christmas Eve, the girls were looking forward to this day as much as Christmas itself!! We had plenty to do to keep us busy, although it couldn't come fast enough!! The girls were very excited to learn that Santa had sent them a very personal e-mail message for each of them...Karsyn was convinced that this was proof that the big guy had indeed received her letter!! Emmrey could not believe that he knew her name and had all sorts of information about her...and Bailee just wondered how on earth he got those pictures of them...YIKES!!

We made our Gingerbread house which has become a tradition for us. We decided to try and simplify and make one big house together...I think the girls want to return to making their own next year:)

The girls opened their Christmas PJ's from us (thank you Grandma Shirley)...they have become so accustomed to this gift that they already know what it is before they open so we caved and let them open a gift from their cousins.

We also opened a special gift from Grampa Wayne and Gramma Cheryl. It was The Night Before Christmas....read by.....Grampa himself...WOW!! The girls were in awe that it was Grampa's voice booming through the pages. What an incredible gift that we will be able to enjoy year after year...Thank you both so very much...we will cherish it forever!!

I also read the girls the Story of the Christ Child, which my Mom read to us every Christmas Eve so it was not just any old story....now if I could just get the props that go with it:) We watched a short movie and enjoyed Eggnog Shakes before tracking Santa...he was coming soon!

We set out our goodies for Santa ...and we couldn't forget the reindeer:) The girls always love to leave notes with questions for Santa...which he ALWAYS answers:)

Bailee: What do your Reindeer like to eat the most??
Karsyn: Do you ever get a stomach ache??
Emmrey: Why do you visit our house??

The girls were all in bed by 10:00...although Bailee claims she was awake when the Big Guy made his stop;) Karsyn was just giddy with excitement and has never gone to bed so quickly. Emmrey was pretty worried about Santa peeking to see if she was asleep and asked that we shut her door. She kept telling us that she was excited for him to come but worried about him "looking at her". Before long they all had visions of sugarplums dancing in their heads.....