'Twas the Night Before Christmas

(and also the Sunday Before Christmas... but that's not as catchy)

 Obviously had to get a picture of my Christmas-color-clad boys after church. If there's one parenting achievement I'm especially proud of, it's that my children understand the importance of color coordinating for special occasions and holidays. I foresee this being a real asset in their futures.

 

Monday was Christmas Eve! In the early afternoon we split into two groups to do some last minute shopping:

 Chuck, Jack, and Clyde loaded up in the van so that Clyde could purchase a gift for Willy boy.

 And Will and I headed out to find something special for Will to give to Clyde! Will and I had a blast as we hit up a couple stores and sang Christmas songs together (Will LOVES Christmas songs, with 'Rudolph' and 'Holly Jolly Christmas' being his absolute favorites) and he may have gotten a piggy back ride as we trekked through the parking lot to our car, a journey of probably five miles.

Then we all gathered back home and Grandma Pam came over. After dinner we had our special Christmas Family Home Evening: I read the Nativity Story aloud from Matthew and Luke while the boys used the Little People to act it out.

 Jack enjoyed getting pretty hands-on, which led to some variations in the re-enactment.

 After reading a few books with Grandma Pam, it was time for pajamas (aka their Christmas shirts and athletic shorts) and BED, hooray!

 Not before we attempted a few pictures in front of the tree as we put out some Raspberry Milanos for Santa.

 We discovered that Jack shares Santa's love for exquisite Pepperidge Farm cookies...

 Luckily Jackers went to bed pretty soon and we were able to leave a couple cookies just for Santa, along with some milk.

 And the cookies worked, because Santa came!

I, uh, sneaked out during the night after Santa came to check out all of the fun:

 Clyde got hooked up with the most intense lego set to enter our home [so far at least...], awesome Hulk fists [the soft kind!], a football to take to school, and some fun other littler things.

 Will got legos and Hulk fists [there's a chance Santa found both pairs at Savers a few months ago and praised the heavens] and a new board game: Guess Who? and a football of his own and likewise some other littler stuff.

 Jack got hot wheels cars and some flipping adorable Boise State shoes that were definitely worth the $9 that Santa paid for them at Target, regardless of what, ahem, co-Santa initially thought. Kudos to Grandma Pam for finishing Jack's cute elf stocking just in time for Santa to fill!

 Chuck and I were so good this year that we got a new mailbox to [finally] replace our sad, bent mailbox that doesn't even have a flag. Also church socks and new shirts, woooo!

Quinn and Eden and baby Isaac came over late Christmas Eve, so Santa filled their stockings at our house too - here's the whole living room right before everyone woke up for the day...