Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve Hannah and Owen put on their special Christmas clothes and got ready to go to church.  Before we left for church we had to take a few minutes to put out their cookies for Santa and their reindeer food to guide Santa's reindeer to our house.  Mommy and Daddy thought (and hoped) that maybe they'd fall asleep on the ride back from Nana and Grandad's and we didn't want them to miss out on these Christmas traditions!

After church we headed down to Nana and Grandad's to celebrate Christmas with dinner and presents.  Uncle Jake was there and Grandma Hanna and EE joined us too!  Hannah and Owen did well through dinner, but were so excited to open their presents.  They had a very hard time waiting patiently for the last 5-10 minutes before they got the okay for opening presents.  Once they started opening it was mayhem from then on.  I guess that is typical when two 3 year olds open presents on Christmas Eve.  The funny moment from the night was when Nana was wrapping up the blessing before dinner as was talking about the real meaning of Christmas, why we were celebrating, baby Jesus, and family and Owen loudly interjected, "HO, HO, HO...Merry Christmas!!".  He knows all about baby Jesus, Bethlehem, and the manger, but had other things on his mind I guess.  Of course it made us all laugh (as Owen usually does)!

 Uncle Jake helps keep Owen focused while dinner is prepared.  They work on a fire truck puzzle together.

 Christmas joy at it's finest!

 Hannah grins at the presents wrapped and waiting under the tree.

 Daddy gets a cup of Nana's famous Christmas soup.  Look at the steam rising from the cup.  It has become a tradition that Nana makes potato and corn chowder on Christmas Eve.  We all look forward to it!

A sweet Christmas moment captured as Owen puts his arm around a Hannah for a quick picture before presents are handed out.  This made everyone stop to say awww!

 EE watches as the unwrapping of presents unfolds.

 Grandad gets the job of passing out presents this year.

 Grandma Hanna enjoys watching the event of opening presents unfold!

 Owen liked opening presents so much he offered and asked Nana if he could help open hers.  Of course she said yes!

 Mommy and Daddy played a little joke on Grandad with this prank box that showed dust mops for your dog's feet...really it was a bottle of wine inside!  We had him going though!

 Owen loves his digger shirt!

Hannah is excited to open a camera that she can use all by herself!

 Uncle Jake gets a special poster from when he played football in high school.  Grandad had it signed by his high school football coach.

 Owen and Hannah got adorable sock monkey's from Nana's friend Gerry at work.

Hannah gets one too and instantly falls in love with this monkey in a tutu...she named her Jingle!

Nana, Uncle Jake, and Grandma Hanna

 Owen gets a lesson on how to use his camera.

Notice how both of them had wardrobe changes as they were so excited about their new clothes.

 Hannah takes all kinds of pictures of her "friends".

 Owen listens to one of the book Nana and Grandad gave him-Little Critter At the Firestation

Thanks Nana and Grandad!

A great picture of all the men ends the night!
Uncle Jake, Grandad, EE, and Daddy together