Christmas Eve

We had a great Christmas Eve!  It was much slower than our normal holiday is, but it was very relaxing and great to just hang out with one another.  

The kids decorated some gingerbread kits that we had gotten and they loved it especially with Dadda home to help!

I was quite impressed with Evie Kaye's and she predominately did it by herself!

Ethan Jay liked decorating his so much that I had to tell him he had enough!  He was being silly and pretending to be his gingerbread!

And of course Emma Ann followed suite!   I love all the hair fixing she did!

The sun came out and we decided to take the kids on a walk.  We spent so much time outdoors in the states, but with the rain and well no yard, we spend much more of our time inside.  These kids definitely needed to go stretch their legs and get rid of some energy!  

Going out our gate

Proof that the sun does shine in England, it's rare, but every now and again we see a peek of it!

 Dadda and his girls

Ethan Jay with his soccer ball.  He had a blast!

Robert rolled over a log and there were lot's of little bugs underneath.  The kids loved looking at them and talking about them.

Still over with the bugs and worms.  They were thinking they could get them to have a worm race!

Back home to make some cookies!  Yum-O!

Helpers of course, get to lick the beaters!  Too bad they haven't realized that Mommy comes out on the better end of the stick, I get the bowl!

And all set for bed on Christmas Eve.  We have carried on a tradition that my parents started with me and my sisters by allowing us to open one present the night before.  We really like the idea and like that the kids enjoy their presents a little more having things spread out some.  The kids obviously did not complain!

Evie Kaye received a ballerina with magnetic clothes!

And Emma Ann received a similar set with a princess.

I was initially a little leary of these and wasn't sure if these would be a little too old for my girls, but I couldn't believe how great they did, and we had to tear them away to go to bed.  Not surprising, Ethan Jay loved it too!

Ethan Jay received a wooden car that he could put together and paint with a little boy size hammer to help him put it together.  I think Robert was a little envious!

Another tradition, is that they receive a Christmas book each year.  This year it is called God Gave us Christmas.  It is the cutest story about a little polar bear asking his momma about where Christmas comes from.  Love planting little seeds in my children's heart about the love of God and his miraculous wonders!

Off to bed to of course wait on Santa and the Celebration of Baby Jesus!!!!!