christmas eve tradition

we have a tradition of going to meme and grandaddy's (nate's parents) on christmas eve. we went over there around noon (everyone but me, i had to work til 2, but that's another story!) and enjoyed a yummy traditional meal- fried turkey, potatoes, rolls, you know the drill. with punch bowl cake and cheese danish for dessert- YUMMMY! then the kids were so excited they could hardly wait to start ripping open the presents! there were more presents than you could imagine, yet it seemed to only take them about 2 minutes to open everything. ha! then it was ooohhs and aaahhhs and then open this mommy! it needs batteries daddy! help me! we had a blast. we got more goodies than we should have. the kids had a ball! after meme and g-daddy's, we went to church for the candle light communion service. the kids went in their (matching of course) pj's. since nate led the carols and ran the sound, it left me to care for the babies. umm, trying to keep them quiet wasn't very easy. luckily i had help from the grandparents and we all survived, and noone caught anything on fire. (considering my 2 year old was holding a candle, i call that a huge accomplishment!!) we didn't take any pics at church, but hope you enjoy the pictures from our christmas at meme and grandaddy's!

opening presents!! so much fun!

like most babies, lucas enjoyed the bows and ribbons more than the presents themselves!

just a few of the wonderful toys the boys got!

i love this next one. the youngest cousins are so cute together! love their big blue eyes!

the big kids ate some cheetos after they opened presents, so off came their shirts! i love this pic and trace and lala playing with thier new horsies from nannie! ride em naked cowboys! :o)

these pictures don't do justice to how much fun lucas had under meme's tall table and chairs. he acted like it was his own little obstacle course! he was cracking me up climbing in and out, over and under. the one of him in mid climb with nothing touching the floor still cracks me up! he had a ball! ok, well maybe the last pic shows you how much fun he had! look at that big smile!

and i LOVE LOVE LOVE this next one! usually i am so busy taking the pics, i don't get in any of them. but nate took some this year, and i had him take one of me and lucas. don't you love it! oh i love my sweet baby boy!

and last is a picture of some of the sweet presents from meme and grandaddy. meme made these tiles for us that had the kids pictures on it. i LOVE THEM! she gave us 2 more, as well as a blanket with a ton of pictures of trace and lucas from 09, and a photo album of several pictures she has taken of the kids this year. i love personal gifts like that. definitely something we will cherish forever!

what a wonderful christmas eve! after the candle light service we went home, got the kids ready for bed, and then santa came!