Getting ready for SANTA!

We left Nana and Pawpaw's in time to get home and read a few stories!! First up was Twas the Night Before Christmas!! Another tradition for our family!! I started off reading and then Craig and I switched!!

Can't pass up a chance to snuggle close with our babies!!

I just love this pic below. Kids are so into the book and there is just something so tender and sweet about a Daddy holding his babies!! Feeling so BLESSED at this moment!! God is so GOOD!!

Max decided to try and read the book to us next. He actually has really just started reading in the last few months. He can really pick up on quite a few words!!

Emery cheesing for the camera! So stinking cute!!

Daddy read "J is for Jesus!" next. It told the real meaning of Christmas in a way that was age appropriate for the kids!! Both of them loved it. This book was brought to the kids by "Jingle" this morning.

Then we decided to get Santa's plate ready!! First we had to write on the plate what we wanted Santa to bring because we totally FORGOT to send Santa letters this year!! Oops!! Good thing we told Santa last week what the kids wanted!! But just in case he forgets we wanted to leave him a little reminder....

Love Emery's expression in the picture below....I have no idea what she was telling us but it was something good ;)

Time to put out Santa's cookies!!!

Each of them put two cookies out for Santa!!

Then we got out Max's reindeer food he made at school!! We went and threw it out in the back yard so the reindeer's would know you stop at our house!!

Max and Emery were very good about making sure it was spread out all over!! They said they didn't want Santa to miss our house!!

When we came back in we got Santa some milk!!

Then Max was explaining to all of us that Santa was going to come down the chimney....right here....

When it was time to go to bed.....

Emery didn't want to go...she wanted to sleep by the tree so that she could see Santa!! Well...actually she really just wanted a drink of Santa's milk! LOL So off to the kitchen to get her a drink in her own cup. Then it was lights out!! We brushed our teeth, read The Christmas Story, sang a few songs, and said our prayers!! The kids were out within minutes after their prayers. I would have to say that we have all had a wonderful Christmas Eve together!! Now if only the whole family was together today.....maybe one year....

Christmas Eve Fun!!

We headed to my parents Christmas Eve around 1pm. We started getting our cooking on!! While we were cooking up some turkey, mashed potatoes, cornbread casserole, yams, gravy, dressing, etc we had a little Christmas activity for the kids!

Rice Krispie Houses!! I got this little kit at Target and the kids had a great time making them!! Trying to get them to pose for the camera....So SILLY!!

Decorating with the little tubes of icing that came with the kit.

And then with all the candies!!

The kids creations!!

Nana had DVR'd Grandma got Run over by a Reindeer so we all piled into the living room and watched it while some of the food finished up cooking. Both kids really got into the show and it was pretty cute for the grown ups as well :)

Dinnertime!! We celebrated our true Christmas dinner tonight as we knew we were going to be at my in-laws for Christmas night. Gotta love my picky eaters!! Max had rolls, cucumbers, carrots, pickles and green olives while Emery had a few bites of "chicken" (aka turkey), cheese, cucumbers, carrots, and pickles. She had a roll on her plate but she doesn't really like bread that much. So funny to see what they think of these pictures when they are older! LOL

A happy dinner plate means....a yummy holiday treat!! I think the kids ate a few bites and then wanted to save it for another day. I think really they wanted to save room for some cookies!!

Our next holiday activity and tradition...making cookies for Santa!! We didn't get all festive this year and make fun shapes. We actually did the funfetti Christmas sugar cookies. But we made it fun by rolling them up in balls.

Kids really liked rolling them up!! So fun!! Pawpaw in the background talking to Uncle Michael and Darren!! We sure did miss having them a part of our Christmas fun this year!!

Decorating a few cookies for Santa!!

Good thing Santa likes lots of SUGAR!!! ;)

Santa's cookies!! Made by two sweet sweet kiddos!!

And while we were talking some little girl snuck the icing and was scooping it in with her fingers!! She is such a little mess!! She thought it was hilarious when we caught her!!

As we were leaving that night...Max was so adament on telling Nana to stay inside. He told her he didn't want her to get run over by the reindeer! Ba ha ha ha ha!! So funny but really so so sweet!! My little man has such a tender heart!!