'Twas the Night Before Christmas

Tomorrow is Christmas and I'm excited. Both of my kids are getting exactly what they want, which is semi miraculous. We didn't really know what they wanted until a couple of weeks ago, but we  had already found Jalen's gift (Buzz Lightyear) and we were able to score Baylie's gift (Barbie Beach house) for a very reasonable price at Wal Mart - the very last one. I'm so excited for tomorrow!

We are having a wonderful visit. Thanks to Aunt Shanelle, Jalen is LOVING the snow all bundled up in a snowsuit. I hadn't realized that he had never seen snow before - at least not since he's been old enough to remember. He is out in it every minute possible.

Baylie was only 2 1/2 last time she saw it, so she doesn't rememer it much. They attacked David with snowballs.

They shoveled...

...and played...

...and helped Grandad...

 ...and ate snow.

In fact, Jalen joins Grandad every chance he gets. It was so cute watching Jalen follow his Grandad all over with the shovel.

He also wanted Grandad to hit him with the snow from the blower. He'd chase him down and stand right in the path of the blower stream.

We took a break from the festivities in order to go to my niece's wedding (the actual reason for our trip). It started with a luncheon (Cafe Rio, baby!).

Baylie and Camden

Ashley looked beautiful - like Snow White.

Ashley, and her dad, my brother - Clark.
(How come he's not as grey as me???)

After the wedding, we got together for some family fun. I love my family so much and miss them terribly because we live so far away. I love spending every minute possible with them while we're here.

Yesterday we finally had snow that would at least sort of stick, so David and the kids made a snowman. I think he looks like Paul Schaffer.

I had a fun lunch date with a friend from my junior high days. It was fun to catch up and a little crazy to compare notes. She has six kids, three of them already graduated.

Today we had our traditional Christmas Eve dinner - mostly prepared by my brother, Erik, who is an incredible cook. Afterwards, we did the family nativity, which is usually a cross between a spiritual reminder and a sacrilegious comedy sketch.

David, as always, was the donkey; Baylie was Mary; and the baby Jesus was a stuffed penguin (and the sacrilege begins...).

We ended up with one shepherd and four wise men. Apparently the wise men have better costumes.

I introduced my family to sweet potato pie - I think it was the best one I've ever made.

Too much eggnog?

When we got home, we lit our luminarios (or luminaries). This was one of my favorite traditions when I was a kid. I remember times when my dad and I would be lighting the candles in the freezing snow. It was fun doing them again and sharing this tradition with my kids.

Baylie has been obsessed all day about putting out her "reindeer chow" that she made in school. She was so worried about forgetting it. Tonight she prayed, "Bless Rudolph and the other reindeer: Dancer, Prancer and Cancer..."

...and to all a good night!