The Christmas Eve festivities started out with a party at our house for some of the Farley side .... my cousin, Linsey, and her family, my mom and brother Quinn, my sister, Kelly, and her family, Nana & Papa and us. We always start early (4'ish) so that everyone still has time later for other Christmas Eve traditions.
Naturally, the older kids congregate around the Wii.
After the party, my kids ripped into their new Christmas jammies.
We're constantly reminding Christian to put on a shirt. He thinks that he's got a pretty good 2-pack started.
Then the girls frosted cookies for Santa with Nana....
... and left them by the fireplace along with letters to hopefully get Santa's autograph.
After that, Haley set up the video camera to try and catch Santa in the act. Click here to see
what actually happened, if you haven't already.
Then the kids all had a sleepover together and
tried to sleep.
After Photography 101 by Becca, I was able to take some decent night pictures.
There's that smile again. ;}
Watching the nativity with "Sistoh Hess."
Elle was concerned that baby Jesus was cold out there in the night air.
Cool Becca with her cool family.
Aaaahhh .... nothing like finishing off the evening with a steaming cup of hot chocolate.
And then they go tearing down the hall to check out what Santa brought. He doesn't wrap their gifts, but just leaves them out right next to their stocking.
We headed out in our jammies to the Blakes' for our annual Christmas morning breakfast....
... had a little crossword puzzle competition,
and then eventually wound up back at our house to play with our new toy ... Beatles Rock Band, baby!
Cracks me up to hear my kids singing "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" and "We All Live In A Yellow Submarine." Great Christmas. :}
Naturally, the older kids congregate around the Wii.
After the party, my kids ripped into their new Christmas jammies.
We're constantly reminding Christian to put on a shirt. He thinks that he's got a pretty good 2-pack started.
Then the girls frosted cookies for Santa with Nana....
... and left them by the fireplace along with letters to hopefully get Santa's autograph.
After that, Haley set up the video camera to try and catch Santa in the act. Click here to see what actually happened, if you haven't already.
Then the kids all had a sleepover together and tried to sleep.
It might seem normal to take a picture with your mom on one side and your dad on the other but these moments are definitely rare for us. It was a very cool, surreal moment.
