Christmas Eve 2008

We had a very fun Christmas Eve this year.  First we went over to Steve and Jane's house to have dinner.  I don't have a camera so I don't have any pictures of that.  It was great though.  Emma had so much fun with her cousins, and Matthew ate about 10 slices of peaches.  We all had a really nice time.

Then, we went over to my parents house where all the kids did a little nativity play.  Emma got to be a shepherd this year.  Matthew was supposed to be a sheep, but he was so hungry by the time we got there that I didn't think he would make it.  Emma was darling though and loved being a shepherd.  She kept her costume on for most of the night.  

After the nativity play, we did white elephant gifts which are always a lot of fun.  While we were doing the white elephants, Dave and Melis made little toy bags with the kids which they all loved.  The toy bags had kazoos in them though and it got pretty loud with about 15 kids walking around blowing kazoos.  Matthew was getting a little overstimulated, so we decided to get him home.  

It was a great night!  The only bummer was that we never did read Luke 2.  I hope we will remember to do it next year.

Emma in her Shepherd costume.

Daniel as the Inn Keeper.  (Yeah, he was pretty excited to do that!)

Emma as a shepherd coming to see the baby Jesus.  She loves the baby Jesus, it is her favorite part of Christmas.

All of the kids who were in the nativity play.  L-R Annika, Emma, Dannan (hidden a little by Seth), Brianna, Lizzy, Brina, Kate, Josh, Ethan, Truman, Holly, Logan, Mieka and Melis (she put the whole thing together.  She is awesome!)

Matthew was pretty bugged by the end.  Daddy was trying to keep him from screaming while I helped clean up a bit.