Christmas Eve Part One...

Christmas Eve was spent with Micah's family. We started our afternoon off with pick-up foods, a Chinese Gift Exchange and presents from Grandma & Pepaw.

Their house has become a bit small for our large crew- parents are trying to take pictures of kids that want no part of sitting still, there aren't always enough seats so many of us sit on the floor, no one ever knows whose turn it is in our gift exchange, but it is a chaos that I have come to love as the years have brought new little ones to the bunch. The sounds of cousins playing and family laughing is a treasure I wouldn't trade for the world!











There is a screened in porch at the back of Grandma & Pepaw's house. This room is full of things they have collected over the years. Grandma's pickle jars, antiques handed down, trunks full of treasures, shelves holding kitchen items no longer relevant in our modern day- it is a child's dream world. And if there isn't food on the table or presents being opened, this is exactly where you will find my boys. They love this room that is full of items that, if you take the time to ask, Pepaw will gladly tell you stories about. Stories that will most likely having you laughing and him smiling as he relives 'the good ole days'.









After we finish up at Grandma & Pepaw's, we head over to Gran's house. We load up food, presents and kids, which can be a hassle, but it's tradition that we go to both houses and no one would have it any other way. At Gran's, the kids sip hot cocoa, the adults have coffee, we eat sweets, open more presents and finish the evening with what I would argue is the best part- BINGO. There is pile in the middle of the living room of lottery tickets and anything and everything you want to contribute. We play until the pile is gone which means a hand full of us black-out our card and the rest get to BINGO over and over again.













We always get home later than we plan, but in a way, the late night makes things more exciting. There is no waiting around to get treats out for Santa, it is straight to bed and waking up the best morning of the year!!