Christmas Eve began with baking and basketball. We also got JT a littlebits Gizmos & Gadgets set, and graduated Haley into Snap Circuits, so there was lots of time building and designing during the afternoon as well.
We also went to visit my grandma. The kids both picked out a Christmas book to read to her. We took her fudge and Christmas art for her fridge decorations as well.
We sat down to dinner right on time! We had roast, our favorite potatoes au gratin, roasted broccoli, and homemade dinner rolls.
After dinner, we got dressed and headed to candlelight service at our church.
The kids always come home from church to new pajamas, mysteriously delivered to their stockings while we are away!
We had homemade apple pie and ice cream while we watched the original Grinch, another tradition, and then Haley put out Oreos and milk for Dad before she went upstairs to bed.
Christmas morning, we had fun opening gifts and watching the kids squeal with delight. Isn’t that the best part? They each got something they really wanted, something to wear, something to read, and a learning game or toy.
JT couldn’t wait to try out his new spy video walkie talkie set. We are surprised how well it works!
Jim and I forgot to set out their new bean bag chairs under their stockings on Christmas Eve. And then we forgot to get them out Christmas morning. So after our light breakfast (yogurt and ham, cheese, and egg breakfast sandwiches) we finally remembered to get them out. The kids had fun reading their new books while relaxing on their chairs. The beanbags are replacing the brown recliner I recovered for JT years and years ago. We were ready for more portable chairs that could seat two. JT thought his new book Dog Man was hilarious!
We headed to Grandpa and Grandma Cole’s house for Christmas brunch at 11 AM. The cinnamon rolls and Swedish pancakes and breakfast pizza and bacon and sausage and fruit and fudge were all amazing. There were more smiles and laughter opening gifts, and some of the group played Pictionary while some played basketball.
In the afternoon, we got ready for Christmas Part 3 at Grandpa and Grandma Keene’s house! We got there about 4 PM for dinner and more gifts. Dinner included a perfectly cooked prime rib, our favorite mashed potatoes, green beans, Hawaiian rolls, and orange salad. We had seconds on everything.
For dessert, we had the special birthday cakes and cupcakes that JT and Haley had baked with Grandma Keene two days before… and a cheesecake I brought, and more fudge. We sang happy birthday to Jesus before we dug in!
The Keene Family 