Christmas Eve 2012

Our Christmas Eve was very nice… and different this year! Usually, we (along with Mammy, Joe, Melissa, Logan & Uncle David) go to Mammy’s church for Christmas Eve services and then back to her house for snacks and gift exchanging. However, this year she wasn’t feeling up to hosting, so we decided to start a new tradition. But first, we went to Mammy’s to visit on Christmas Eve day with Poppa & Nana. We had a nice time visiting and catching up.

Stryker loved helping Mammy open her presents and Mammy really liked the cross bracelet we got her.

After a nice time with Mammy & Joe, we loaded up and headed over to Melissa & Logan’s house to give Logan his presents from us. The boys played for a little bit while we chatted. When it was time to open some gifts, these boys got on it!

Logan went first…

And this guy waited ever so patiently…

And finally it was his turn!

After our second stop, it was time to head home and get ready for Christmas Eve services at church. We all dressed in our Christmas finest and headed to Celebrate the Reason for the Season! We recently started going to St James UMC just around the corner from us. All the members and pastor have been very welcoming and Stryker has been having quite the ball at Children’s Church every Sunday. Anyway, St James had a 5 pm Christmas Eve Communion service that ended with singing Silent Night by candle light. It was very touching and just another reminder of the love from our Lord!

After church, we headed over the Hess home in the Hamlets. We decided to start a new tradition this year by spending Christmas Eve with Dan’s family. What a great time! Big Robert, Renee, Little Robert, Cassie, Cassie’s parents-Tom & Meg, Hunter & Megan along with us and Grandma gathered to eat, chat, enjoy each other and have a Chinese gift exchange. Stryker was SPOILED beyond belief. Robert & Renee really went all out and Stryker was more than excited to play with his new bat & ball, football along with a RC helicopter from Tom & Meg. But most of all, he REALLY enjoyed Renee’s cats! Tigger was most curiously of our 3 ft bundle of energy and didn’t mind being chased all around the house.

Daddy & Mommy with our little Elf!

Lucky little guy being the only kiddo is spoiled rotten!

 And what a fun time the Chinese Gift Exchange was! We all had such a good time! There were practical gifts, there were gag gifts and there was lots of ‘exchanging’!

Three Generations of Cousins!

After a great time with the family, it was time to head home and prepare for Santa! When we arrived home, Stryker found his special goodbye gift from Colby. And Colby left something for Daddy too!

 

Colby always leaves Stryker a pair of Christmas PJs to wear Christmas Eve and through out the year to remember him by.

Daddy got a new Bible from Colby this year. It even has his name engraved on it. Colby wrote a special note to Daddy and asked him to start a new tradition of reading Luke 2, The Christmas Story to us on Christmas Day. What a great idea Colby! A reminder of the special gift we all receive on Christmas!

Stryker changed into his new pajamas and quickly set out Santa's treats! We tracked Santa's progress on the news and it was time to get to sleep! We had such a wonderful Christmas Eve 2012 and the fun was just beginning!