Christmas Adam and Eve

On Christmas Adam (December 23rd), everyone Russ and the kids went to work and school for their last day before the holiday break. I took off a half day and spent it packing for our trip home to Clarksville. Not only did we have to pack for Christmas (which includes all the presents and traditions) but the kids were staying with Granna for the week between Christmas and New Years, so they needed lots more clothes and things.

I picked the kids up early from school and headed home to get them dressed for church. We went to Hope because 1) they have Christmas Adam services and 2) it's a great candlelight service with awesome music.  Brian, his girlfriend Candi and her kids also joined us for the service. This year, both Tyler and Caroline went to service with us (and not to childcare) and did great! In the hustle to get to church, I even forgot to bring activities to entertain the kids and they still did well. (Caroline did enjoy coloring with the crayons that Hope provided.) Afterwards, we took a few pictures and then headed to dinner at Rafferty's with the whole group.

The best family shot we got!

We left for Clarksville early Christmas Eve morning and got in around lunchtime. Our car was loaded down and I don't think one more thing would have fit! It's a good thing that we thought ahead and took some gifts home at Thanksgiving. We took the roof bag with us because we may need it to haul gifts on the way back! Before we left, I finished out our Jesse Tree tradition with the kids and read both the 24th and 25th, since we would be in Clarksville for Christmas Day.

Christmas Eve morning and our last photo with Griswold before he heads back to the North Pole.

The kids enjoyed playing at Granna's house once we arrived and they took a nap after we ate lunch. While they napped, I baked more sugar cookies for us to decorate for Santa when they woke up. The others we baked earlier in the month were LONG gone!! After cookie decorating, the kids sprinkled the food they made at Alpine Village outside for Rudolph and the reindeer and they got in the bathtub. In our Christmas jammys, we put out milk and cookies for Santa and read the Night Before Christmas as a family. Then it was off to bed for the littles!!

The kids got to open their presents from Candi that night.

Crazy full moon on Christmas Eve!

Sprinkling reindeer food.

Here are a few videos of the Christmas Eve fun...




Once the kids were in bed, Santa's special elves had a few more last minute touches to help Santa get everything ready for the next morning! Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!