Christmas Eve

So, I may be jumping around a little here.  I wanted to try to capture the 2014 Christmas holiday on the blog, so I'm starting with Christmas Eve.  It is what it is.  :)

Our Christmas eve was pretty much the same as it is every year.  We started with our family Christmas Eve picture. 

After our pictures, we went to the Christmas Eve service at the church.  It was a service of traditional Christmas carols, a nativity with kid actors, and Silent Night to the candlelight.  After church, we went to Mamaw's house.  With a few exceptions, I have spent every Christmas Eve going to my Mamaw's house.  This year, Brody seemed really excited about going.  It was fun to watch him, because I knew the same feeling he was having.  :)

I think I should capture the tree behind us.  It is hard to take a picture of a Christmas tree.  (One of the things I am going to do in 2015 is to learn to take good pictures, but that is for another entry.)

Where was I?  Oh, Mamaw's.  That's right.  So after we left Mamaw's house, we came home and the boys opened their traditional Christmas Eve jammies.  Every year we buy them matching jammies...and every year, I wrap them like it is some big surprise.  They play along.  It makes me happy.

Look at the surprise on his face!  He would have *never* guessed what was in the box!  I'm sure of it.  I've saved you from the pictures of them stripping down to their boxers in the middle of the living room to put on their jammies.  :)  You're welcome.

And there they are!  In their matching Christmas jammies.  I really always loved them in matching outfits.  They do not like matching outfits anymore.  One night a year, friends.  One night a year.

I had a special present from Brody on Christmas Eve.  He had been working on a craft project at school.  Just before school let out for Christmas break, he took a box to school so he could bring my present home.  He was so proud of it.  He wrapped it and everything.  So on Christmas Eve, he presented it to me.

The anticipation almost killed him....

It is a ceramic leaf.  Painted by the Bro-man.  I'm such a sap, so you can guess how much I love it.  He is such a sweet boy.  :)

I can't leave the doggies out.  They didn't get any presents, but they were not going to be left out of the action.  (If you know Maisy, you know she isn't left out of much anyway!)

Last, but not least, I will leave you with the picture of the scene after Santa visited.  The house was quiet until Brody came into our room at 7:30, announcing it was time to get up.  I actually think he said, "chop, chop!", but I will save the story of our Christmas day for next time.