Christmas Eve

I wanted to share some pics from Christmas this year and I actually have to admit that I am proud I have these up before the one month mark after Christmas! In my book that's pretty good!

We drove to Oklahoma as is our usual December routine. This year was the second year in a row to make the long drive. I have a love/hate relationship with driving. I love having a car at our convenience and the low cost that driving affords, but I hate the LOOOONG drive. We have been so blessed that Brendan is a rockstar traveler and Justin is a determined driver who drove the entire 18 hours! I have to brag on both my guys. The trip would not happen or be nearly as pleasant if Brendan wasn't such an easy traveler. He slept from 9:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. and we arrived at 8:30 a.m. Justin is amazing and drinks more coffee than is probably healthy to stay awake through the night, but we made it!

Now, on to Christmas Eve. We spent the afternoon at Papa Willmon and Grandma Teri's house. Teri made a fabulous lunch and we spent the afternoon visiting and playing. Brendan spotted the game Kerplunk and wanted to play right away.

This train is Brendan's favorite thing when we go to his grandparent's house for Christmas.
Brendan is one lucky little boy to have such wonderful grandparents who are so good to him. Here he is opening up a Hot Wheels track which he loved!


Brendan loves Cocoa Bean, although I'm not sure Cocoa Bean loves Brendan quite the same ;-)

Then we went back to Grams and Happy's house to get ready for Santa. Erin's family would be joining us soon, but they hadn't made it back yet from Christmas with the Abbotts. Grams bought a little photo ornament kit for each of the boys to make and hang next to their stocking so Santa would know whose was whose.
And Happy showed Brendan that Santa was getting close on Google tracker. Pretty cool!
Then Grams and Brendan made some sugar cookies for Santa.
Once the other boys made it back to Grams' house they put on their matching Christmas jammies and decorated cookies for Santa.
When I was growing up it was tradition for my dad to read the Christmas story on Christmas Eve. This year was the first time we had done that in a few years. This was always one of my favorite traditions growing up. I loved seeing my dad read to us from the Bible. As you can see, it was a little bit of a challenge reading to 3 little boys 5 and under ;-)
Then it was my turn to read "The Night Before Christmas".
This pose lasted about 2 seconds before the boys were rolling around the couch.
And then it was off to bed as we waited for Santa to come!