CHRISTMAS EVE 2011

We had such a fun Christmas Eve this year with our little family, so let's start from the beginning. I love to have our family dress up nice for Christmas Eve. I mean who wouldn't want to look their best the night Santa comes. Paislee wore her cute green and black dress that my mom bought her. My mom buys her and my nieces a new dress every year to wear on Christmas Eve. Prescott wore his church shirt with his cute vest. They both looked so dang cute and absolutely perfect for our exciting Christmas Eve adventure.We began our fun night at Chad's parents for our traditional breakfast for dinner meal. After we eat, we then listen to the story of the "red balloon" and our birthday gift for Jesus.This is one of my favorite traditions we do because reminds us why we have Christmas and it helps us to stop and think about the ones we love in heaven. After listening to the story we then each get one red balloon to send to anyone we want to in heaven. The red balloon is a Merry Christmas gift and a gift of love with any special message you want to send to the one you love. We also have one special red balloon that we send to Jesus to wish him Happy Birthday. I wasn't sure how much of this tradition Paislee actually understood until last year when we lost Zoe Bug. When she sent her balloon up last year she smiled from ear to ear because she knew Zoe would love her red balloon. So this year she couldn't wait and was so excited to send her red balloon to Zoe again. As for Prescott, he thought chewing on the string of the balloon was the greatest thing ever. We sent our other 3 balloons to Grandpa Bawden, Grandma Aime & Grandpa Marv.After we send our balloons to heaven we head back inside to do gifts. Grandpa & Grandma Great start the gift giving by giving all the great grandkids an outfit and the grandkids a new shirt. Next, the kids exchange their gifts for each other, followed by the sibling gift exchange. After all the gifts are exchanged Grandpa & Grandma Bawden give the grand kids their church outfits. Which worked out perfect this year since we went to sacrament on Christmas, so the kids looked adorable in their new outfits.By this point of the night we already have a tote full of Christmas gifts. We finish the night by giving our gifts to the most important people; Grandpa & Grandma Great and then to Grandpa & Grandma Bawden.After we are done at Chad's parents we head over to my Aunt Kelly's house, where we eat some yummy finger foods and visit. This year was a little crazy because all the babies are growing up. So the house wasn't as quiet and calm as it used to be on Christmas Eve, but we LOVE every minute of it. The kids are so dang cute and so much fun, they are going to have so many fun memories growing up together.As we got the babies in their pj's we lined them up in their white onsies, they looked so dang cute. We laughed so hard, we thought it was so dang funny. The babies laughed and giggled right back at us and totally showed off with all their tricks. We took probably 50 pictures of them and only got like 5 good pictures lol. Oh and yes Prescott is basically the same size as his cousins who are months older then him. Gotta love that little tank!Then Grandpa & Grandma Huntsman give the kids their pj's and Christmas Eve pillow cases so we can get ready to go home and go to bed. Paislee got Tinkerbell pj's and Hello Kitty slippers & Prescott got some moose pj's and the cutest Utah blanket which he LOVED. (Grandma Huntsman made all the boy grandkids blankets because the girls get their Christmas dresses.) Their sleeping gear comes in their Christmas pillow case that they take home and sleep on so Santa will come visit them.After the kiddos are in their Christmas Eve sleeping gear, it's time to head home. This year we decided to let the kids buy gifts for each other. I am pretty sure Paislee's was the more excited about this than anything else. She couldn't wait to give her brother his gift and was so cute opening hers. I know I say this all the time but really she is the BEST big sister, I couldn't ask for her to be anymore loving and sweet to Prescott. Next, we gave the kids some love gifts from dad and mom. This is something we just started this year because I didn't realize that Santa didn't bring all the gifts at other houses. Honestly, the kids loved the gifts but I am not sure I will do it again. I thought it was a lot to get in on Christmas Eve and I am old school with just Santa gifts on Christmas morning. I feel like we do enough and give them gifts throughout the year and I don't need the credit on Christmas. Watching their eyes light up on Christmas morning is all we need and want. So if we do love gifts from dad and mom next year I will need to figure out a new plan and tradition.After the love gifts from dad and mom, it's time for bed. But first we need to set our stocking and certificates out for Santa. Dad and mom sign their "good certificate" they got with their letter from Santa. If daddy and mommy sign it, Santa said he will take it and leave presents in its place.
After the couches are ready, we have to leave Santa his treat. Santa always requests we leave him a cinnamon roll wreath and egg nog. Paislee also insisted we leave carrots for Santa's reindeer, thanks to movie Santa Claus 2. Stocking & certificates: check, Santa's treat/reindeer's carrots: check. We are ready!!!