Christmas Eve Fun

I have always enjoyed Christmas Eve for a few reasons. 1) shopping is done, 2) spending time with family sharing your traditions and yummy food and 3) reflecting on what is really important this time of year which is our Saviors birth.

We always look forward to the holidays around here and spending time with our family. This Christmas Eve was no different.


My mom and dad with all the grandkids. 10 to be exact. This year my kids were dissapointed no one spent the night at our house. They always look forward to fun family times. For the past 5 years or so my sister and her family would always pack up and come and spend the night with us. Before my sister started spending the night with us, Mikes sister and her family would do the same thing. Christmas morning would be so crazy but so worth it.

Every Christmas Eve my kids always get to open 1 present. They look so forward to getting their jammies before bed. Tonight was no different, here is Zoe and Olivia striking a pose!

A couple of years ago we started a tradition of making gingerbread houses. Doesn't the frosting look so yummy? I would find Gabe decorating his house for a while and then sucking the frosting right out of the bag. It gives me a belly ache just looking at this picture.

My nephew Trent, he is so much fun but also a handfull. He just melts my heart, every once in a while he will come over to me and have me pick him up and then he will tell me in his deep voice "I love you Aunt Julie" give me a squeeze and then want to be put down and go on about his way. He can stay at my house anytime, I want to eat him up!

We have found a love for fondue, for the past few years we have done this. It is so easy and sooo tasty. Here is the cheese fondue with all the fixins'

and the chocolate fondue as well. YUMMY!!!

Mike also made a pot of potato soup. Everyone loves this soup, especially me. Mike doesn't hardly cook but, he does cook some good ol' soups now and then.

This year for Christmas we were all set on going up to our cabin to spend the holidays with everyone. However, when I was getting my last minute shopping done on Monday it started raining. With the help of my sister we looked up the weather at Duck Creek Village and saw that there were extreme weather conditions for the next 3 days. Right during the time of traveling, and a visit from the "big guy" I thought maybe we should postpone our trip for a while. I was all set on having a white Christmas and doing all the fun old fashion stuff like stringing popcorn to decorate the tree and having a real fire, (I love the crackle it makes and the smell) roasting marshmellows and just playing in the snow and watching movies in your pj's. I hope we will make it to the cabin soon.

After the decission of staying home I felt my stress level go from a 9 to about a 3. I didn't have to pack or get my house in order (because I really don't like coming home to a messy house after a vacation) it was wonderful. I was pretty much was ready for the holiday. I even had most of my wrapping done which never happens. I was able to sit back and enjoy my time with my kids and fam!!