Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

After a busy day on Wednesday, I was looking forward to spending lots of time with family over the holiday weekend. Thursday was Christmas Eve and the day started out nice and relaxing. Hal and I did some work around the house to get ready for our company that evening as we were hosting for my dad's side of the family (the Juhl side). This meant 16 adults and 5 kiddos. It was quite the party! Our traditions on Christmas Eve entail that we do appetizers instead of a dinner and we play the dice game. There was enough food to feed any army. Every year we say we will make less, but it never happens. This year we did change one thing and that was that instead of the adults playing their own dice game, the kids just played. It was quite hilarious to watch the kids play! After playing for what felt like an hour, all of the presents had finally been snatched up and the kids opened. Once they all shared presents and exchanged the ones that they didn't want, the families started to pack up and head home. By the time that everyone left, it was around 11. Sophia was quite tired! We set some cookies and milk out for Santa and then it was off to bed for everyone.

Christmas morning we woke up around 8. We brought Sophia downstairs to see if Santa had come. Sophia was amazed to find that he had come and had eaten the cookies she left out. He also left her a full stocking plus her very own princess tent, sleeping bag, backpack, flashlight, and compass. She was so thrilled she didn't really care about opening her presents under the tree. She got several presents and she was very excited to open everything up! Hal and I got each other new touch phones. I just love my phone!! After opening presents, Hal went to attack the driveway because we got about 10 inches or more between Christmas Eve day and Christmas Day morning. I went upstairs to take a shower and Sophia sat and watched the Disney parade in our room. After everyone got ready, we went over to my parents house for Christmas Day. my mom's sister and her husband joined us along with my two cousins. We ate snacks and opened presents. Then we played a similar game to the dice game where you exchange gifts only it moves with a story. It was very fun and everyone loved the $5 gift they got. After doing the gifts, we sat down for a lovely Christmas dinner. When dinner was over it was 3 and Sophia still hadn't been down for a nap. We attempted and she slept for a short time. When she woke up it was around 5 and we headed home. We played in the tent and then everyone headed up to bed.

Today we had a great family day! Hal made puffy pancakes for breakfast. Then Sophia opened a couple more gifts. Then we played two of her new board games. After playing in the house for a while, we went outside to play. It was a beautiful day! We came in for some lunch and then I brought Sophia to the Y with me so I could run and Hal went to snowblow his dad's driveway since his dad is in Utah. We got home and Sophia went down for a nap. Now I have laundry going and we are going to get ready to go look at Christmas lights tonight. What a great weekend!

I had so many pictures I couldn't pick so I picked the best of and created a slide show. I hope you enjoy!