Christmas Eve Eve and Christmas Day

Christmas Eve Day ended with the twelve of us attending one of the "Family Christmas Eve Services"  (our church has five services Christmas Eve - we chose the 5PM one).  The Family Service involves audience participation.  We contributed two angels.  They were marvelous.  

Not only amongst the cutest but brave as they were home based from the balcony and had to go all the way down to the alter at the front of the church.  Of course Dad accompanied them.

Home after church and after a great Patt black bean chili dinner we had three grandsons in the tub— a hoot-- and Jen and Matt did the washing too.

Christmas morning started with Julianna tugging on our sheets at 5:45 telling us it was 15 minutes before 7.  We established that she was an hour early, got her in bed with us and waited till we heard the two Dad's taking the boys down stairs some 30 minutes later.

Present opening was a hoot, lots to open and lots of group opening and oohing and aahing.

A big hit was the iPad for the Big three.

Stephen and Raleigh represented the southern contingent of our family as Jen was a bit under the weather — well a lot actually under-the weather and until late in the day was pretty much bedridden.  Raleigh was also a bit lethargic.- putting it mildly —  (This is a harbinger of things to come)

Trucks of all sizes motored across the floor, and games were played.

Got in a family photo, with most looking at the camera.  Matt thinks he has a good one or two on his camera too.

And we ended the day watching a movie in the basement, just before sending the kids off to bed and the adults having a quiet glass of wine. Well that was not to be. The second round of under-the weather hit the Eastern contingent of our family about the time Lydia got in bed. 

Laundry is being done now and other adults are not feeling so hot.  It may be a long couple of days.  Tonight probably will be long.