Christmas Eve

It seems like we always have way too much fun planned for Christmas Day and the day before and after (which is not a bad problem to have because we do have tons of fun and get to see ALL of our families in that short amount of time. It just usually means some exhausted kiddos and parents at the beginnings and ends of the days!)

Christmas Eve started bright and early so that we could squeeze in our family tradition of reading the Christmas Story and letting the kids choose 1 present to open. We also set out cookies, just in case the kids were sleeping when we got home that night because we knew that it would be super late.

Cooper picking out a present to open. We were very lucky...he never messed with any present or package underneath the tree (until Christmas Eve when he got his first chance to open one!)

TJ was VERY excited to (finally) get the Cars phone that he had been eyeing every chance we were in WalMart!

Andi surprised to see her purse. She informed me that it was "lying" because we had seen it shopping together and I told her that she couldn't have it...haha I helped her realized that just because things were "secrets" didn't mean it was a lie! :)

Next we headed to Papa Harold's and Grandma Mari's for lunch, quality time with the Pollard boys and Uncle Kyle and of course to help make the several several dozens of cookies that are made and taken to Middletown.

"Eckler Cousins"

After several "takes" this is my favorite one! Everyone looks pretty good except for Cooper who is mimicking the people behind me who were trying to get the kids to smile.

Of course there was some Wii time...

and now on to the decorating!

All dressed up for Christmas Eve Mass

Next up...Christmas at Grandpa G's house

The Griffith Great-Grandkids


These are my absolute favorites pictures! When Andi first opened up her present she saw the "Huggies Wipes" box and really thought she had gotten diapers.

I convinced her to open it up and she realized it was pretty neat...then she realized what it was and was SUPER excited! :)

Cooper was excited to get Rex.

And of course had to ham it up and lay in Ally's chair.

TJ, our future card shark ;)

What was I thinking? The kids would actually fall asleep on the way home?! Even though we didn't get home until almost 11:30 the big kids were still awake (can you tell by the picture?) and were able to set out some new cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeer.