Christmas Eve Festivities

This year we had a quiet (or not so quiet as you will find as you read on), fun Christmas Eve at home with my parents and my sister Kara and her new husband Christian. During the day, we took the kids Ice Skating because Madeline has decided she wants to be a skater. She did awesome! She was a little unsure at the beginning, and then after and few rounds with "the walker" she was up and moving all on her own. She fell a few times (ok, a ridiculous amount of times) but never once cried, said ouch or complained that her pants were cold and wet. She was a trooper and still wants to take lessons so she can be a Disney on Ice skater someday.

Lauren also did a fantastic job skating. She lasted about 1/2 hour on the ice, which is longer than I had anticipated for her. She did not like the walker, but enjoyed being drug around the ice by me, daddy, grampa, aunt Kara and uncle Christian. I'm not sure this is her sport of choice, but she enjoyed herself. She's a little more daring and wild...more like 4 wheeling and biking!!! She's crazy!

Then we headed home for a yummy dinner. We usually celebrate with a nice ham dinner, but decided to splurge this year and have beef tenderloin. Oh were we in heaven!While dinner was cooking, the girls got themselves ready by painting their finger/toe nails and of course, our sweet Grampa couldn't be left out, so he had his very own pedicure. The girls were giddy as could be painting Grampa's toe nails! Matt is such an awesome chef and he did the meat up just right!! During dinner, we had sparkling cider in which Madeline was holding the goblet just like real royalty. Of course, she honestly believes she is real royalty. I haven't had the guts to tell her yet! lol!

Lots of songs to be sung, the Nativity video to be watched, a special message and we topped it off with a game of "The Night Before Christmas." When all was said and done, we almost ended up in the E.R. thanks to Grampa thinking he could open an air dart blaster with an electric carving knife. No, it wasn't on, but he chose that blade to slice his finger off with. We were glad aunt Kara was there to "super glue" him up. After all, who wants stitches on Christmas Eve? We are also very glad that Grampa is ok, is not bleeding anymore and that our knife doesn't have any skin remenants left on it! It wouldn't be Christmas Eve (or any family vacation) without a little "It's tough to be me" from our very own Grampa!

warning: picture overload ahead... I wish I could figure out how to get them to come out in order, but I'm too tired and too lazy! :-)

our own little Santa came this year
The girls in their Christmas PJ's (they picked for and gave to each other)

Grammie reading a Christmas story

sprinkling reindeer food (which she found the following day while playing in the snow...oops!)

Lauren leaving some food too

Precious little hands

Oh this sums her up perfectly! This was the Night Before Christmas gift she won. How appropriate

Super glueing Grampa finger. Yuck.

Painting nails and getting ready for dinner (The girls wanted their hair cut...isn't it darling?)

And he belongs to my mom eternally...lucky lady! :-)

The Logie/Ray/Joyner families

Grampa with is beauticians (notice the ariel wig)

Getting Grampa ready for dinner. What a good sport!

Christian took a good tumble...he was so tough!

So excited to get on the ice

Ready to go pro!

This is how Lauren enjoyed skating!

Daddy and Lou with the walker

If one goes down, they must all go down!

Having so much fun with Grampa Logie

Matt's Christmas PJ's (mommy picked them out specially for daddy...the girls thought they were great....we got a good laugh!)


Singing Christmas carols