Christmas Eve '09

Christmas Eve this year was wonderful. Since it's our last Vermont Christmas I wanted to make sure it would be special and memorable and I think it was! Ever since we moved here, we've stayed for Christmas. While we certainly miss our families it's so nice being able to build our own traditions and I really think it's helped us grow closer as a family.

We started out by going to a party in the afternoon with some of the other med student families in Justin's class. I am sad that I didn't take any pictures, but it was fun and the kids loved seeing all their friends. Each family did some sort of performance. Fortunately for us, Clayton's school had had it's Christmas concert the day before (insanely cute by the way) so Clayton represented our family by singing one of the songs that his class performed in the concert. Of course there was also really good food and I ate WAY too much!!

After that we went home and rested for a bit before heading out to the Bessettes. They are a couple in our ward that we have been spending Christmas Eve with since we moved out here. Every year she invites more people and it has become quite the party!! There is always a delicious dinner (and tons of it), sledding, and great company. It seems to be a theme with me this year - forgetting to take pictures. Fortunately, Vanessa had her camera and she was kind enough to share some of her pictures with me. So here's what I have (courtesy of Vanessa because, let's face it, I don't take pictures this good):

Stills of Clayton again performing his Christmas song (I do have it on video and if I can ever figure out how to upload it to the computer, I'll post it). The lyrics go like this:
December is a time for 'ho ho ho'
December is a time for love
December is a time for lots of snow
December is a time for love

Sing joy
Sing joy
Let everyone sing joy
Sing joy
Sing joy
Let everyone sing joy

December is a time for 'ho ho ho'
December is a time for love
December is a time for lots of snow
December is a time for love!

What would a cute kindergarten song be without actions!
Every time he sang, 'sing joy' he raised his arms in the air. I need to figure out how to post the video. It's priceless!!
I could squeeze Josie's cheeks all day!!!
Please ignore how I look in this picture and focus on how adorable Josie and her friend Sophie are (with their color coordinated outfits and matching bows)!
Noah has a strong aversion to pants lately. Whenever he goes to the bathroom (especially outside of our home) I have to camp out by the bathroom and catch him before he barrels out into company naked - it's sad that his nakedness doesn't even phase our friends anymore, they've come to expect it from him. Vanessa camped out with me and this is the picture she took as I was putting Pootie's pants back on. Doesn't he look so cute and happy with himself for being pantsless!?!
Rick and Vanessa brought English Crackers for Christmas Eve. Each one contained a crown and a little toy. Everyone had fun popping their crackers and wearing their crowns. Justin and I are trying to look regal - not really a look we can pull off...
After the Bessettes we headed home to open Christmas Eve gifts. This means a new ornament for each family member and pajamas for the kids. The boys (and girl) were pretty exhausted and didn't fight us at all about going to bed. Justin and I were looking forward to bedtime as well (we were also trying to figure out how we were ever going to be able to eat again).

As always, it was a special and memorable Vermont Christmas Eve. I'm sad that it was our last one but I'm excited to carry some of our traditions on to a new home and perhaps create a few more!!

Coming up (hopefully) soon. Christmas Day!!