OUR LITTLE FAMILY: CHRISTMAS EVE 2009!

On Christmas Eve we had our annual family Christmas party with my mom's side of the family.

My grandma always has ONE present that we are allowed to shake. It is appropriately called "the shaker". We then each get to make ONE guess to see if we know what it is. Whoever is the closest wins the present! Here is Kenzie shaking the shaker!

Kenzie went into the toy room and brought out a baby doll to join the party!

We started out by singing a Christmas song... my mom played the piano for us!

Some of the people at the party!

Then we did the manger scene.

The way we do it with this side of the family is.....

There is a present for every unmarried grandchild, and great grandchild. Inside each of those presents is a piece of the manger scene. Once everyone has opened their present, and knows which part they have, my grandma reads the story out of the scriptures. As each character is mentioned, the kids go up and build the manger scene by putting their character in it's place.

This year Kyle got to put Baby Jesus in the stable!

Kenzie got to put a cow up there..... My grandma had to add a few animals that go with the Shepherd's so that there are enough pieces for everyone to put one up...... Kenzie was not very happy that she didn't get to keep the cow! :)

The manger scene is complete!

Then we had the talent show. First my cousin Marshall, who joined the Army earlier this year, showed us some of the things that he has learned. His brother Josh was his "dummy"

Then my brothers Clint & Kyler sang a song that I know the name of, but it is sung to the tune of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and it is about how someone switched the signs on the restroom doors around so this guy ended up going into the women's restroom and some old ladies beat him up. It was SO FUNNY!

Then my cousins Megan, and Jocelyn, and their friend Nick did a really cool trick with some plastic grocery sacks and imaginary balls.

Then my cousin Jessica played a song on her violin.

Then My cousins Josie & Jase (they're twins) played us a song on the trumpet and clarinet.

After that my kids sang "Jingle Bells" but I had to go up there with them so that they would do it, and I forgot to give my camera to someone, so we didn't get a picture of it.

Then my cousins Colten & Dylen (They're twins too) sang us a funny song.

Here is Kenzie watching the talent show with Daddy.

This is my cousin Brenden, and he is made out of elastic! The pictures will speak for themselves! It hurts me just to watch him!

After the talent show was over, we did the "Letter gifts". This Each year, Everyone gets a letter, and we have to find something that costs no more than ONE DOLLAR that starts with that letter. This year, we had to use the first letter of our first name.

We always play some sort of game to determine which present we end up with, and in the end everyone ends up with one present. We then go around the circle and open the presents one at a time, and we have to guess what letter the present was chosen for.

Here is Kenzie opening her present

And here is Kyle opening his

After that Grandma read each of our guesses for the "shaker"I was VERY CLOSE, but my cousin Caden was just a little closer thanks to the help of his mommy :)

Then we had eggnog & Treats!

When the party was over, we headed to my mom's house to open our annual Christmas Eve present! My siblings and I, and our spouses each got a pair of Christmas toe socks! :)

My kids were so excited that they finally got to open a present!

They each got a pair of nice warm jammies!

They were SO TIRED!

So we headed home, and set out a plate of brownies, and a glass of milk for Santa. We also wrote him a little note in hopes that he might leave us a little note in return.