Christmas Eve has always been my favorite part of Christmas. Don’t get me wrong…the actual day is only millimeters behind the night before. It’s when we sit around and exchange gifts with the person, whose name we picked out of the hat. There is always a ton of creativity that goes into these gifts, and plenty of time and effort. Afterwards, we open our P.J.’s from Nonnie and then proceed to sending the boys off to Harbor House for shakes, and displaying the presents for the girls. (The kids are asleep by this point.) It is always a long night, but I would make it last four times as long if everyone else was on board!
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This year, we switched it up a bit. Instead of having the cousins exchange and the adults exchange, we put everyone in the same hat. (We also decided that we would keep it to anyone who was here, because quite honestly, it was getting out of control! Postage alone was ridiculous!)
Scout and Icka had Chloe and Trey, so they joined in on a gift that Scout thought up. A zip line for their backyard! They were totally stoked, and both went in to give Scout kisses for the gift.
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Somehow I missed the picture of Scout getting a beanbag toss from Jake. It was such a great idea because he had been playing with one a few weeks before at Ryan Conner’s graduation party. Smart and thoughtful Jake made a mental note, and went home to order one up!
Chloe had Icka this year, and got her a cookie set for her kitchen she would get the next day (although she didn’t know it). She died over it, and served us all cookies the rest of the night.
The second part of Chloe’s gift was darling. She had personally made Navy a DVD of her entire life. She did voice overs, video and pictures completely by herself. It was amazing!
Icka was glued to watching herself.
It was seriously the cutest and nicest gift. Chloe did a great job, and even matched up the music to the time in her life that was being shown. We stopped the whole night, and watched the whole DVD right then and there.
Cade had Dash, and got him a sock monkey.
And a dog sleeping bag! I was dying, because Cade went shopping on his own and picked everything out by himself. What he didn’t know was that Scout and Navy were getting bigger dog sleeping bags the next day!
Perfect!
Micah had Bry, and got him a “fruit salad” tree. It’s a tree that has five different citrus fruits grafted in which makes it bloom all year long, and provides a great variety. Obviously Bry was stoked!
Dash had Jake, and since we did most of our shopping online this year, (remember my boy who is in his second week of a body cast), we had to get really creative. He got a DVD of the Mountain States 100 documentary that he was so excited about. And then I got him a blanket for his car when he goes to college of “Persuasion”. You know — the name the four oldest cousins call their clan. I love these four, and can’t even believe that one of them is leaving us.
Remember my online shopping — well I had Tristen, and she got a picture blanket too! I made hers of the things she loves most in life. Her mom and nieces and nephews. I also got her two cooking classes to take with me, and a scooter rental in Dana Point!
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Trilby had Micah and gave him “A Day In The Life of Micah” which included amongst many other things, an awesome running jacket, and some gift certificates to Denny’s to take the kids, and Ryder’s Club to take me!
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And Megan (the most awesome gift giver) gave me “Lindsey’s Favorite Things”! She gave me at least 15 things that were all thoughtful, and things I really loved. Like a white pepper and pink salt set because I love spicces, a t-shirt folder because I love things to look good, darling dishes and a cake plate because I love to entertain, funny books because I love to do what was in the funny books, a laminating machine because I love to , playdo crafts because I love to play with my kids, mini bread tins because I love things that are mini, and the list is endless. But of all of the things I love most — I love my sister Megan, so she gave me the most coveted gift of all — an entire day of her services. Whatever I wanted her to do -clean, organize, babysit- she would do it!
I pick shopping together!
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It was the funnest night — as usual. Then the boys brought in all of the presents, and were off (minus Micah who was pretty sick). And then we went to work. But let it be known, I went to work as everyone talked and hung out. They always offer, but the present display is my baby!
And as you can see (Christmas Morning) — I take good care of my baby!
And afterwards, Tristen picks out a present for each girl to open. And then we open more, and more. It is so fun, and my favorite tradition all year long!
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