Our Five Ring Circus: Twas The Night Before Christmas

Thursday, January 11, 2018

Twas The Night Before Christmas

Christmas Eve Family Photo

Christmas always seems to go by so quickly! Everybody counts down with so much anticipation, the big day finally arrives, then it's over in the blink of an eye. It's hard to believe that Christmas was 2 1/2 weeks ago! (And here I am FINALLY recapping Christmas Eve!)


I was going to do one big Christmas recap, but decided to break it into two parts: Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The thought of sorting through all those pictures was overwhelming, and I didn't want my post to be photo overkill. So today, I'm tackling Christmas Eve!

Most of our day was very relaxed. We didn't have anywhere to go until evening, and almost everything was prepared. Liam was congested, and had a runny nose, but was his usual happy self. Grant and I joked that we should run to Urgent Care so we didn't end up in the ER on Christmas like last year, but Liam didn't seem very sick. (We were so wrong!)

Christmas Elf

The girls spent the afternoon decorating our gingerbread house. We started that tradition last year, because if we do it any sooner, everybody starts snacking on it, and it's ruined by Christmas Eve! I personally do not like making gingerbread houses, but it's just one of those necessary traditions!

Gingerbread House

Gingerbread House kit

By evening, Liam was actually acting sick, which is very rare for him. We still headed over to my sister's house for dinner and our Christmas Eve celebration. I could tell he wasn't feeling well, because he was crying, and this little guy hardly ever cries! We didn't end up staying too long. We had a Christmas Eve celebration of our own to go home to!

Christmas Eve family photo


Every single Christmas Eve for as long as I've known Grant we have spent the evening at his Nannie's house. This was the first year our plans changed. Nannie ended up going out of state to say goodbye to a family member. 

We ended up having our own Christmas Eve celebration this year. We invited Grant's mom and a few friends over for the evening. And for the first time, we did most of our Christmas Eve traditions in our own home! 

First up, was the ornament exchange! Every year, Grant's mom gives each of her grandkids a special ornament on Christmas Eve. It is one of their favorite traditions! This year, Liam got a xylophone because he loves music, Lily got a My Little Pony, Lexie got a soccer ball, and Dylan got a Lego Batman. They got adorable personalized elves, too!

Christmas Traditions

Christmas Traditions

Christmas Traditions

Christmas Traditions

Christmas Traditions

Next, we gave the kids their Christmas Eve pajamas and their Christmas Eve gifts!

Christmas Traditions

Christmas Traditions

Christmas Traditions

Christmas Traditions

Christmas Traditions

Christmas Traditions

Christmas Traditions

Christmas Traditions

Before we moved on to food and spending time with our guests, the kids got to open their gifts from Nannie, their great uncle, and Grant's mom. After all the gifts were opened, they were able to run off and play with their new presents!

Christmas Traditions

Christmas Traditions

Christmas Traditions

Christmas Traditions

This year, we started a new tradition: A family photo in our new Christmas jammies! (I have to say, one piece pajamas are REALLY comfortable!) 

Christmas Eve Family Picture

Liam was starting to look miserable, so we decided to put out Santa's milk and cookies, and leave food for the reindeer a little earlier than usual. After that, we gave him some medicine and put him to bed.

Christmas Traditions

Christmas Traditions

Christmas Traditions

Lily fell asleep early, too, but the big kids had some fun!

Christmas Eve

Our guests started to leave one by one. After everybody was gone, we cleaned up, then Dylan and Lexie headed to bed. Pretty soon, the house was silent. Christopher the Elf said goodbye to the kids, and left a few pictures on my camera! After that, he waited by the milk and cookies so he could head back to the North Pole with Santa!

The Elf on the Shelf Ideas

The Elf on the Shelf Ideas

The Elf on the Shelf Ideas

The Elf on the Shelf Ideas

Elf on the Shelf Sendoff Ideas

Soon after, the big moment arrived! Santa stopped by and filled our living room with Christmas magic!


Christmas Eve

Twas the NightBefore Christmas... Our Christmas Eve Recap!

Stay tuned for my Christmas Day recap going live on Sunday night. It didn't turn out as expected, and it included a trip to the hospital, but we made the most of it!

Check out pictures from our long Christmas Break

12 comments:

  1. So sad that you ended up having to go to the hospital. Otherwise, so far it looks like lots of fun!

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    1. It was definitely unexpected. I'm just glad he wasn't admitted for an extended stay!

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  2. It looks like it was a great Christmas Eve! Our plans changed this year too and we hosted at our house. I love the idea of an ornament exchange. Sierra~Beautifully Candid

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  3. I love the family photo in your Christmas jammies! I would love to start doing that as well!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you! We always gave the kids Christmas Eve pajamas, but we never got any for ourselves. It ended up being a fun tradition that we want to continue!

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  4. Dylan looks like he is really getting tall!

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  5. I love the Christmas Elf pictures. How fun! Poor little Liam looks like he wasn't feeling well in these photos. I'm so sorry you ended up in the hospital on Christmas Day. (We were sick with the flu on New Year's Day and that whole first week...) Sickness has definitely been going around this Dec./Jan.

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    Replies
    1. I'm sorry your family was so sick, too. It's rough around the holidays!

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  6. I love that Grants Mom gives the kids an ornament on Christmas Eve! What a special tradition! And I bet it was so nice having the night at your house :)

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    Replies
    1. It's one of their favorite traditions! I love how they will have a big collection of memorable ornaments when they are adults!

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