CHRISTMAS EVE 2005

Christmas this year was celebrated entirely at our house, which is good because we didn't have to drive anywhere, but not so good when you have to cook and clean! I'll take cooking and cleaning over travelling any day, though. My in-laws got here just before lunch on Christmas Eve, and Scott's brother and clan arrived shortly thereafter. We partook in a GREAT meal of chicken and dumplings (made by Scott and if you haven't had his chicken and dumplings, you don't know what you are missing!), beans, and salad! Afterwards (and before dessert) we opened presents, otherwise known as the EXPLOSION...

I think it is safe to say that everyone had plenty to unwrap on Christmas Eve. The kids went nuts. And, with five kids, there was paper everywhere. They were maniacs! We had hats and books and dishes and trucks and chairs and race tracks and Barbie laptops and clothes and all sorts of goodies strung from wall to wall. Yeah, they had a pretty good time, I think! That's Scott's mom, stuck in the bottom left hand corner - couldn't dig herself out of the carnage!


Scott's aunt and uncle gave all the kids hats and gloves as a gift this year - something we didn't need this weekend (it was in the 80's today - they may have to reopen Schlitterbahn just to cool everyone off!), but I'm sure they will come in handy soon! We actually got Tyler to leave his hat on long enough for a picture, but that was a massive undertaking, and we had to try several times to catch him before he yanked it off!



See? I'm stuck in the wrapping paper mound, too! Actually it hadn't gotten too bad at this point - it was when the rest of that wrapping paper flew off that we had a few issues! Tyler was safest in my lap - at least we knew we wouldn't lose him in the wrapping paper there! I had my doubts that I'd see him again if we let him toddle off!

And then it was time for bed - we're in our matching pj's and SOOOO excited to see what Santa will bring tomorrow! Nighty - night!