Christmas Eve

This year we spent Christmas at my parents' cabin in Alton. All of my siblings and their families were able to be with us this year. We spent the day making cookies, decorating a gingerbread village (Uncle Rob ended by painting his face like the Joker), and playing on the big snow hill. That evening we enjoyed our traditional Chinese dinner of orange chicken, egg rolls, and ham fried rice. We have officially given up making chop suey, since it is so much more work than the orange chicken.

Afterward, we managed to pull off our first family talent/comedy show! I started warning my family about this a month or so back, only to be scoffed and laughed at. But I persevered by encouraging and forcing some people to participate. We had several musical solos (Blake on the piano, Grady on the guitar, Kamrie on the violin), vocal solos (Ryan, Kendyll, Kamrie, Ethan, and Nolan all had one or two numbers), two cheers (led by Darian), a humorous ballet exerpt (by yours truly and the not-shy husband of mine), and a comedy routine of sorts (Bryan and Bryson). It was such a good time that my family might actually allow me to announce another one in a year or two! Thanks, everyone, for being good sports! And just in case some of you are wondering: yes, Justin made his dramatic entrance in little bike shorts. At the end of our show some of the younger kids kept asking him: "Were you dancing in your underwear?" Seriously honey, it was awesome!

After opening new pajamas, reading the Christmas story in Luke II, setting out Santa's cookies, and a bedtime story from Aunt Keeley, the kids were eager to get to bed with the rule that they not wake until 6 a.m. It had been a magical day!