Our very merry Christmas eve

We had a wonderful, fun Christmas with our families this year!   It started with my parents coming to Houston Friday morning.  We spent the day playing, being silly with Riley, and then that night we all loaded into Clay's car (the last time we will all fit...yay new baby on the way!), stopped at Starbucks to get our coffees and apple ciders, then off we went to see the Christmas lights.  Riley LOVED the lights this year.  She was so cute and before we even got out of the neighborhood she was pointing to each house.  She especially loved the "codorful" lights!  

**Oh and I don't want to forget this... I had 2 Christmas CD's in my car and had been playing them for a few weeks or so.  Riley loved 2 songs in particular and insisted on hearing them over and over and over.  The first time she heard Felix Navidad I, like my true 5 year old inner self, sang the words "fleas on my dog."  Well from then on Riley was hooked on this song and requested the "dog" song each time we got into the car and as soon as it was over she was adamant that she hear it again.  I picked my battles and heard the "dog" song probably no less than 200 times this Christmas. :) Also both CD's also had Jingle Bell Rock on them, only one was sung by a male and one a female.  The only other song she wanted to hear beside the "dog" song was the "daddy jingle bell" song!  Ha, she is very specific in her song selection.

Christmas eve was spent relaxing, baking cookies, worshiping our sweet Savior's birth and opening gifts.

Everyone got in on the cookie decorating action!


** Another side story.  Notice in the picture above my mom's bandaged hand.  Well, my sister and mom had just returned from a fun week long trip to New York city and Boston but unfortunately on the first night at the hotel room, while looking out of their hotel window, my mom got her fingers completely smashed.  Freak accident.  Which ended with a crew prying the window apart, er trip, a broken knuckle, stiches, and a large bandage for most of their trip.  Mom was a complete trooper though and did not let that stop them from having an awesome time!! And praise, there will be no permanent damage to her hand once it completely heals. 






Our growing family at the Christmas Eve candlelight service.  Thankful for the iphone camera.


Riley did so good opening gifts, she would receive a gift and be so patient and sweet while watching others unwrap their gifts.  She loved every minute of this! :)





Clay and Riley are always building "bear caves" out of blankets around the house.  Well thanks to aunt Kristi, they now have a personalized bear cave kit.  She found this cute set up at the Nutcracker market.  It comes with its own bear, binoculars, a canvas tent type thing to drape, and clamps to hold the canvas up.  So cute and Riley loves it!!





Riley's new tricycle from Nana and Papa was a huge hit; she hopped right on and went for a spin.

I was slightly worried with all the excitement that Riley would not sleep well, but sweet thing was exhausted and didn't really make a peep until 8am Christmas morning.

Christmas day post to come...