Christmas Eve 2013

2013 was the Year of the Tick

 Why?  Well, a stinkin' tick was responsible for Lexi having her emergency surgery, during an already super stressful move!  Thankfully, with LOTS of help from family, we made it through the hospital stay and the move!

 Because the Lyme-carrying tick caused much stress (and cost us $10,000 in medical bills), Jared had the idea that it would be fun to make it our pinata!  I was all for it; I loved the idea!  The above kids helped a ton with the making of it!  Addie and Lexi helped with two layers of the paper mache and painted and glittered the main part of the pinata, and Jed painted and glittered the paper that became the ticks face and torso.  Thanks, kids!!!

 The best part of Christmas Eve hands down was getting to have my parents come in town for the holidays.  We made our traditional shrimp and clam chowder meal.  It was so yummy!

  After eating the delicious meal, we went out to the garage and had all the kids take turns trying to break the pinata that Lexi named Bob;o)

Emmy wasn't sure what to do at first, but by her second turn she was a "YAH"ing pro!!!

 This was right up Jed's alley; he finally got to hit something without getting in trouble for it (his sister's are usually his preferred targets, otherwise, and they tattle on him)!

Lexi had to be patient with Emmy during her turn, since Em is still young enough that she does not comprehend that walking in front of someone who is about to swing a bat is a pretty dumb idea;o)

 In the end, Addie was the one to break it, to make the kids' candy bags fall out, along with the first clue to our annual pajama hunt.

The kids kept following more and more clues to discover the final hiding place of their Christmas jammies.

 Ha ha ha... Grandpa Palmer and Lexi and half of Addie, please don't hate me for posting this picture, but Jed's concerned look is classically hilarious when you take into account the not-so-glamorous faces that were being pulled all around him at that moment...teehee hee hee!

 The hunt was had and the pajamas were found!

 They were enjoyed by all, but...

Jed was the most enthused (and continues to be) about his fireman pajamas.  I think he would wear them all the time if I let him; he just asked me this morning if they were washed yet (he wore them 2 nights ago).   Looks like I better wash them fast, since he gets so happy and thanks me sincerely when I have them ready and it melts my heart!

 Em's were pretty styling, as well.  No, the sunglasses did not come with them.  They were a mere decoy to try to keep Emmy from breaking Grandma's real glasses.

 We hope everyone's Christmas Eve was as great as ours!  And it was REALLY GREAT!!!