MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE

We had a good, relaxing, fun Christmas Eve. First, we got up in the morning and did nothing.....well, Jeff and the kids went and got me a Christmas present, but after that we just hung around the house -- both inside and out -- until it was time to go to church.

We went to a 2 o'clock church service. The kids are dressed up and ready to go.....(oh, and everyone that knows me knows that I don't normally dress the girls alike, but in this case our neighbor girls had these matching dresses that they loaned the girls to look "fancy" for their visit to Santa so they decided they should wear them to church also!)

After church we headed to the beach. We only spent about 45 minutes playing, but it was a beautiful day and a lot of fun out there.....

After the beach we went out for Chinese food.....

After dinner we drove around and looked at Christmas lights and then headed back home to get ready for Santa's visit. The kids got to open one present before bed.....

.....they got new pj's! Grandma Lynne sent them and she even made Rena & Maleah's and made matching ones for their baby dolls.....

We ended the night with "The night before Christmas".....

.....and we set out the goodies for Santa and his reindeer. This year we even made him chocolate milk.....

After the kids went to bed Jeff & I got everything set-up for the morning and then sat down and watched It's A Wonderful Life (my favorite show). Despite the fact that I cried a bit during church because I was missing the rest of my family, it was a Merry Christmas Eve!