We hosted our neighbors (who don't have any grandchildren that live close) for dinner and a short program. We started the night with cookie decorating for Santa. An inexpensive gingerbread kit from Wal-mart makes the process relatively painless (except the sprinkles that inevitably end up everywhere!)
We ate dinner, in which I cooked my first ham. I followed this crockpot recipe and it was amazing - even better was the leftovers we enjoyed the next couple days.
We read and acted out the nativity story using the costumes my mom made for me several years ago. We usually do this as just our little family so it was nice having a couple more people to dress up and play a few more roles.
The kids opened up their Christmas pajamas (with only one child being disappointed that they weren't star wars themed) and we went out and enjoyed the neighborhood Christmas lights and luminaries.
While we were enjoying a hayride through the neighborhood, our neighbors went back to their house and prepped a fire, hot chocolate sparklers and Chinese lanterns for us. I'm pretty sure Cannon got more hot chocolate down the front of him than he did in his mouth and the lanterns were a hit.
Once the kids officially smelled of campfire and their sugar levels were through the roof - it was time to head home, read Twas' the night before Christmas, wish them sweet dreams and tuck them into bed.
They were exhausted and in no time all four children were dreaming of Christmas morning.
Steve and I had prepped/wrapped everything early; we enjoyed a Christmas movie before slipping into bed ourselves.
I wish I could live and relive Christmas Eve over and over again; it was a good day and our kids are at such fun stages to enjoy all that comes with it.
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