Christmas Eve 2021

This year, Christmas Eve (a Friday) was a really casual day.  The weather was unseasonably balmy -- no White Christmas this year -- so the kids spent some time outside playing and then more time inside completing a puzzle that one of our neighbors gave to us.  They finished it just in time.  

Sophia and I spent lots of time in the kitchen, prepping for the next day and then after dinner, the kids put on their coats to go outside and sprinkle their "Reindeer Food" out on the front lawn.

Lots of powdered sugar and sprinkles:

Most of the fun comes from throwing the food up into the dark night and letting it fall:

Afterwards, we laughed so hard because the kids' coats and shoes were covered with oatmeal, powdered sugar and sprinkles.  So many sprinkles ...

I'm already considering that I am going to make Samantha come home every year just for this -- even when she is in college!

After everyone came back inside the kids immediately asked to open their Christmas Eve gifts from Steve and me.  By now, they already know that the boxes contain new pajamas but they are just as excited to see what I have picked out for them.

All showered and in their brand-new pajamas:

Then, we set the kids up for a movie (Home Alone!!!) while Steve and I went next door to the neighbor's house for a glass of "holiday cheer."  We arrived back home just as the movie was finishing and the kids were ready for bed ...