::still still still::

Sleep, Sleep, Sleep.

'Tis the eve of our Saviour's birth.

The night is peaceful all around you,

Close your eyes

Let sleep surround you.

Sleep, Sleep, Sleep,

'Tis the eve of our Saviour's birth.

                                                                                                   ~"Still, Still, Still" Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Everyone's in bed.  Everything's quiet.  

We're thankful for our Saviour and 

this special time of year:  family, love, charity, peace, hope.

Merry Christmas.

::the rest of our christmas eve::

Merry Christmas Eve!!

We came home pretty quickly after the Halling party (and it was still snowing) to open our family gifts. Jammies, of course, some fun things from Papa, and some fun things from Gramma Ruby.

Bubb was excited about his monster truck jammies...

Port's happy with his Mario jams...

Chloe loves the purple and pink polkas...

Mae-Mae got some pink princessy ones, but I didn't get a photo of her in them.  She was a little busy opening my present from Papa...

Bubb thinks Papa's hat is weird...

And Portie thought he should give it a try...

And here's all of us in our jammies!  

(I love this photo.  Papa's in it.  I love that he came for Christmas.  We were all so excited to have him.  We're so happy he could be with us.  I hope he had fun too.)

Papa read them Twas the Night Before Christmas this year, and it was all kinds of goofy.  He made up his own words for the story and it was just goofy!  The kids laughed and rolled back on the bed (they all slept together in Port's room) and thought he was just the funniest thing in the world.

Now cookies and carrots out, milk in the fridge, a note for Santa, Santa key on the door, and off to bed!!

::Halling party::

On Christmas eve, we always exchange gifts with Matt's family and go to the Halling party (Matt's mom's side of the fam).  This year was no different.  We exchange names, do some shopping, and finally get together on Christmas eve to give gifts :]

First, I want to make note of the weather.  This is a picture of the canyon (Sardine Canyon) just before the Mantua exit.  It was AWFUL!  Thank goodness for AWD!!  And thank goodness I didn't have to drive in it! :]  Needless to say, we were in for a white Christmas!

We have a new member this year, Baby Harper (Keely's-Matt's niece- baby.  Isn't she so cute??)  One of us drew her name!  We got her a wipee warmer for her teeny little bummy.

Here are all the grandkids-minus Keely, and plus one great-grandchild.  Wow, that's weird.

Chloe passed out the presents...

Bubb didn't waste any time.  He was kind of excited.

Then we went to the big party at the church (just down the street).  We're such a big group, so we go there.  

Papa Guitar came!!  He's here for Christmas (actual Christmas!!), so he came to the big family party!

We have a big dinner and listen to some Christmas carols on Steve's guitar.  The little kids dance.  We told Chloe she started that whole thing (the dancing).  She was like "whaaa???"  She didn't remember any of that.  We have video proof of it thoiugh!  She was the dance-at-the-Christmas-party-trendsetter!  Great job, girl!!

...And she wasn't too much older than that...

All the great and great, great grandkids got some gloves/mittens from the aunts for Christmas.  Fun, huh?

Then, the sister gifts, of course.