After breakfast, we got to open presents. Brandt got a cool drone from Ava and a new Star Wars Lego set (Rey's speeder) from Grandma Sue, while Blythe got a fancy coloring book from Griffin and a charm necklace from Grandma Sue. I presented everyone with the DeMartini photo album that Mikayla helped me put together. I just love the photo book! We opened presents from youngest grandchild to oldest, Cora to Blake, and the younger ones had a hard time waiting for littles to actually get into their presents. Cora was must more interested in eating the wrapping paper than actually seeing what was inside. There were lots of cousins willing to help speed the process up.
After the opening, the kids played and the adults chatted, and we didn't leave until after 1:00pm. It was marvelous to be together. We did miss Bryan, Missy, and their kids and hope they can swing it to be with us next year.
Kent missed the "wear red" memo.
He certainly stands out from the rest of us.
We came home and got ready for our next family activity. Last year we met with all the Barri in Sandy at the Institute building. Dave teaches there, so he was able to reserve the building. We did that again as it gives us lots of room, a kitchen to prepare food in, and a variety of fun activities. We met, had dinner, a white elephant gift exchange, a nativity presentation, and dessert.
Dinner was tasty. The gift exchange was especially hilarious this year. On offer was a coconut purse (Blythe brought that home), a VHS entitled "Why kids smoke," a baggie with batteries and a note that said, "Gift not included," two loaves of fruit cake, and a miniature zebra head trophy. I scored the best gift--a package of mini flashlights, two head lamps, and batteries. The nativity was ridiculous. We didn't have enough willing participants; there were few small children and the teens were not inclined to don costumes. As a result, there were a number of adults who took roles, and several of them couldn't be serious. Brandt was a wise man, Blythe was an angel (she was going to be Mary, but at the last moment decided the angel costume was much more interesting and she switched), and I was a sheep without a shepherd. I'm confident is was the one of the least spiritual nativities I've ever seen.
Joseph, who looks like a thug, and Mary.
I have no idea what Seth is doing with his arms.
Innkeeper offering his stable.
Shepherd-less sheep coming to see baby Jesus.
I'm baaing.
That's why my mouth is open.
Wise men Jonathan, Ethan, and Brandt
Worshiping the Christ child.
Our neighbor, Jennifer Hainsworth, suggested several weeks ago that we line our neighborhood sidewalks with luminaires (candles in small white paper bags) on Christmas Eve. We were to light our candles at 5:30pm and let them burn as long as possible. We lined our sidewalk, but we left shortly after 4:00pm so we asked our across the street neighbor to light ours for us. I was disappointed that we were going to miss them as we wouldn't be home until later, but we didn't miss them at all. When we pulled into the subdivision at 9:00pm, all the luminaires were still it. It was dark and had begun to snow, all the lights were still shining, on both sides of the street up and down, and it created a magical feeling in the neighborhood. I loved it and will encourage it to become an annual tradition.
I had wrapped presents last night and early this morning before anyone was really up, so after getting home and getting the kids into bed (always a difficulty on Christmas Eve), Kent and I did last minute preparations. We got home just after 9:00pm, and I had thought both kids were asleep, when at 10:20 Brandt appeared in the kitchen. "I can't get to sleep," he said. Kent went up with him--again--and snuggled with him until he was well and truly asleep. Such excitement! Brandt has arrived at the age where Christmas brings serious anticipation and thrill, and all that emotion leads to agitation that makes it hard to be calm. Today was certainly a flurry of Christmas activity and I can understand why Brandt and Blythe, to a lesser degree, were all aflutter.
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