An Early Delivery & Christmas Eve

**I have a zillion Disney pictures to edit & post,

so check back in January for a full report on our amazing trip!**

While we were in Disney, we hired someone to put together an early present from Santa....a trampoline! We thought the kids would notice it when we arrived home on the 22nd (you can see into the backyard from the carport), but no such luck. Nate noticed the surprise early the next morning though....and of course we had to go jump on it right away!!

 The kids were super surprised and asked when the neighbors could come over and join them. Sure enough, that afternoon, this was my view out the kitchen window :)

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Then, on Christmas Eve, we made cookies for Santa. My poor deprived kids, I don't usually let them make messes....but they know that this process is a messy one. Abby kept calling the flour "powder" and Nate was a champ with the rolling pin. So fun!

 That night, my Angel & Shepherd did great at Children's Mass! (They don't have any speaking parts, but enjoy taking part in the Christmas play each year.)

 One of Nate's good friends was Joseph this year, so Nate asked if he could play the part of Joseph next year. I said he probably could; we'd have to ask the director. Then he asked if Abby could be Mary! Um, no....that'd be a little weird...

 Love this tradition that my mom started waaaaaay back in the day.....a Christmas Eve pizza picnic by the tree! (Usually, we have a fire going too, but it was 75 degrees. Ugh!)

 Then we put out cookies & milk for Santa, plus a carrot for Rudolph. The kids' letter reads:

"Dear Santa,

Thank you for the trampoline. I hope you enjoy the cookies.

Don't worry, the milk's not expired."

#truestory

 Daddy always reads our Christmas Eve book in his Santa cap.....though we all know who the real Santa is in this house :)

 My kids love a Christmas Eve sleepover!!!!