Christmas Eve

For Christmas Eve Eve (Sunday) we went to Bartlesville to have "Christmas Eve" with the Burkinshaw's. The most memorable part of the evening was one of the gifts we gave my dad. Every year on Christmas Eve for as long as I can remember my dad has read a story to us, "The Little Star that Lost his Way the Night Christ was Born". It was just a story printed on a piece of paper that I think he got from his mother. Anyways, this year my brother John and sister-in-law Emily found a copy of the book online. None of us had any idea that it was a book and they found an original copy that was printed in 1948 (I think...it was 1940 something) and ordered it. My dad cries every year when he reads the story, and this year he was teary before he even started. I just have to say thank you to John and Emily again for finding the book, you guys are awesome! After the annual reading of the story my dad usually gives out little flashlights to remind us to be like the Little Star and share our "light".

Emily, Jenny, Chelsea, and Sarah waiting for the party to start

Mom and Dad before presents

Looking at the Little Star book...notice they are both a little teary

John playing with his flashlight

Uncle Paul lighting up Sabrina

After the story Grace started playing with the styrofoam packaging that the nativity set that we gave my mom came in. Aunt Sarah and Uncle Paul eventually helped her and the result was a huge mess that was difficult to clean. But Grace had so much fun doing it that we almost didn't mind cleaning it up...almost.

Just getting started...

It's snowing...styrofoam!

She was completely covered and starting to gag when we finally put a stop to the madness.