Christmas Eve

We spend Christmas Eve with my dad's side of the family.  Each year we rotate who will host, and this year it was at my Aunt Tish's house.  The girls call her Aunt Tushy...hehe.  We started the night with the 5:30 service at Church and then we went to my Aunt's for dinner and drinks.  We don't do gifts anymore because we are too old and there are too many little ones.  We ate and chatted and then went over to my parents house to open gifts.  Christmas Eve has always been my favorite day of the year since I was a little kid...I love the traditions that we have set and I hope to continue them on with my girls. 

 Christmas Eve Morning

 Practicing with her new bow and arrow

 They get to open one gift on Christmas Eve

 Dressed up for Christmas Eve Service

 Presley and Avery at Aunt Tushy's

 Cousins

 Maddie and Lily waiting patiently to open presents at GaGa and PaPa's

 The stockings were hung...

 Girl Paces side cousins...where is Bubba?

 Lily and her new apron...she didn't know yet that she was getting an Easy Bake Oven

 Avery Gracie and Lambie

 Movie buckets from GaGa

 My little Doc

 This is when it starting getting CRAZY...potty mouths and potty in their pants!

 Sound asleep waiting for Santa to come...

 Stocking Stuffers

Santa made it!

Christmas on the Farm

We spent just one night in Newcastle at Christmas time, but we made the most of it and the girls had a ton of fun.  We traveled to Sioux City on a Saturday morning to watch our nephew, Nathan, play basketball.  He is quite the athlete, and super tall like his dad and uncles!  The girls had fun playing with their other cousins at the game (Rachel, Mitchell, Miles, and Evan).

 

After the game, we drove to Newcastle and headed directly to the Fire Hall to see Santa.  The girls enjoyed some donuts while mom and dad sipped on a hot cup of coffee.  Grandma and Grandpa were there and the girls played with their cousins...Miles, Jules, Jarrett, Jensen, Rachel, Sara, and Mitchell.  The kids all got to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what they wanted for Christmas.  There is a drawing after all the kids get their visit in with Santa, and all of the kiddos won a prize!  Sabina and I also won a prize...$5 to any Newcastle business...woo hoo...I'll take it!

 

The best part of the Fire Hall gathering was the sleigh ride.  Lily jumped at the chance to ride the "sleigh" with the horses, and she went without mom and dad.  I waited until the next ride and took Avery on it.  It was cooooolllllddddd, but we snuggled and stayed warm.  Little Avers was a trooper and sang Christmas Carols with the gang.

 

After the Fire Hall, we went back to the house and got Christmas dinner ready and enjoyed some adult beverages and snacks.  There was a new Kneifl addition at Christmas this year...Baby Jenna...what a doll!  The kids couldn't wait to open up presents, and they loved all of their gifts.  We are blessed to have our family near to spend the holidays with!

 

 Baby Jenna (Randy and Jeanne's youngest daughter)

 Avery opening up Hallie from Doc McStuffins

 The sleigh ride

 My little cheeser!

 

 The Grinch and mommy

 Sara, Jessie, Lily, Aunt Jeanne and Jarrett