texas christmas - days 9-10

The Hubers arrived at Laura's house just before we did on Monday evening (Christmas Adam - the day before Christmas Eve - as Scott's family calls it).  Tuesday morning Scott, George, the Huber children, and I went to see Frozen, which was so good!  Jed stayed back with Laura, Leslie, Don, and Carol - who were busy cooking.  We ate a wonderful Christmas Eve dinner, shortly after which Matt and Cassy's family arrived.  We attended the Christmas Eve service at Laura and Dave's church in Lakeway, followed by carols and scriptures at home.  The kids stayed up way past their bedtime giggling and talking, of course!

Christmas morning the kids were told not to come downstairs before 7am or without their parents.  Jed decided to wake up at 4, crying to play with his cousins, and while we got him to quiet down for a while, he was awake and ready to get out of his crib by 5 something.  When everyone else was finally awake and ready for the morning, we took a picture of the kiddos on the stairs before we let them loose on their stockings!

What a good-looking bunch!

Present-opening took a while, of course, as there were 18 of us and we take turns opening presents one at a time.  By the time we were done, Laura's living room looked as though a tornado had passed through - though we were careful to clean up the gift bags, tissue paper, and wrapping paper as we went along, 18 people and their presents fill up a room quickly.

We spent most of the rest of the day hanging out, playing with our new stuff, and eating leftovers.  I can't think of a better way to spend Christmas!  In the afternoon those who were interested went to Mt. Bonnell (an overlook reached by a long set of stairs), and that evening we piled into the cars and drove to Wimbereley to see the Christmas lights.  I rode with Laura and Dave, in the backseat between Sarah Ann and Penelope.  On the way to the lights (a 45-min drive) we sang Christmas songs at the top of our lungs and laughed when we didn't know all the words.  On the way back, the 2 little girls were so exhausted they were out of their minds with silliness.  But at least they were having fun!