December 24, 2024-Happy Christmas Eve

(click for today's pictures)

• Before I get very far in the blog, let me revisit this smoke machine the little boy got. It takes about 3 minutes of the machine being on to cause havoc in this house-smoke alarms go off and doors have to be open. Currently, Whitman is smoking in the school room, and the window in there is open. However, if the neighbors look out their window they will think that our house is on fire because smoke is pouring out the windows. Hopefully, we will have a few warm days when he can sit outside and use his smoke machine all evening long.
• I fried sausage this morning and tried to get a few things ready for tomorrow's food early this morning. Before too long, it was time to wake up Whitman, Reagan, and Keaton. They were the only ones who wanted to go to the movies with us this morning. 
• We fought the rain, but made it to the theater in time to see almost all of the previews. Then we watched Wicked-it was pretty long, but I only think that I slept for a few minutes. I'm not the greatest movie watcher, but it was interesting. I have even thought about reading the book so I could understand it all better.
• We stopped at ChickFilA and the library on the way home. We were home for about an hour and a half, but Robby made snickerdoodle cookies while I made corn casserole.
• Then we loaded up and headed to the Christmas Eve service at church. This was the first year that we were in the remodeled sanctuary with chairs, so we left the house almost an hour early so we could get seats. We were able to all sit together during the service which was a treat. 
• It was a fun service with the kids on the stage (though we don't have any kids any longer), the candles during Silent Night, and when it was over, it snowed in the entry way. It was pretty fun seeing all the kids playing in the snow. We did make time for a family picture before heading to Nonna and Pops' house.
• Nonna had all of the food ready, and before too long we were all enjoying Christmas Eve supper. My favorite was Nonna's chocolate pie. After eating, we took a kid picture with Nonna and Pops. As soon as we had finished that picture, the kids were tearing their clothes off to put on more comfy clothes. Whitman and Reagan were the only ones who did not change. 
• Next up were presents-I think that most everyone opened a few things that they wanted-actually, everything they opened the wanted because they told me what to buy for them. It was a pretty good Christmas with lots of gifts to open for everyone. 
• I had asked the kids earlier in the week if we needed to make reindeer food, but whoever I asked was adamant that we do make it. So I had a few things out at Nonna's house for them to make a little food even though it was raining. 
• At home, we threw our reindeer food and took the kids Christmas picture. We pulled Santa one last time, and then the kids went to bed and I was able to do my Christmas work.....not really, we pulled Santa and no one had any intentions of going to bed. I'm wondering if I should take a nap now or just starting pulling gifts out and ban anyone from coming into the living room.