Christmas Eve 2008

Christmas Eve is easily becoming one of our family's favorite traditions. Usually, we prepare a couple of soups, like chicken noodle, broccoli cheddar and this year Hollie treated us with a White Bean Chili, which was a huge hit. I made 6 loaves of half whole wheat and half white flour bread and then we invite some friends over. This year was our second year we have spent Christmas Eve with the Marostica's (some good friends from church.) The Marostica's moved to Parker about the same time we did. Isabel and Mallory Marostica were in the same kindergarten class and they have been best friends ever since. We love the Marostica's. This is also the second year that we have spent Christmas Eve with the Selle's. They had a change in plans for Christmas Eve, so we said, "Come on over!"

We also had a special treat this year because not only did we have Hollie, Ryan, and Megan for Christmas Eve, but also Ryan's parents, Ryan's brother Brandon and Brandon's cute wife Paula join us. Paula is going to be my new friend on Facebook, huh Paula? Because we are tight like that now.

Here are a few pics from Christmas Eve. We started off with a little mingling.




This is Isabel, Mallory and Kelcy.

Tyler, Drew and Dan hanging out by the food. That is were I like to hang out.

Then we made everyone sit in the living room/dinning room area to get ready for the Christmas Eve Spectacular. I just made that up, but I think I am going to use that title every year now. < Megan (green sweater), Terry, Brandon, Paula, Marsha and Mckenzie.>

Alex, Sam, Tyler and Stacey waiting for the show to begin.

Drew, Stephanie and Dan looking very cute and excited for the show.

Mallory, Isabel, Kelcy and Maren are ready.

The night started with Lucy playing, "Silent Night" on the piano. We have had this piano for about three weeks before this and we are very proud of Lucy for playing that in front of so many people. If you know Lucy, then you know she is very shy, so this was a huge deal for her.

Isabel played "Drummer Boy" on her violin.

Then Kelcy played "We Wish You a Merry Christmas"

Then Isabel and Kelcy played, "Deck The Halls". After that, Mallory played "Jingle Bells" on her guitar. I am so sad that I don't have a picture of that.

Then we gave everyone their parts for our re-creation of the Nativity. Hollie and Ryan played Mary and Joseph.

This year, we included the part of Samuel the Laminate proclaiming to the Nephites that Christ was to be born.

But, they didn't want to listen and threw rocks and stones at her (in the form of tin foil balls). It was awesome. I wish I had a video camera. About twenty balls went up in a cloud and just clobbered pour Isabel...uh..Samuel.

After that, we flashed forward to Mary and Joseph. Hollie was great with child.

Maren was our cute little angel.
Sam was the Shepard and...
Jack was a chicken, John and Lucy were cows and Mckenzie was a cat....there totally could have been a cat in the stable.

The Marostica boys were the wise men and they were very Wise.

Drew looked dashing in his polk-a-dotted robe.

Terry Traylor was King Herod.
Then, of course, Alex was the wisest Wise Man.

We ended the night with Dan singing "What Child is This?" with his Guitar. It was awesome! We didn't know he had this hidden talent and now he is in trouble.

We had a great night with great people. I think I love Christmas Eve the best because that is when we take time out to remember the birth of our savior and just be around the people we love. Thank you to all of you that came and made Christmas Eve so special.