Christmas Eves

We started Christmas Eves off with our annual Breakfast and bowling.  We did however change it up for a different location instead of kneaders.  We tried Bishops cafe and it did not disappoint. The food was great with the price being even better.  We did call in ahead of time to see if they could accommodate 30 people.  We did have to wait a little bit, but they were fast and we got our food fast.   The company of course was the best part.  My brother Matt was able to make it for Christmas eve and a little bit of Christmas day.  After breakfast we headed over to Fiesta Fun to do our bowling.  We were the first in line and got 5 lanes to bowl on.  Some people had great games, some surprised us and had great games when they usually don't and then there were people like me who thought they would do okay and just couldn't do anything.  lol.  We all had fun though and I think Preston won on our lane with dean not to close behind.  me and Chloe rounded out last place.  After breakfast we ended up with tynlee and laike at our house so the kids played while we cooked and got some things done for the night at grandma's.  We ended up over there around 5:00.  We had yummy smoked brisket and chicken with funeral potatoes, beans, coleslaw and rolls.  Stephanie every year out does herself and had a wonderful Christmas Eves games.  She did a version of the Amazing Race.  We did roadblocks, and detours.  The teams were divided up and we all took to the battle field.  One of the detours we had to knock a ball using a tennis ball hanging from our hips do the other end of the room, we had to drink drinks and guess what they were, we had to put puzzles together in the dark, draw pictures on top of our head and so much more.  The kids all love this tradition the most and I  don't think they realize how much time, energy and money goes into this every year.  I  don't think any of us do really because stephanie does it all by herself.  We love her for it and always leave with great memories.  After the games we did the white elephant gift.  Man we had so much stealing this time around it was a lot of fun.  I  ended up stealing Landon's first gift because he was so mad he got a cleaning scrubber brush.  I  think he ended up with some putty, a stress smoosh ball and some treats.  Honestly I  think we ended up with most of the stuff I  had donated back to our house lol.  We then headed upstairs and did a little spiritual part with my mom and dad they did a video where they honored all the people we have lost over the years include in laws parents and grandparents.  I  think we all teared up a little and enjoyed the message of all our savior can do for us and that he is the reason we will be able to see all our loved ones again someday.  We then picked up and headed our separate ways.  We have a tradition in our house to do our secret santa exchange.  Our kids all draw a name out of a bowl and that is the sibling they have to shop for this holiday season.  They have a limit of about 25$ but some may have went over a little bit this year.  Addison had Preston.  Preston had Landon.  Shaylee had Brecken, and Landon had Shaylee, and Brecken had Addison.  They all did a great job finding things the others would like. After that we all got ready for bead and the boys slept up in Addison's room so santa could come tonight.