12/24

Our Christmas Eve tradition is to spend it at Grandma Farley's with the Sharples.  Don't know why it's always been just our families.  I think because the other siblings always had other in-law plans.  But our tradition continues anyway ...

This year, we had a nativity re-enactment, with a reluctant teenage Joseph and a shy (but secretly thrilled) Mary.

Stellar acting performance by the donkey....

Emmy was our shepherd/wiseman/whatever other character was needed in the story.  Haley is a cow, for some reason.  Guess the shepherd was herding cows that night.

Mary and the only baby we could find in the toy room.  Furry baby.

Back at home, the kids put on their Christmas jammies and set up the huge fort in the basement.

Elle put out 9 reindeer bowls with carrots,

.... and a large quantity of cookies for Santa.  She also asked for his autograph.

Then everyone disappeared down to the basement.  The rule is that they can't come upstairs until 7am, which thankfully they all obey.  No peekers this year.