Getting Ready for Christmas

We have had a week full of fun here in Arizona getting ready for Christmas. We celebrated Blake's birthday, which is definitely a part of preparing for Christmas.
We decorated gingerbread houses. (Don't you love Jack's "gingerbread house?" This boy was in candy heaven!)
We opened up an early present and spent some quality time trying it out.
We spent a lot of time playing with cousins.
And A LOT of time resting. (One day we found Max laying under the piano just staring at the Christmas tree. I don't think he ever fell asleep, but he was laying there for a good 45 minutes.)
And all of this happened before Christmas Eve. On Christmas Eve we started the festivities with some Mi Amigos food and then the party really started. First was a story about Santa's bag by Nanny. Max loved it and was so anxious to help put the different colored bag on the flannel board.Instead of the Santa story, Jack opted for a less traditional story from Ashley--Dumbo.
Then was the talent show. The three oldest grandkids all took turns playing the piano and after that there was an array of talents from cartwheels to donkey kicks. Max chose to play a very beautiful number on the piano, like the big kids, and Jack chose to play a duet.
Next on the program was the family band.
And then the reading of Luke 2 portrayed by this lovely group of actors.
Max took his role as a shepherd very seriously. And I think at this point Jack was in sneaking candy from the kitchen.
Afterwards everyone loaded up on the trailer to drive around the neighborhood and look at the luminaries and lights.
The entire night was absolutely perfect. Nanny did such a good job--it makes me really nervous to be in charge of Christmas. Or maybe we'll always go somewhere else so I never have to.
And to all--a good night.