Christmas Countdown CHRISTMAS day!!

Day 25 is Christmas!

Unfortunately Kale caught a tummy bug and was puking from 10pm until about 4:30am Christmas eve / Christmas morn. He slept until 10am while Dane patiently waited for him to open presents. He was pretty peppy when he came down and I'm sure that Christmas helped to distract him. Thankfully we're a week past and none of the rest of us got it. Our friends that were here on eve eve weren't so lucky - 3 of the 4 got it. 

Christmas Countdown day 24

On day 24, we got a special note from Santa that said we could hold & touch our elf for just the day. The boys loved being able to play with Gooey Shoe who is normally off limits per the rules from Santa. In the afternoon, we headed to Grandma & Grandpa Hatten's for dinner.

 Window cling fun at Grandma & Grandpa's:

 Grandpa photo bomb!!

Christmas Countdown day 23

For 7 years, we've hosted our annual Eve of eve party. The countdown fun for the 23rd was our party - 16 adults, 15 kids and a new puppy! It was so warm out that we had a bonfire outside and most weren't wearing coats.

Christmas Countdown Day 22

On day 22, Cameron took the boys to see Star Wars, episode 7: the Force Awakens.

Little did we know that it was PG13 and both boys left during the first 15 minutes because it was very loud and scary. Whoops! Dane actually left after the previews and I've heard from other parents that the previews were the scariest part! So...they tried but I went to pick them up and Cameron got to enjoy the movie with our friend Steve & his kids.

Christmas Countdown day 21

On day 21, we read all of our Christmas books!

Christmas Countdown day 20

On day 20, they boys camped out under the Christmas tree!

Christmas Countdown Day 19

On day 19, Cameron & I had dinner plans with friends. The boys got to watch the "Polar Express" with our sitter who they haven't seen since last summer because she's a college girl now! This movie is actually one of my Christmas faves so I was kind of sad not to be curled up on the couch with my boys!

Christmas Countdown day 18

On day 18, the boys put together their "corkers".  My plan was originally to make the wine cork reindeer like we did last year, but I ran across these "corkers" and that seemed like a fun thing to do!

Working hard on his airplane:

 Working hard on his dog:

 Finished products:

Countdown Day 17

On day 17, Cameron & I each had a "date night" with the boys. Cameron & Kale went Christmas shopping and Dane & I volunteered at Feed My Starving Children with friends.

Countdown Day 16

Today we put together our magic tree. 

First you decorate it.

 Then you pour "magic" water on it and it looks like this after....

 Ours definitely didn't fill in like they showed in the picture, but it did get some snowy / piney growth.

Christmas Countdown day 15

On day 15, the boys each got a letter from Santa.

Christmas Countdown day 14

CANDY CANE SCAVENGER HUNT!!!

 Shirtless and showing off their loot...

Christmas Countdown Day 13

Grandma Teresa has an annual tradition with the boys of making Christmas cookies and decorating a bird tree. She did it with her Grandma and has continued it with our kiddos. So day 13 was the day to make, bake and decorate!

Christmas Countdown Day 12

On day 12, we got to have more countdown fun with our cousins in Indiana!

We made our very own bouncy balls!

Christmas Countdown Day 11

On Friday, we packed up and travelled to Indiana for Brinley & Berlin's 2nd birthday so our countdown fun included our cousins! On day 11, we ate Grinch jello and watched the Grinch that Stole Christmas cartoon (the real version scares Dane & I think it's creepy too).