Christmas Eve

 We woke this morning to snow gently falling outside. A blanket of white, fluffy snow had covered the trees and ground over night turning everything into a wonderland. We watched it fall all morning cozied up in blankets and surrounded by family. As I finished up some last minute wrapping I finally started to feel a bit of the Christmas spirit. There is something about wrapping, Christmas lights, and snow flakes swirling to the ground that makes me excited! 

Mr. Stannix spent the afternoon in the kitchen making up a batch of Grampy's tacos for our traditional Christmas eve dinner. We did up two double batches (over 50 little tacos) and ate the majority of them. It's a fun process, especially when everyone gets a chance to flip them in the air.

The evening brought chocolate making! My mom used to make these at the beginning of December and store them in the freezer. All month my siblings and I would sneak a few whenever we'd walk past the hiding place. We've all grown to love the taste of them frozen!

The kids rolled the fondant into balls and then we cooled and tempered the chocolate for dipping.

Everyone helped dip, and even though they aren't the prettiest, they are delicious!

Uncle Arland took care of this kid while we all got our fingers messy dipping!

Once we finished we went out to the pool room to enjoy the decorations and conversations. Soon after the children began playing we heard a bell ringing in the distance and jolly old Saint Nick himself arrived at the door!

The children were thrilled! They rang his bell and he called everyone by name to sit on his knee and open their Christmas eve present. 

Hyrum wore his shy little smirk and talked to Santa about his year.

Camilla was over the moon!

Finners was a bit worried at first. It was pretty cute watching him!

I got to sit on his knee last for a quick picture. I was pretty sure I had seen this guy somewhere before!

After we said good-bye to our favorite guy we put on our new Christmas jammies.

 With two talented photographers around I put away my camera and tried to stay out of the way! Thanks again for the pictures ladies!

 I love these goofy kiddos of mine!

Not long after they put on their jammies they ran downstairs and tucked themselves excitedly into bed so that Santa could come and fill their stockings. We kissed them each good-night and then played "things in a box" with the adults.