Since Anna and Wyatt both have birthdays in December, and since they don't spend Christmas Eve with all of us, we always try to plan a night where my family comes over for dinner so that we can have a celebration just for the two of them. They get both birthday and Christmas presents from everyone so I know they enjoy it.
This year's party was held last Monday night, as soon as we made it back into town from our trip to Indiana. Since we didn't have time to cook, we ordered homemade tamales which are always delicious and a crowd pleaser!
Everyone say "tamale!"
It's nights like this that I'm glad our bar is super long. Almost all of the kids can squeeze in up there.
Before everyone scattered, we gathered around to watch Anna and Wyatt open their gifts. I think they both loved everything they opened!
And then it was finally time for one of my very favorite Christmas activities...decorating the gingerbread house! I love doing this with the kids (even if they do pour the sprinkles everywhere) but I secretly kinda want to do it without all the extra helpers sometime just so I can do it really cute.
To me, Ramer is a clone of his daddy (my brother, Ben). He enjoyed munching on all the candy while his daddy stuck all 10 of his fingers in the icing container (so he didn't double-dip, he said). I really wish I'd caught him in the act, but I couldn't get my hands on my camera fast enough.
Katie Wynn was not really invited to help decorate since I don't really trust her around that much candy. Didn't matter anyway because she was obsessed with Bren's sparkly shoes and trying to get them on her feet.
Still decorating...
Finally, after every single bag of candy and tube of sprinkles had been emptied, our house was complete. If you had to, you could probably guess which side Anna and I worked on and which side was done by Bren and Parker.
We ended the night with Gigi's cupcakes, and I hate that I didn't get a picture of them because they were so cute! They were decorated as Santa hats and snow flakes and Christmas trees. You'll just have to take my word for it.
Don't you love pumping your niece and nephews full of sugar and then sending them out the door? :)
Sadly, I had to go to work for a few hours the next morning, but by that afternoon, our Christmas Eve celebration was underway! Pics coming soon.