Christmas Eve

We started off our Christmas Eve at home with pancakes and eggs cooked by Ned.  Once breakfast was over, I got busy since Ned was able to entertain Avery and still get a few things done for me.  I assembled Jesus's birthday cake and made the icing.  I can do many things in the kitchen, but layered cakes and icing are not my strengths, especially when the icing is a mousse consistency.  I also got my crab dip made and mixed the dry ingredients for cinnamon roll cake for the morning.

We took a little break while Avery napped, but I decided to get even more ahead and prepare my breakfast casserole for the morning.  When Avery woke up, we got ready to head to Lolli and Poppa's to go to church.  Church starts at 5:00 p.m. but we get there about 4:30 to get a seat.  I wasn't sure how Avery would do, and the only trick I brought was her inkless pen.  She was happy to watch people come in, and she was happy to see her buddies Gage and Aubrie.  Once church started, she did her "work" with her pen, bulletin, and hymnal, and frequent singing broke things up.  We are still working on an inside voice, and she repeated words that she knew and the preacher said like "six," "sun (Son)," and "Jesus."  By 5:30 she was tired and requesting lunch.  Luckily, by sitting (and sweating) with me, we made it to the end at 6:15.

We went to Lolli and Poppa's and enjoyed hot crab dip while Avery and Lolli had ham sandwiches.  After dinner Avery made sure everyone knew it was time for presents.

Avery was excited to receive a John Deere ornament from Lolli and Poppa.

Then there was a fun Thomas set that immediately had to be opened.

Avery was sure this last big box was for her.

There was lots of anticipation as Poppa pulled the gift from the box.

And it was a stroller for Bitty!  Luckily she had come for the Christmas Eve festivities and was able to take a ride.

We exchanged our gifts with Lolli and Poppa as well, I was just horrible about getting pictures.  Avery got in her jammies and we headed home.  Once Avery was in bed, Ned and his brother went to help Santa make the big delivery and I worked on setting out the other things.  I also set out as much as I could for breakfast in the morning.  I was feeling calm and not rushed as Ned and I sat down to catch some of It's a Wonderful Life.  Then Avery started fussing and calling for me.  She never calls for me so I went in to check, and she fell to pieces.  I could tell when I tried to pick her up that she was uncomfortable, and I suspected she needed to poop.  I was right.  She hadn't gone in her diaper and wouldn't go on the potty.  She was so upset that she was shaking.  This has happened at the sitter's before when it wakes her up but she doesn't want to go.  My guess was her medicine kicked in and she could tell when she woke up.  She went back to bed without going, and I was so worried that she'd be up all night or uncomfortable in the morning.  The movie was going off once we dealt with all that, so Ned and I went to bed.

Luckily, all was well Christmas morning and it was a fun, very eventful day.