Christmas Eve

Zoe in her beautiful Christmas Dress. Thanks Mom!

On Christmas Eve we went over to Mike's sister, Krista's, house in Plano. This was our big family Christmas dinner, pageant, and gift exchange. We had SO much fun. Here are some pictures (for those of you who don't know the extended family, I'll try to explain who is who...):

Krista (Mike's big sis.) and Rachel (Jim's wife) preparing the meal.

Mike checking out the goodies while Rachel stirs the punch.

Jared (Krista's husband) slicing the turkey.

Let the feast begin!



During dinner we played a game called 'Would you rather...'. It was fun. I love the look on Phil's (Mike's dad) face in the background.



This is during dinner, while we played the game. Pictured here are Rachel, Jim (Mike's brother) and Phil.



Jared holding out a card for me...um, it's upside down!

After dinner Krista helped the kids perform the first annual Ralston Family Christmas pageant. She played Messiah music as appropriate, read from Luke in the Bible, and the kids acted the parts. Madison is on the stairs being and angel (she didn't even have to act!), Ethan and Emma are Joseph and Mary, Jacob is a shepherd with his sheep, and Zoe had no clue what was going on (she was a shepherd too and started the pageant with a towel on her head...but that didn't last very long).

After the pageant Phil read us 'The Night Before Christmas'.



Emma posing in front of the tree for me. What a ham!



Cousins! Very eager to start the gift exchange! From top left to bottom right: Emma, Madison, Ethan, Zoe, and Jacob. Jacob and Emma belong to Krista and Jared. Madison and Ethan belong to Jim and Rachel.



Madison, Zoe, and Emma.



Zoe eating a popsicle to comfort her two new aching teeth and Mike eating a cookie comforting his belly.



The gift exchange! I'm opening a towel that Rachel made for Zoe. I repeat....Rachel made a towel! It's awesome. Zebra print with a big pink stripe. Zoe loves it because it's huge and therefore perfect for these cold winter days.

Big shot of the fam opening presents.

The kids were SO good and patient. They were uncharacteristically eager to go to bed that night. Not sure why...maybe it had something to do with Santa coming!

I absolutely love this video of Zoe and Madison playing on the floor. It's so sweet.