Christmas Eve 2018

One of the Clark's Christmas Eve traditions is to go bowling in the morning with their good friends as well as other members of their ward. We were invited to join in the fun!

There were a few little meltdowns but, for the most part, we had a great time!

McKenna even won a prize for lowest points scored in her age group, ha ha! David also won a prize for most strikes and, when his name was announced, hardly anyone cheered because they didn't know who the heck he was. Too funny! No pictures of him and his award - unfortunately he got a work call and ended up out in the car for about half an hour.

The bowling crew!

Afterwards we went to Smashburgers for lunch. The food was great but the service was sub par.

We made our way back down to Cinci to help prepare for the Christmas Eve feast! Grandpa takes care of the steaks...

and Ash put the shrimp cocktails together.

Let the feasting begin!

Cheers!

Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of the adult table other than this.

We had a new clean up crew this year. They weren't thrilled about it but they did it...well, most of it.

We then gathered in the family room for our traditional reading of Luke 2. This year, however, we acted it out!
"And Joseph also went up from Galiliee...unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem...to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child."

"And she brought forth her first born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn."

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them..."

"and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."

"And [the shepherds] came with haste and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger."

In the book of Matthew we read about the wise men from the East.

"And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh."

Time for Grandpa to read Twas the Night Before Christmas.

Then came the moment when Grandpa was getting a little too into the origin of Santa and his reindeer and I had to remind him - wink, wink - about the reality of who he was talking about. Crisis averted!

Trifle for dessert!! Yum, yum!!

We love just hangin' with our family!

Time for Christmas jammies.