Jensen's: Twas the Night Before Christmas

Christmas Eve is always a crazy day... well, unless you live in AZ then you don't have all the craziness going on. It was so much fun to be back in Utah and go to the parties and enjoy the best part of Christmas, family.

The kids got to open a present from each other the day before. Devin gave Ally a remote control mini Bratz car and a Scooby book. Ally gave Devin a Thomas the Train starter kit.

Somehow, Ally ended up playing with her Bratz doll and the train all by herself, while Devin dragged the wrapping paper around the room...

First party was at "Aunt" Kristi's to celebrate with Alex's side of the family. Ally had fun playing with her cousin's and there 5 million toys. She loved Lauren's princess castle and was very disappointed to find out Seth was really good at Mario Kart even though he's a few years younger.

There was SO much food!

We had the annual white elephant gift exchange and then Grandpa "Santa" Paul gave the kids their presents. Ally was so excited to get a bunch of Littlest Pet Shop's and Devin got a train with dogs that can ride on it... of course the dogs don't only like the train, they go down his slide, they hide in heater vents... they try and go swimming in the toilet, but luckily mommy told Devin that dogs don't swim in toilets...

(isn't he a jolly elf?)

Then it was a quick grab everything and run to my parent's house to celebrate with my side of the family.
Again there was just too much yummy food. We played our regular ping pong and I won the first one and my nephew, Cody, won the second game. Then it was upstairs to let all of the kids open their sacks that my mom wraps for them.

(the half red nose resluted from her part of Rudolph in the Christmas play).

Next was the traditional read and green Sprite and then it was time for the last presents to be opened. Every year my mom makes matching pajamas for all 8 of her grandchildren.

I didn't get a picture of all of them together, as I was holding Devin on Cody's shoulders. I told my dad he needs to email me a pic so I can share... it is quite a sight to behold.
Here are the 3 girls together.

Then the kids did what any other kid does the day before Christmas... got wild! There was indian leg wrestling and arm wrestling... didn I mention that Alex was in the middle of all of that???