Christmas Eve

Ok, so it is not really Christmas Eve, but in the Naylor home it is.  Due to Nana's failing health, Christmas is happening a day early.  Both Pat and I strongly feel that our children should have Santa come to their home on Christmas Day.  This is how I grew up and we started this with our own children when Leah was two.  However, Pat's Nana is now in Hospice and is finally preparing to go to heaven to be with Papa.  Pat decided that Leah, Max and Noah still deserved Christmas in their home, yet he wants to see his Nana...so this is our best option.  We will travel to Geneva, Ohio to see Nana on Christmas Day.

So...it is Christmas Eve in our home and we did all of our traditions tonight.  We made our Gingerbread House...

We made food for Santa's reindeer...

First the oats

Then some Christmas sprinkles

Better taste test it for the reindeer

And a carrot!

We sprinkled the reindeer food in the yard...

We were silly in our matching jammies...

We watched our Christmas movie that Flubby brought us at the start of the season...

Mickey's Christmas Carol

We read "Twas The Night Before Christmas"...

We were lucky that Noah sat still for about 30 seconds!

And we set out a plate of cookies and a mug of milk for Santa...

Merry Christmas to All...and to All a Good Night!

Santa 2013

Trying to get these three kids to all look at the camera AND smile at the same time is near impossible.

And this is exactly how I thought the Santa visit would go...actually, it was better than what I had expected!

Festival of Lights

Each year we go to the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden for the annual Festival of Lights.  We have somehow been lucky each year as we have been able to go on a mild night.  Last night was no exception.  It was the perfect night to enjoy beautiful lights and Christmas music.  Pictures do not do the zoo justice - you just have to see it for yourself!