Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was very relaxing around the Brooks' house.  It was such a warm day outside, we did a lot of playing outside and had lunch on the patio at Rancheros.  When we got back from lunch, Emerson and I went to work on our cookies for Santa and then the girls both took good naps before the candlelight service at church.  When we got home, we finished up our preparations for Santa and the girls each got to open one gift.  After Emerson had been in bed for about an hour I heard her crying.  I went in to see what was the matter and she said:  "The cars are too loud!  I am not going to be able to hear Santa's bells!".  It was too cute.  I tried explaining to her that Santa was not going to come if she wasn't sleeping and she said that the people in the cars weren't sleeping!  I pointed out that Santa only visits little boys and little girls and that the people in the cars may not have little boys or girls.  That seemed to satisfy her!

Wow Mom, it's bright out here!

Sweet girl

Emerson learning how to shoot the BB gun.

"Sugar and Spice" describes Braelyn perfectly!

She is convinced that she is big enough to do anything her sister can do.

Flip flops and t-shirts...doesn't exactly look like Christmas Eve but we loved every second nonetheless!

Emerson loves to bake.

What was I thinking?!

I don't know why she kept licking the flour!

She did a great job!

All ready for Christmas Eve service!  We gave up getting all 3 of them smiling at once...we settled for looking at the camera!

Time to decorate!

Working hard on her letter to Santa.  She insisted on telling him that he couldn't eat ALL the cookies!

They were both excited to unwrap their one gift...new books.

She picked the cookies she wanted to leave for Santa and then it was off to bed!