Heilegen Abend (Christmas Eve)

We started Christmas Eve dark and early (5am) to get to California in great time. The boys were fantastic and Nathaniel and I were able to listen to a book the whole way so the time flew. Our whole family (to a lesser extent, dad) has been sick for what seems like the entire month of December, with a day or so here and there feeling good enough to have some fun. Luckily this sickness just made the boys super sleepy, so after we got to California at around 3:00 pm both boys went to sleep and really didn't wake up until Christmas morning, which is why I don't have any pictures of them Christmas eve.  Holding to tradition, we did the Nativity play. it was entertaining if not the most reverent rendition. 

Aunt Emma was Mary and since we didn't have a baby to help us out (Kyle may have been too wiggly even if he was awake) we used a piece of cloth for baby Jesus

 Dad being a wise "guy) with cousin Spencer and Uncle Dustin. Great Uncle Robin was the Angel

 Confused shepherds 

 Dinner was yummy

Great grandpa Bassett reading Stubby Pringle (another Christmas Eve Tradition) We were so happy to be able to spend this Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa Cook and all the Cook Aunts and Uncles (we even got to see Uncle Jared via group video chat on his mission)