Chrismas Eve

Kenny and I woke up early on Christmas Eve to drive up to Kansas and spend Christmas with Kenny's family. My family sweetly agreed to postpone our Christmas celebration until January 1st so that Kenny & I and Neil and Julie could spend Christmas with our in-laws and still all be together on New Years for our Christmas! I'm so thankful it all worked out that way. It would be so difficult to choose where to go and have to miss out on one family or the other.

We finished up some last minute packing and hit the road! It was a pretty chilly day and Kenny's Dad called to warn us about some icy weather around Wichita. Every mile we drove North the temperature seemed to drop. I was super excited though, you know me always dreaming of a White Christmas! *grins*

Along the way we spotted our Dairy Queen (we like to stop there on the way back and forth to Kansas because you can't seem to find one in Oklahoma) and nuts that we are... even in that cold weather we got a Butterfinger Blizzard to share, and boy was it YUMMY!!

We made it to Topeka about 3:00 and went straight to Kenny's Grandma's house. She hosts Christmas for the WHOLE family on Christmas eve. It was such a grand time! I got to meet more of Kenny's family who I'd never met before. They are all so sweet. There were a bunch of little cousins running around and new babies and just a room full of cheer! Grandma got us the MOST beautiful lamp to go out by our swimming pool! It's wrought Iron with a bright copper top and we can't wait to have it glowing out there this summer while we're swimming!!

After the Christmas party we went to the Christmas Eve service at Jeff and Jessica's church. It was really beautiful! The church is in an old building with such charm, lots of wood and arches and stained glass, so pretty! They had music and Christmas Carols. Kenny and I were especially impressed with the Bell Ringer. We've seen people play the bells, but it's usually people (as in plural).....this was just ONE man and he played the most amazing Christmas songs!! WOW! It made my fingers ache to go try it out myself ;)

After church we headed for Kenny's Mom & Dad's. We all gathered up on the couch and watched "It's a wonderful life" before heading off to bed to rest up for Christmas morning!!!