Christmas Eve Dinner with the Copes

For Christmas Eve every year we go to my parent's house for dinner and a gift exchange with the people with whom we draw names. We had a very nice, delicious dinner while enjoying everyone's company. After dinner everyone helped to hurry and clean up so that we could head downstairs for the traditional post-dinner festivities.

First off, my mom gave the scriptures to Joseph so that he could read to us the Christmas story of Jesus in the Bible. Then my mom handed me the book 'Twas the Night Before Christmas to show the pictures while we listened to it on CD. Then we were finally able to open our presents. At this point the kids were VERY anxious.

Everything gets really hectic at this point because there are so many kids. We are outnumbered 18 adults to 22 grandchildren. My mom always tries to have us open them in order from youngest to oldest (this is how we always did it growing up). At this point she gets a little stressed and starts getting a little annoyed because it doesn't ever go as smoothly as she wants. We always just get a kick out of it and enjoy watching and listening to all the chaos. Since Nash is the youngest grandchild for now he got to go first. My mom calls out, "Okay, who has Nash's name?" There was complete silence with many puzzled faces. Anyone? Anyone? Nobody spoke up. Poor Nashy - somebody forgot about him on his first Christmas. Everyone starts asking who has Nash but nobody knew so Stephanie had to go look at her email with the list and see who had his name. Turned out that there was a bit of a confusion and Adriana ended up having two people buy her a present instead of Nash getting one. So it didn't start out so well but my mom hurried and saved the day and went and grabbed Nash's present from her and my dad. Luckily Nash is a baby and doesn't really care or else he might have felt a little bad that he was forgotten.

After everyone opened their gifts my parents gave all the adults their gifts. They always give us all the same thing. We all got a bunch of great food storage.




This is the little kid table. It is a perfect short little table with small chairs for the kids. Whytli was lucky enough to graduate to the big adult table this year along with some of the older grandkids.

This is Nash waiting for some to bring him his gift! Poor Nashy! (Just kidding Cynthia)

Mallory got a homemade quiet book for church from one of Stephanie's kids (made by Stephanie). She loved it.

The kids anxiously waiting their turns.

Adelie got a homemade church bag with items for her to take to church to keep her entertained.

Whytli got a homemade church bag as well with the same stuff inside (both from Stephanie's children and made by Stephanie). They both loved them.

Brett got a gift card to Buckle from Cynthia and I got a bracelet and some perfume from Carrie.