Christmas Eve!!

Every year on Christmas eve, we open presents to each other before we go to Aunt Jama's for the Hedden Family Christmas. At Jama's we have a present extravanganza and then have a wonderful dinner followed by singing Christmas songs while Papa plays his guitar. It has become a wonderful tradition. Every year for the past 3 years, Russ' parents have surprised us with a family trip to Disney World. The kids are starting to expect it so this year they announced the surprise a little differently. After the presents are all open, Mimi usually recites a catchy poem she has written that, in the end, reveals the trip. Knowing that the kids were waiting for it, she decided to wait until after dinner to make the announcement. After singing all of the Christmas songs, Papa starts playing the Mickey Mouse theme song and we all start singing to it. Coleman was the first to catch on and then the others slowly figured it out. They were so excited! This will be the 3rd Annual Papoo and Pals Disney trip. After Jama's we go home to leave egg nog and cookies for Santa before settling down for a long winter's nap (though there hasn't been much of a winter this year with temps in the 60s for Christmas!). Coleman wrote the sweetest note to Santa saying that he knew that Santa had already been to China (since they are 12 hours ahead of us) and hoped that he had been good to Sam. Tissues, please. We all cried. What a precious heart Coleman has. We are so thankful that Sam will be home for Christmas next year!