Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is steep in tradition at our house. We head over to Grams and Pa's house and have several kinds of yummy homemade soups to choose from. This year Uncle Darren brought some rolls from Rickenbockers....YUMMO! After dinner is cleaned up Grams always has a special book to read and gives one to each family. This year was the new children's version of "The Forgotten Carols". It was VERY neat. I've always wished a simpler, quicker version existed, and this year it did! My kids all loved it since they know all the songs from listening to them each year in the car with me. After the story is done, we all start to sing Christmas carols. We sing and sing until someone very special shows up. If you look closely out the door you'll see just who it is.
Karissa saw Santa coming and quickly closed the door before he even got up the front step. She didn't like sitting on his lap much either.
Brooke thought he was fun and got right up on his knee to tell him she wanted Tea Cup Piggies.
Seth was going to play it cool and keep his hands in his pockets so as not to show any signs of nervousness. He ordered up a laptop.
While each kid got on Santa's lap, Karissa was going through the shoes. She didn't care who they belonged to or what size they were....she just wanted to get the heck out of here before the stranger approached her again.
Blake, still a strong believer and hoping to find himself on the "nice list", also asked for a laptop.
Kenzie was a good sport and talked to Santa long enough to tell him that she too would like a laptop under the Christmas tree.
Karissa got one more chance to tell Santa she'd like a baby doll. She was okay with Santa as long as Kenzie was protecting her.
Mom and Dad got a quick picture with Santa before he rode off in his sleigh.
After Santa left, Great Grandma Mackay passed out her traditional homemade jammies. Wow, what a treat. Each and every year for the past 40+ years she has made special P.J.'s for her grand kids and now her great grand kids. Thanks so much Mackie!!!

Back at the house the kids get to exchange gifts with the sibling whose name they chose months earlier. Kenzie and Brooke bought the Blake and Seth each a little turtle.

Putting out cookies and milk for Santa

Karissa eating a raw marshmallow and a candy cane

Blake having a sip of his hot chocolate

Seth making a fine mess with his Christmas Eve S'more which was toasted to perfection....I mean burnt to perfection. He made and ate two torched marshmallows this year.

Mommy and Brooke sharing some whip and hot chocolate....yummy!

These kids sure do like hot cocoa with their whip cream.

Mom giving Blake one more blast of whip cream before heading off to feed Santa's reindeer. This little shot of sugar would come back to haunt us at 11:45 pm!!! Oooops.

Sprinkling magical reindeer dust in the front yard. Brooke thought it was too cold so she ran back inside for some boots. John is watching for Santa.

Much better. Now she gets the rest of the reindeer dust to herself. Night, night!