Merry Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve began with Annah and I going to Mt. Calvary for Christmas for Christ.  It's the best part of Christmas Eve for me!  I love seeing the children's faces when they get to open presents.  In the family I had, the little girl's name was Gracie.  She was a doll.  When she opened her presents she looked up at me and said, "I need to go tell Santa 'thank you'."  So she ran over to Santa, gave him a big hug, and said, "Thank you Santa" in the sweetest voice you've ever heard.  

After a day of baking, we headed over to my Grandparents' house for our traditional Christmas Eve dinner: boiled shrimp and spaghetti.    Before we opened presents, Andrew had fun playing in Granddaddy's lift chair.

 Then it was on to the presents.

 Christmas PJ's

 Showing off his new socks

 When we got home, it was time to do our own Christmas Eve traditions.  We got in our Christmas PJs and opened our "sissy" gifts.  Annah got me the cutest apron!  It says "Sissy's Sweets."  (FYI: one day when I open my own bakery, that will be the name.)

 Then we took our traditional "Sissy Hug Picture."  This year, you'll notice that we have an extra person in the photo.  Every time we went to take one, he'd run over and squeeze in!

 Andrew got to open one gift from Granna and Paw-Paw too: his store.  He has really been missing his kitchen in Hawaii, so Granna and Paw-Paw got him this....and he LOVES it.  He always "pretends" to play shop with the coffee table, so now he has his very own store!

 ...which can also be turned into a lemonade stand.

 In the past, Granna has always read "The Polar Express" on Christmas Eve, but this year she passed the torch to Aunt Gracie.

 Then Paw-Paw read the Christmas story from Luke.

 We had to make sure that Santa had cookies and milk.  (And a little note from Andrew)

 And then after a 2 am trip to the gas station for some very important batteries, Santa had everything in place and ready for morning!