Christmas Eve 2011

Christmas started with a stop at Grandpa's.

He seemed very Merry & Bright,

 even toting a different cane than usual.

If there is one thing that our family isn't lacking... it's good cooks. 

Can we say homemade spring rolls?

Kritsana's spring rolls could be world renowned.

Tonya is pretty much the lamb cooker.

Like always, everyone pulled together, and there was a 

delicious spread of comfort food laid out on the table.

I love spending time with family on the Holidays.

Kayli had surgery on her ankle, poor thing...

and Riley wore one of those sweaters that could pass for an ugly Holiday sweater, 

but it's almost good looking enough that you're not sure if it's worn in seriousness...

I know because it happened to me.

Turns out it was meant to be a joke. 

Nika drew Pearl's name for Christmas.

She opened her present before we left, and it went like this:

Pearl rips into the paper, gasps upon seeing an art easel--

runs and hugs her Dad in excitement, and then is directed to the actual gift giver...

who gets an enormous hug.

 Thanks Nika Dawn.  If you couldn't tell... she loves it!

Scott and Cristy celebrated their first 

Christmas together as a married couple.

My Family on Christmas Eve.

 Christmas beauties.

We stayed at Grandpa's long enough for Uncle Dave to rig up his laptop

 to the big screen T.V. so we could skype with my family in Longbeach.

It was great to talk to them, and especially great to see Grandpa's reaction.

He said "This Old Man has to get used to all of these modern technologies."

 It was a great end to our visit--

and then it was off to the Lindsey's house

 to be with the Jewkes side of the family.

We had Amy's lasagna, and salad,

and too many gingerbread cookies.

 Then it was on to the Christmas pajamas.

Waiting is the hardest part.

 Here they are! Christmas jammies 2011!

We tracked Santa's location, and talked about Uncle Jason's 

nightly foot-moisturizing routine. 

If Derek looks sad in the above picture--

it may be because he had a hunch that he was on the naughty list...

Luckily we got a hold of  Santa's Naughty and Nice list.

He made the cut!

So did a couple other cuties I know. 

 Then there were my nephews Jake and Mason--

They didn't fair so well this year...

Britney, Brooke, Maegan, Emma, Katelyn, Kelsey, and Pearl 

were brave enough to put on a little Christmas program for us.

We were delighted to hear:
Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer

Santa Claus is coming to Town

And the sweetest rendition of
 Frosty the Snowman you've ever heard.

So our Christmas Eve was very jam-packed, and we loved it all.
We hurried home to open up mine and Kel's p.j.s, got the girls to bed,
and finished some last minute wrapping. 
Santa must've liked those frosted gingerbread cookies--
because when morning came, they were gone...