Christmas Eve Highlights

1. Food. Food. And more food. In fact, my sister-in-law were so busy elbowing each other out of the way for more appetizers and mashed potatoes that I didn't take any pictures of the food part. It was survival of the fittest... and I would NOT have been the fittest had I been trying to take pictures as well!!!

2. Family. It is always great spending Christmas Eve with Don's family. They are my family, too. For the last 12 years. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

3. The excitement. Look how excited Sis is over her shower gel and lotion. I love how exciting EVERYTHING is at Christmas!!!

4. My gift from my sister-in-law (well, it's for Don, too): she and my niece took a picture of my kids, then sent it off for a charcoal drawing to be done from the picture. I was having major photography difficulties that night, but I think you can tell how special it is, even though the picture is so blurry!

5. In yet another blurry picture, you can see one of Bub's fave gifts of the night: His Star Wars helmet that can change your voice. Say it with me: "Oooooooooooo!" I think just about everyone tried it that night!

6. And Sis's gift: An AMERICAN GIRL DOLL!!! Kit, to be exact. The specific one she wanted. Because Kit looks so much like her. Here she is reading her new Kit Kittredge book to Kit (she also got the movie).

7. Here's my niece and I doing our pose that we do every time we're together. It always turns out better when she's the one that takes the picture. I think because she's taller, and therefore her arms are longer. Or something.

8. Finally, the kids had so much fun making up games the other night, like the Family Wirdo game, that we played it again with the bigger family. Bub is filling out his ballot here. I won't tell you who won the title of "Weirdo." I'll just say it wasn't me!!! :)