Christmas Eve 2011

Christmas Eve was a ton of fun this year.  We had a really lazy day like so lazy that I took a 2 1/2 nap! It was lovely.  We really just hung out and waited for everyone to come over to get the Christmas Eve party started. Neil and Bennett made a yummy dip, we heated up the gumbo and bread, and set the tables.  Everyone arrived for dinner around 6 and we ate Richard's delicious gumbo for dinner.

What a big helper!

We couldn't leave Henry out of the action! Sweet boys...all 3 of them.

One of my favorite parts of the evening was the cookie decorating.  We had a batch of done sugar cookies and a batch of OVER done ones.  A neighbor stopped in and I totally forgot about the cookies in the oven!  I was so excited that everyone got in on the fun of decorating.  Some people were getting really competitive with their cookies..we have some great decorators in this family.

Neil was really into the decorating

Bennett covered 3 entire cookies with icing.  Like literally squirted it out until the cookie was completely covered. Those were Santa's favorite cookies for sure!

Richard was proud of his!

"Skrinkles!"

Andrew and Michael were really into the decorating.  Nana helped Bennett with his.

Another fun part of the evening was when Carolyn's kids and grandbaby stopped by.  We finally got to meet Reid, Carolyn's new grandson! He is a little cutie and is 1 week older than Henry. Of course, we had to get the babies together for a picture...

Henry and Reid

Bennett, Henry, and Reid

Sweet babies.  

This is a picture of all the adults trying to get the babies to cooperate and smile for the camera!

If you look in the background you can see Bennett sneaking into the gifts!  Little stinker!

Carolyn/Reid and Pops/Henry

Grandad with Henry.  We have a picture just like this of Richard and Bennett.  He can always get them to laugh like this!

We opened up gifts with my side of the family after Bennett and Henry had their baths.  It was a lot of fun and really chaotic!  Everyone was so generous and we all received way too much!

Bennett got a new pair of "fast shoes" from Gammy!

Love these old pjs Shep let us borrow

He was a big helper with the gifts

Andrew was so sweet to hold Henry for us

Pops, Nana, and Gammy loved their home made pottery from Bennett and Henry.  Nana even requested  some coasters like my dad's for her birthday.

What is this??  Curious George DVD!  yay!

Nana and Henry

Pops and Henry

Gammy loved her "Gammy Bag"  with all the goodies in it.  It was Rebecca's idea for me to get Nana and Gammy each a bag.  I had it monogrammed with "Gammy Bag" for her.  I put a few odds and ends in there so they are prepared on the go with the boys. 

After all the gifts were opened, Bennett tossed the reindeer food out for the reindeer.  He yelled down the street "SANTA! REINDEER! SANTA!"  He was ready!