Christmas Eve at Deb and Dave's 2010

Christmas Eve started off by waking up to snow on the ground and still falling.  I mean huge, stick-your-tongue out and catch it kind of snow.  It snowed all day long and in to the night.

We went to church at 4:00.  At the end of the service we did a candlelight service where everyone had a candle and the flame is passed around.  The lights were turned off and we sang "Silent Night."  This year Kanin got his own candle and he was so proud.  I told him to keep it really still and I couldn't help but laugh at him as he held on with both hands and really concentrated on that candle.  I wanted to snap a picture of him but that would just be wrong.  LOL

After church we headed over to Deb and Dave's house (Scott's sister and brother-in-law) to eat and open gifts.

Here is the closest thing to a good picture that I got of all three kids together.

These two posed all night.

See that scratch/bruise above her face?  She walked into the car door right as I was opening it.  I felt horrible!

Caleb loved the train under the tree.  It whistled and blew smoke.  It went forward and backwards and he really got a kick running it all night.

I was trying to take some pics on the "Manual" setting with no flash.  

Here is Debbie (Scott's sister) helping Caleb with the train. 

Picture of the tree with no flash.

My sweetheart.

Here is our niece, Mindi.  She has lost 36lbs recently.  So proud of her!

Our nieces and nephew:  Alissa, Daryl, & Kelsey (we are missing some from this pic)

Kanin lost another tooth on Christmas Eve so the Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus came.  What a lucky boy!

Daryl is in the Navy and recently got home from Iraq.  He gave his Dad and Michele a new Navy flag to fly in front of their house.

"Is it our turn to open presents?"

It is our family's tradition that all adults buy presents for all kids ages 18 (or still in high school) and under.  My kids were the only littles there that night but as you can see, they "racked" up.

Since watching the World Cup this summer and playing soccer on his own team, Kanin is really into soccer jerseys.  Here is a new Honduras one from She-She (Scott's sister, Sherri) & John.

New pajamas from Debbie and Dave

After opening presents we always take individual family pictures and then one picture with everyone in it.

Here is Nene (Dayna), Kelsey and Jeff (Scott's brother)

Michele, Rick (Scott's brother), Mindi and Daryl

Debbie (Scott's sister), Alissa and David. 

Here is my circus.

I could not figure out how to work the timer on my camera so I will have to post the big family pic later after I get it from Scott's brother.

After eating and taking our family pics and eating, I changed the kids into the Christmas pajamas.

Alissa changed into her Christmas pj's, too.

How cute is he?

Caleb refused to sit in front of the tree with brother and sister so this was the only way I could get a picture of all three of them.

After the kids opened their presents, we played an adult game.  This is the first year that the adults didn't draw names; instead, every adult brought a $25 gift card.  We then sat in a circle and Rick read  "Twas the Night Before Christmas" but it is a pass around game.  Every time the reader says "right" you pass your gift to the right and when he says "left" you pass to the left.  Since we usually have extended family or friends show up on Christmas Eve, everyone who brings a gift card gets to play.  It really was a lot of fun.  I ended up with a $25 gift card to Dierberg's (a grocery store) and Scott got a $25 gift card to Kohl's.

Finally, after all of the presents and games were over, we sang Happy Birthday to Daryl.  Daryl (and my mom) is a Christmas Eve baby.

 

It was another year of great memories.  Of course, we missed our family who couldn't be there. 

Our family in Chicago: Sherri, John, Susie, Doug, Kyleen & Kenzie.

Our family who we have to share with other family:  Sarah, Kurt, Ben, Ian & Emma.

Our family who is currently serving in the Marines in Afghanistan:  Paul

Hopefully, one day we will all be together again!