Christmas Eve: Tradition Lives On

Despite a week of sickness, we were able to get together with Rory, Jen, Juliana, and Dakota yesterday for our annual Christmas Eve tradition.  This included doing a handprint/footprint craft, baking cookies for Santa, gift exchanging, watching Home Alone (1 and 2), and of course our yearly Christmas Eve BBQ for dinner.  We started this tradition when Jen and I were both pregnant two years ago.  We decided it was something we'd always have to continue.  It's one of my favorite things we do.  Nothing like Jack Stack!

It was so fun seeing the cousins play together.  And I think James and I did pretty darn good on gifts for Dakota and Juliana.   We got Dakota a baby doll and a stroller.  She LOVED it.  It was so cute watching her walk her baby through the house and giving her kisses.  We got Juliana a Ninja Turtles turtle shell and nun chucks.  She loved them both!

The boys got a little trampoline and cozy coupe.  Jen and I put the trampoline together with our excellent assembling skills all while the boys cleaned up the kitchen.  Ah, gender roles!

We concluded our night by doing a little mini photo shoot with the babies, because let's be honest...it's what we do!

Once the cousins left, we put cookies, milk, and carrots out for Santa.  The boys drew Santa a picture that we left out for him.  After putting the boys to bed, Santa came.

It was a good day.