Christmas Eve 2011

We celebrated Christmas Eve at our house with Steve's family (like we did last year). We enjoyed a wonderful spaghetti dinner before we all gathered in the livingroom to open gifts. It was a little overwhelming for Samantha to understand the concept that each gift had a name tag on it -- they weren't all for her. She was really good about helping to pass the gifts out and everyone seemed willing to let her "help" them open their gifts!


Posing for a family pic:

Another quick family picture:

One of the highlights for Sam was opening this big present from Steve's parents:

Inside was a "big T-Rex," just what Sam had asked Santa for this year. We explained to Sam that Santa didn't have enough room in his sleigh for such a BIG present, so he asked Grandma and Grandpa if they could get one for her. She was in love ... and has slept with it in her bed every night now.

Sophia had a lot of fun opening gifts, as well.

At one point, the girls had matching gifts to open from Aunt Deb:

Matching monkey shirts:

This kept Sophia occupied for a little while:

Every Christmas, it is a tradition that the last gift that is opened on Christmas Eve is a new pair of pajamas. The pajamas are to be worn to bed that night and the next morning when opening the gifts from Santa. Here are the girls opening their (matching) pajamas:

Changing Sophia into her pajamas before bed:

Shortly after Sophia went to bed (at her normal time of 8 pm), Sam set to work, getting her snacks together for Santa and his reindeer.

Sprinkling the "reindeer food" with glitter in the front lawn:

And some corn:

Arranging cookies on the plate for Santa:

Mixing up some hot cocoa for Santa:

And stirring it:

And lastly, leaving her note for Santa:

Off to bed: