Christmas Wrap Up

So I realize this is oh so late, but I feel the need to put up a Christmas post to wrap up the season before moving on to things of the new year!

Chris' family traditionally celebrates Christmas on Christmas Eve so we packed up gifts and headed over to his parent's house mid afternoon.  Eric and Alicia and Andrew were all in town and Brian and Kim joined via Skype later in the day.  We started the festivities off with a little "cheers" as Alyssa refers to it.  She was quite excited to have her own mini champagne flute.  (Don't worry mom, we're both drinking sparkling grape juice!)

Jan put together a fabulous appetizer spread complete with these prawns that we decided were really more like lobsters because of their size.

A quick celebration of Alicia's birthday...

...and we were off to open presents.

Alyssa opening "Hero of the Rails!"

Andrew showing his new fishing pole to Brian and Kim

Chris consoling a little one who really needed a longer nap.

After the presents we ate dinner and then went to Christmas Eve service at church.

I never did show you the tree that took up a quarter of our living room...so here she is in all her glory.

Our eyes were definitely bigger than our room!  This struck me again this morning when I saw our neighbors tree out at the curb...they were much more sensible!

Mom spent the night at our house that evening so she could wake up with us.  We put our traditional breakfast casserole in the oven and then began unwrapping.

The dragon Alyssa asked Santa for.

Chris opening the clock Alyssa gave him for his workshop.

Evan checking out his new Leapfrog table.

Grandma opening her new photo magnets!

Evan in the aftermath!

Mom stayed and hung out the rest of the day and had dinner with us.  Chris' parents and Andrew came over and joined us (almost) for dinner and a rousing game of...

Hungry Hungry Hippos...what else?!