Letting It Linger

Is it really over? Already? We are going to let it linger a little longer here. What a beautiful, happy, relaxed, joyful, fun, food and drink filled Christmas we have had. Our Christmas Eve traditions stayed strong this year. We went to the 5:00 mass at our new church St. John Vianney, picked up our chinese food, insert the Fa-Ra-Ra-Ra-Ra Ra-Ra-Ra-Ra jokes here(if you have never seen the movie A Christmas Story, then forget that last part), opened our sibling presents

Tracked Santa

Wrote our letters "I hope you have a good night. I want to play hockey with you. Good hockey night."

prepared milk, cookies and carrots

sprinkled the reindeer food outside

Then after 45678985674 go to sleeps. The big guy was able to put together some large toys and set up under the tree. Phew. This only took until 3:00am

The next morning was spent ripping paper, eating, drinking, squealing, clapping, cheering and saying "can you open this," "can you put this together," "can you help me?"

We spent our entire day playing, cooking and being together in our jammies. One of our highlights was spending a good hour on Skype with Ryan and Hillary, sharing every single toy with them.

Nee Nee spent her day teaching Riley how to sew. Look what Riley was able to make! I am seriously impressed. With only a few lessons and a watchful eye she made a blanket for her doll Dee Dee.

The turkey, stuffing, potatoes, turnip, gravy, baked beans, peas, mushrooms and almost the cabbage rolls (oops) all served on Riley's cute dinner table set up.

And we topped off the night with singing Happy Birthday Baby Jesus

A perfectly beautiful, peaceful end to a perfectly beautiful peaceful day.