Christmas Eve

We had a fun Christmas Eve. Every year, we have the tradition to take a family picture with Santa. We have one every year beginning when Averie was just one year old. It is fun to see how much the kids have changed (and how much closer Averie gets to Santa, each year). This year we had not made it out yet,so on Christmas Eve, we headed out in the morning and braved the mall crowd. I don't even want to tell you how long we waited in line to see him. You would have thought we were all waiting to meet the President or Miley Cyrus...I waited with Averie and Brooks (patiently) for 2 hours...(that is devotion to a tradition, if you ask me) and Bevan and Alyssa did some last minute shopping. After a few more stops, we went home.
Traditionally, the kids open one present on Christmas Eve, which is really no surprise because it is always pajamas...the kids were excited anyway. Following that, we all read the first Christmas story, and had a talk about what we would each give the baby Jesus this year. The kids all made the promise to be nicer to each other for Jesus. Then, we pulled out the paper and pens and they each wrote a letter to Santa, got his cookies and water (Averie thought he might be sick of milk by this point) and placed them on the table. Last, Averie and Brooks went out and sprinkled the Magic Reindeer Dust, that we know Rudolph especially likes! Unbelievably, the kids were in bed and asleep by ten-thirty!
*My scanner is not wanting to cooperate...I will actually add the Santa picture later..