Christmas Eve...

We had ourselves a Merry Little Christmas! It all began with our Christmas Eve festivities!  We went to Scott's Uncle Matt's and Aunt Carla's for the afternoon.... Ally was very excited to wear her "dressy" coat and new Scottie clothes...

She had to squeeze her feet into her old Uggs for the last time... as she would  be getting her new Uggs Christmas morning.  Just the other day when she and I went to the salon and out to dinner, she was complaining about how tight they were and asked me if she could get a new pair for her Birthday (which consequently is January 25th as if we weren't broke already from Luke's Birthday and Christmas!).

We got to Matt and Carla's and Ally was excited to see her cousins, Grace, Gannon, Graydon and Calvin!  It was a crazy, loud fun afternoon of kids eating far too many cookies and running, running, running around and around!  Isn't that what Christmas is for? The craziness of getting together with all your cousins?  Ally loved it, to say the very least.

Luke loved his cookie.... and loved sharing it with Autumn (the dog pictured below even more!)

Eventually Autumn got that cookie... but of course, Papa was there to give him another one.  God forbid the boy go without a Christmas cookie!  

After Matt and Carla's... we went over to my Uncle Joe and Aunt Cyndie's to see some of my family for a couple hours.  It was pretty late and Luke was a giant grump... but after some warm milk (no more cookies!!) he cheered up enough to open a couple gifts.  We gave the kids their Christmas PJs over there to put on before we drove home.  Ally was pretty excited and cheesin' it up as usual.

Luke was more excited to play with Gene's walkie-talkie and then play with a pen than anything else!  Ah - the simple joy of being a baby.  

We got home a little after 9:00 and got the kids down.... then... we got to play Santa.  Whew.  Let me tell you... the packaging on toys these days is absolutely ridiculous!  It took hours just to get all the little toys out of their boxes and backing and twist ties and tape. AHHHHH!!!!  Frustrating to say the least.  We finally freed Hannah of her bondage... and Scott moved on to putting together Luke's indoor gym.  HOLY CRAP!!!!  It was much more complicated than we had anticipated.... and still to this very moment is not completely assembled... but it was good enough for Christmas morning!

Tales of Christmas day to come...