I changed tradition this year and served lasagnas (one red meat sauce and one seafood) instead of meatballs for our Christmas Eve dinner. Most of us don't appreciate it when I try to change any tradition, but they liked this change! After dinner we had the first plate of cookies and exchanged the secret Santa gifts among the children. After dropping off those who were serving Midnight Mass or in the choir, the rest of us visited grandparents till it was time to return to church for Mass.
Twas the Night Before Christmas....

the stockings were hung by the chimney with care....
you can see a few Advent books are still wrapped, those are really books for a few of the 12 days but I hadn't thought to wrap them in different colored paper
Secret Santas...






Monica knit Kevin a scarf. You would think at their age I could get a nice smile for the picture! LOL

my new favorite picture of Alex
Kevin J. gifted us with this beautiful nutcracker!
my new favorite picture of Regina
In the stillness before Midnight Mass... All is calm, all is bright...
photo credit: Ben Eriksen
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!
