Christmas Eve!

So I am really slacking at getting our Christmas pics posted. They days are flying by, and I'd rather be sitting with my family than at the computer...go figure. We had an awesome Christmas and as usual it went by way too fast. I loved Christmas growing up, but I am pretty sure i LOVE it even more now that I have my own little children around. Banana was so excited she could hardly stand it. I love christmas eve just as much as Christmas Day because we have so many fun traditions in our family. One of my all time faves is waffle dinner at my Grandma's house. She makes the best butter syrup. It's a good thing she only makes it once a year, and I am too lazy to make it because I am sure the calorie count is astronomical! For those of you who have never tried it you are missing out.
Here's cousin Braxton and Banana in an intense game of mouse trap after waffle dinner.

My in laws always have a musical program on Christmas Eve, and it is always so beautiful. That whole family has amazing voices and I love listening to my hubby and his brothers and dad sing "O Holy Night" every year. I have it on video, but I can't get it to post...The highlight of the evening for me was when Banana sang the song she had been practicing for months. For those who don't know, Banana has been speaking Spanish for as long as she could talk, so her dad taught her to sing the Nativity Song (from the Children's Songbook) in Spanish. She worked so hard, and I was nervous that she wouldn't want to sing in front of everyone. But she did, and it was beautiful. Someone got it on tape, and as soon as I can get it, I'll post it! I was trying to play for her, but couldn't read the music through my tears...I know you can't imagine me getting emotional about something like that...

Miss Em and Cousin Franky were content all night to sit there and eat the wrapping paper...


This picture needs no words.Finally...letters to Santa. Banana wrote a very detailed list of what Santa was to bring, then added a few cute drawing to makei t complete. We put the letter in the fireplace and the ashes flew to Santa so he could read it...