Christmas Eve 2011

Another Christmas Eve has come and gone!  As usual we had too much food, but scaling back is not an option.  We had a lot of fun and of course the night was finished off with the traditional reading of "Twas The Night Before Christmas" by Aunt Debbie.  This year we had the added delight of Aunt Lynn reading a newer version of the story.  Although it's the same story the pictures are more up to date then the 28 year old version my sister reads.  Either way it is always fun to hear the story again. 

Preparing Fettuccine Alfredo, linguine with clam sauce, shrimp scampi, greens, fried shrimp, fried scallops, fried calamari, Cole Slaw, fried asparagus patties, and much more.  MMMMMMmmmmmmmMMMMM!!!!

Frying the scallops

 The boys.  Harvey was offended that Brian got right in front of him and blocked him from being front and center. 

 Steve and Lynn

 I asked the kids to get in front of the tree so I could take a picture of them and in walked Harvey and sat right down in the middle.  He was ready to have his picture taken.  Look how happy he is.  He sat there for the entire time taking pictures and once I said I was done he got up and walked away.  He is so funny.

 Love this picture. 

 And this one.  I must have taken about 20 different ones and Harvey just sat there posed perfectly in front of the camera.  I had to instruct the kids more then I did him. 

 Debbie and Mike, the hostesses of the year. 

 Somebody loves that Fettuccine Alfredo.

 Morgan does too.

 and Madison.

 Brian and Paige

 We can trash a kitchen.

 Michael's famous chocolate chip cookies. 

 They are so good, light and delicious.

 All the kids competing for who is taller then Aunt Lynn.  Sorry kids, maybe next year and Olivia maybe in 5 years.

 When we got home Christmas Eve, Olivia was very sad that her elf Sammy would be going back to the North Pole and she wouldn't see him until next year.  So she wrote him a letter and wrapped it in Christmas paper.  We weren't allowed to see it.  She then put it in front of Sammy and said a very sad good-Bye to him.  She kept saying she was going to miss him.

There it is the gift for Sammy!  See you next year.  Although you may need to make a guest appearance sometime in July.  Won't that be fun.