a typical christmas eve...

for our family goes a little somethin' like this...

our little family gets to hang out for most of the day, and then get dressed to meet the WHOLE family at church for the christmas eve service.

and i make my kids take the obligatory picture by the tree. if only they would pose together- maybe next year!!

then after church we go out to dinner with our traditional group of friends- the hopkins, the guys, the bowlins, and the newlyweds- the lassiters!! we went to our traditional spot- maggiano's. yummmm! (no pictures sorry!)

then we come home and the kids open one gift...

christmas jammies. this year they matched! both o & j were excited about that!

then we set out cookies and milk for santa. olivia decided that santa might need a towel this rainy christmas eve, so we left one of those too!

then daddy reads "the night before christmas."

then we tuck the kids into bed, santa makes his visit, mommy and daddy fall into bed around midnight, and then the excitement and traditions resume in the morning (around 7:00 AM).

merry christmas eve!!