Christmas Eve 2011

Wow...we have LOTS to post!  Like our fun sushi dinner for Abigail, her new American Girl she got for her birthday, and her special day to see Pinkalicious with Aunt Julie!  But I figured I'd better start catching up on Xmas since we had 4 of them!!!!

Here's the girls helping me bake Xmas cookies to get ready for the big weekend!!!

We began Xmas eve by heading to mass with my mom.  Then, we headed over to my parents' house for Xmas Eve.  It's always such a great day full of drinks, laughter, food, presents...and drinks!  :)

It was extra special because it was the 1st Xmas eve we celebrated with Lucy!!!!!

The 3 beautiful girls

How cute is she?????  I know!!!!

The boys with their traditional oyster shooters!  Major injuries involved in the shucking...but everyone looks like they survived!

After some drinks, apps, an amazing dinner with all the traditions (of which I think we narrowed down we can't get rid of any of them...no matter how hard we tried....pierogies, fish, crab legs, beef, holy bread...everyone has a favorite) we headed to the family room for presents! We were prepared this year and made LOTS of room for all the kids' presents!!!

The girls were beyond spoiled loved again this year!!!!  They got suitcases for Disney full of cute clothes and toys, sleeping bags, more cute clothes that I really want to fit into, games, a doll house mansion (haven't stopped playing with it yet...with all it's pieces), American girl wagon, elmo dr set, barbie and car, etc....I'm sure I'm missing things but there were so many gifts!!!

Rob and I also got spoiled!  My dad had me (we do Secret Santa and each get one big thing) and I got amazing boots (love) and a necklace with my girls' initials and birth stones (love love love).  Rob got a gift certificate for new golf shoes (which he already bought) and a pass for 3 laps in a Nascar car...which he is so excited about!!!  Not to mention our $500 gift certificate for Restaurant.com [ long story :)....we are excited to probably NEVER have to pay for anything from Restaurant.com again].

I am sure I am missing so much more...but it was a great Xmas eve.  We started gifts at 5:00 and by 7:00 Abigail was asking to go to bed.  She was really excited about Santa the next morning.  It was so cute because she got really upset when we put her to bed at Grandma and Grandpa's because she wanted to sleep at home for Santa...but we explained we'd wake her up and take her home.  We woke them up around 10:00 to drive them home...and she watched out the window for Santa the whole ride (which most of us can relate too).  When we got home, Daddy read them the  Night Before Christmas and we put out cookies, reindeer food, and a shot to keep Santa warm.  Abigail heard Santa's bells while in bed....and was ready for the next day!!!!

Here's a few last pics from Xmas Eve!  Thank you mom, dad, Aunt Julie, Uncle Joe, Lucy, and Aunt Katie for a great Christmas!!! 

The girls in their pajamas!  I LOVE them!!!!!

The girls practicing for a sleepover!

Opening their doll house!!!!  Just look at everything in the background!

Uncle Joe with his "walking tour of restaurants in Chicago" from Rob.

And it wouldn't be a Xmas post if I didn't say, I was terrible with pictures and got none of the hosts or my sisters....just the kids!!!  I think I'm just accepting it!  :)

On to Xmas Day....