We do a blend of our traditions from when we grew up- we make Ben's Christmas Eve family traditional dinner: shrimp as a starter, pork cutlets, pasta (ravioli this year) with meatballs, garlic bread, and usually green beans or salad.
On Christmas Day we come downstairs to see what Santa brought. After going through the gifts from Santa we enjoy breakfast and playing with toys from Santa. After breakfast is cleaned up, we open gifts from our family (those are under the tree). Ben's family opened gifts one at a time and we adopted that tradition as well. You get to see what each person received and it extends the time of opening presents.
After family presents, I start on lunch- this year we did chicken enchiladas and tacos. We play all day with toys, learn our new gadgets, and just enjoy a day together. In the evening we get together with our friends (Laura and Allen and their kids) and we eat appetizers, cookies, and watch the Steelers play.
Our tree on Christmas Eve
We kept most of the presents upstairs until Christmas Eve.
Our living room is pretty small and we didn't have a lot of room to run around with all the presents.
Before heading to Mass on Christmas Eve, we took a few family photos.
I like both of them. :)
My big girl wanted one with "just Mommy".
After Church we came home and let the girls open one present while we got ready for dinner.
On Christmas Eve, the girls are allowed to open one present each.
We give them matching Christmas pajamas every year.
This year, the girls received these pajamas from GAP.
After dinner, the girls had me write a note for Santa while they colored him some pictures.
We left a plate of cookies and off they went to bed.
While the girls were sleeping, the elves were working...
Ben spent over an hour building this bike for Elizabeth
It's 20" AND has a hand break. OMG! :)
Caroline's goodies from Santa
(sorry, they kinda run into the presents under the tree)
(I assembled the high chair, pack n play, and stroller- with some help) :)
Elizabeth's presents from Santa
In between their individual gifts were these dress-up clothes from Santa.
They each got a tiara and shoes and then the pile had three princess dresses in it.
She LOVES her new bike!!
Caroline has put that baby in her high chair, stroller, and "crib" non-stop!
And Elizabeth took all of her Shimmer and Shine toys to Texas with her :)
After going through Santa gifts we enjoyed muffins, doughnuts, bacon, sausage balls and mimosas.
And everyone got a popper!
After breakfast, we enjoyed skyping with family and then opening all the presents under the tree!
The girls both received new Trolls travel blankets for all of our trips.
Every year I make them each a book of what they did that year.
They love reading them all year long (over and over) about all their trips, birthdays, holidays, and other family events we did together.
Elizabeth's Godmother Stacy sent her these cute earrings!
Caroline received the Trolls movie!
Opening gifts from Ga-Ga
Clothes from GAP!
A new purse from Gramps
Ben received a corn hole set from Ga-Ga!
The girls were super excited about these toys!
After that, I didn't get any more pictures (whoops!).
We spent the afternoon enjoying gifts and packing for our very early flight the next day.
We had a truly wonderful and blessed Christmas and we hope you did too.
Happy Wednesday y'all!
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