Christmas Eve

 Uncle Dennis gave all the girls bracelets for Christmas including Selababy.  Her first piece of jewelry!

 Growing up we always opened one present on Christmas Eve and the rest on Christmas morning.  This year we decided to have the kids open their gift from Auntie Kristen as their one Christmas Eve gift.

 Sullivan was a very big fan of the jewelry store toys that Auntie Kristen gave to Jilli.

 Grandma Kathy and Papa Phil gave Sela a Disney Princess tent.  Her first Christmas present and our first true "girl" toy to adorn our house.  I love this kind of thing.  It brings back so many memories from growing up with all girls.  Before we ever had babies I was sure that we would have all girls and I told Brian about all of the girl things he could look forward to; playing house, our daughters putting on dances and shows in the living room and of course, pink and princess everything.  I love that we have a princess tent and so do all of the kids.

 Loving the princess tent.

 Grandma Margaret and Grandpa Mike gave Sullivan a basketball hoop and to say that he loves it would be an extreme understatement.  It is now in his room and we go up there and shoot hoops at least two or three times a day.  He is an unbelievable shot and loves to stand on the chair in his room and shoot.  He can now catch the ball with one hand.  I am assuming this is from us getting his rebound and throwing the ball back to him over and over again.  He is quite the little athlete.

 Grandma Kathy gave Sullivan the book "The Night Before Christmas" that has a recording of her reading the book to him.  He loves this book and loves his Papa Phil!

 Grandma Margaret bought me and Brian a beautiful set of ceramic penguins as a Christmas gift and Sullivan absolutely fell in love with them.  He carried these penguins everywhere, he would lay them down on the ground and give them blankets and tell us "shhhh" because of course that meant they were sleeping.  He got such a kick out of these penguins and of course we adored watching him take care of them.  Sadly the penguins were no more the first time Sullivan carried them across the hard wood and they slipped out of his hands.  This is when I realized they were ceramic and not wood.  Not to worry, Grandma Margaret saved the day and found this little singleton and clearly Sullivan loved him just as much if not more. 

 Playing paddy cake with Grandma Kathy

Grandma Margaret and Grandpa Mike gave us a beautiful ornament set for me Brian to paint together just like the two of them did over 30 years ago before they had their boys.  We decided to open it up and have it be a Christmas Eve craft.  What fun we all had and we have some truly beautiful ornaments for years to come.  I will cherish the ones the kiddos made forever.

 Mixin' some beats on Miles new turn table.

Miles wrote his letter to Santa Claus, set out his cookies and carrots (for the reindeer of course) the boys hugged good night and it was off to bed in anticipation of what this blessed holiday would bring.