Christmas Eve and Beyond

Every Christmas Eve, the family gets together to enjoy each other's company, and to 'ahem' help Santa move gifts from household to household. We used to do this at my grandparent's house, but life changes and now we do it at my sister Sandy's place, which is a neutral meeting ground.

Maia is dressed and ready to go, but insists she has to "cook" first.

Liam is dressed handsomely for Christmas Eve.

Cousin photo! (this was the best of the lot)

Brother and Sister, Cuties-in-cahoots.

Awwwwwwwwww

Liam helps decorate Sandy's tree with candy canes.

CHRISTMAS MORNING!!!
The big red gift is Maia's new play kitchen (a toy she LOVES), and the big black gift is Liam's handmade Tardis (how awesome is that? Your very own Tardis??).

Following the tradition of my family, the kids wait at the top of the stairs, where they can't see the tree or gifts yet, until we are ready for them to come down.

Slowly they inch down.

Until finally they see the amazing sight under the tree.

Maia is in love with her kitchen from the first second.

And I can't even begin to explain how excited Liam was to get his Tardis. AND to find another gift waiting inside for him.

The perfect gift for the Doctor.

Next we head to Grandmom and PopPop's house for more gift open. Cousin Cole has been patiently waiting to open the gift we got for him, so he goes first (Spiderman comforter).

Then Aunt Michelle begins handing out the gifts while Liam looks on excitedly.

Maia makes herself comfortable near Sandy and commences gift opening. Awesome Hello Kitty pajamas.

And Hello Kitty slippers.

Ahhhhhh, how comfy.

Liam gets a mini Tardis to play with, complete with the 11th Doctor and Amy.

He also got a Doctor Who calendar.

Maia waits patiently while Sandy helps.

But a 2-year-old only has so much patience.

What a lovely necklace! (yes, she loves Hello Kitty...can you tell?).

And Liam gets a belt display rack, to display his belts from Tae Kwon Do.

(Sadly, though, he quit three weeks later)