Holiday 2012: Christmas Eve and Morning

Christmas Eve we continued a Zayac family tradition (at least from when I was a kid) of going to the children's mass. We had to get there over 45 minutes early to get a seat, but both kids were very well-behaved and had a lot of admirers by the time we headed home.

Afterwards, Chase was awed by the nativity...

And how cool is this picture?

Our attempt at a family photo was moderately successful...at least we are all looking?

Another tradition is to have dinner at my parents' house on Christmas Eve. When I was growing up we'd often get a few Italian heros and trays of lasagna. This year we got sushi and Chinese food!

Once again, Chase and Addy had so much fun together. It is completely accurate that the pictures of them dancing are blurry because these two kiddos were movin' and groovin!

 

After the O'burg Zayacs headed home, we tried to settled Chase. He put out cookies and milk for Santa, and of course carrots for the reindeer!

Then it was time to continue a Lamont family tradition and read 'Twas the night before Christmas. Since both Stephen and I know it by heart (it's not just a Christmas time book in our house), we let Pop do the honors.

A soft snow started to fall before Chase went to sleep and continued well into the night while Santa made  his deliveries. The next morning we awoke to:

Brice was soon awake and almost as excited for the day as his big brother. Maybe it was contagious...

 

It was finally time to go downstairs and see if Santa had come.

 "Seriously!!!!?!?!"

(yeah, Santa and his elves went a little bit overboard)

 

The rest of the morning was spent opening the countless presents and playing with them! It was beautiful, happy chaos.

 

 

Santa couldn't fit their big presents down the chimney (or really, in his Honda sled), so he left them at our house. Luckily the boys got a note and a picture of what they could expect when we got home!

 

 

We spent the rest of the morning having a leisurely breakfast, enjoying each others company, and playing with all of our new presents. We were all so blessed with wonderful gifts.  And that was just our (first) Christmas morning. Next up, Christmas Day,  followed by Christmas in Concord!