'Twas the Night Before Christmas...

This really is my favorite time of the year. I love the magic this season brings and the feeling of anticipation I get every Christmas Eve knowing that Santa will be coming and leaving us present under the tree!  We had a great time getting ready for all the festivities.  I love the traditions that we're starting with our boys!

The boys get ready to watch their videos from Santa!

Shaun was so excited to see Santa pull out a book with his name on it.

Evan's turn to see if he is on the Nice list or the Naughty list.

After nap time the IL's came up to spend the night (same as last year!).  I made my homemade sauce and meatballs and added some homemade garlic knots to the mix this year.  YUM!  After dinner we started preparation for the luminaries!

Evan helps to put the candles in the bags

Preparing the bags.

So pretty all lit up!

Such a warm glow...a wonderful tradition carried over from Charlie's childhood!

After the luminaries were all set up it was time to have a little dessert and get ready to open up their one Christmas Eve gift...new jammies!  We got them ready for bed and then we logged onto Google Maps to check out where Santa was.  We left reindeer food outside and David wrote a note to Santa while we got his plate of goodies ready.

Getting ready to open their new jammies...a tradition carried over from my childhood!

Traditional Christmas Eve picture in the new jammies!

Shaun can be so sweet to his baby brother sometimes!

A Christmas Eve picture with Omi!

Daddy shows the boys where Santa is on Google Maps!

Getting a treat ready for Santa.

Hot Chocolate, a mint brownie, toffee bar and egg nog fudge.

And no Christmas Eve would be complete without the reading of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas!

Now it's time for bed, this year we put the boys together.  It didn't go as well as we hoped and at one point we considered moving Evan out, but eventually (at about 10:30pm!!!) they all settled down and fell asleep so Santa could come and deliver all the gifts!