Christmas Eve 2012

Per our tradition, we spend Christmas Eve at my parents house.  We got there around lunchtime for chicken noodle soup and some snacks.  We try to keep the snacking to a minimum so that we are hungry for the big dinner of stuffed tenderloin, lobster and twice baked potatoes later that night. 

 

We played a game that Tara created which was basically a bunch of questions you answer and then we share them and laugh at how each person interprets the question.  For example; one question was what three things would you bring if you were stranded on an island.  My answer: lotion, chapstick, radio.  My Mom's answer:  chocolate, starbursts and donuts.  Anna's answer:  Liam, Dan and their dog Chuy.  Chris' answer:  a boat, a navy captain and a GPS.  Chris was obviously thinking big picture to get off the island and we all had to laugh at my Mom and I's simple answers.

Picture time.  A serious one. 

And a playful one.

The afternoon went so fast and soon it was time to get started in the kitchen.  Chris handles stuffing the tenderloin, I make our version of a Caesar Salad, my Dad handles cooking the lobsters and my Mom oversees and is involved in it all. 

Next up was gift opening.  Anna and Dan are expecting baby #2 in June, so this was a little onesie I had gotten him/her.

The next pic was one of my favorite gifts and was from Tara and Erik.  It is one of our top five recipes (Chicken Divan) that is special to us for a couple of reasons.  Tara had it customized and written out in all different fonts and then even included a little blurb from our blog at the bottom.  I love that it is red and we will have to find the perfect spot in our kitchen for it. 

Liam hit a wall on Xmas Eve and went to bed early, but he was himself Christmas morning enjoying all of his new toys.

Next up, our Italian feast on Christmas Day with Chris' parents.