Saturday, December 24, 2011

Christmas Eve

Just a brief visit before heading to bed after Christmas Eve mass and Santa construction.

A day or so ago, we exchanged gifts with the McNamaras.  Not the easiest task to get a picture of this group.


Thursday included a cookie party at Nolan's house.  He's a preschool friend of Lainey and Rylee's and I'm now completely obsessed with his mom and her mad skillz in decor and creativity.

She read the little ones a Christmas book and then the kids tore into the cookies.



We toured her house......or nosily walked through it......it's a dream come true.

3 children (of 5) sleep in this room.

Seriously.  I was speechless.

Holy cuteness.





The gang.

The party was enough.....but we were sent home with our own cokie decorating kit complete with cookies, icing and candy.






The party was a blast.

That evening......Eve Eve.....we went to the San Diego Zoo for their Jungle Bells party.

I feel the same way on the gondola, Jack.  Believe me.

Why?  Why can't our kids be normal?


The San Diego Zoo is ENORMOUS, in case you don't know.  They even have escalators in some parts.  Kids loved this.

Family pic.

This was just before I fell over backwards, holding Jack, into the pointsettas after telling the children not to touch them.  My short dress didn't help the spectacle.

Merry Christmas, Zoo goers!

Oh, and that's Laine in the penguin hat at the bottom.  Great shot, random stranger.

Mass was lovely tonight. 

We returned for our usual Eve routine.  But, this time Carter helped put together Santa gifts.  Slight tears.  A rite of passage in this house..........he's growing up.........it's fun and heartbreaking all at the same time.

Merry Christmas, dear friends.  I hope you've been as blessed as we have.

9 comments:

donatelli98 said...

Love the family pic with your penguin! Have a great Christmas my friend!

Unknown said...

Casey, you are hysterical! My husband said I need to make sure the house is picked up before I let people take pictures :)

Looks like you guys had a great Christmas week. Have a Very Merry Christmas and I look forward to seeing you in the new year!

Mama Sue said...

Looks like you are having a wonderful Christmas. Thanks for sharing all the pics of your sweet family!

aunt caroline said...

I can't stop laughing about the last pic.

Brittny said...

PLEASE don't ever let your kids become normal!! I would stop reading your blog and would never speak to you again. You have no idea what it does for my self-esteem to know that there are kids who are crazier, I mean, just as crazy as my own kids!!

starnes family said...

Not a chance, Brittny!

Dee Stephens said...

HOLY CUTENESS IS RIGHT! I'm bookmarking this one! WOW! Cute picture of Lainey. BTW -- My SIL adored your card! She showed my BIL..and said 'it's our life!' LOL!! Happy New Year friend.

Kim said...

Such fun, I love the way you write! So funny that the stranger got the penguin hat but not Lainey. Can't wait to read about Christmas!

Merry Mack said...

Normal is a setting on the dryer.

Holy crafty lady, that woman does have mad skillz. And such bravery.