Christmas Eve

Since I was home for the holidays I needed to cram as much in as possible and that meant going to breakfast with my old West Chester gang. I met them out in the burbs for a little catching up and breakfast at First Watch. It was good to see everyone and now maybe Drinky won't call Ando up randomly to ask about me and talk mostly about her. The breakfast could have been better though, if Macho Max would have been there. I am not sure that anyone told him I was coming up to see the old gang or not though so I can't blame him.

After breakfast I needed to make a pie for my grandpa, my cran-raspberry pie, and wrap every single gift I had bought for others; I had everything shipped to Cincinnati so I wouldn't have to carry anything back with me on the plane. It didn't take as long as I had anticipated it would so that was a pleasant little surprise.

That night Ando and I went to my family event to start the night off. We are now trying to do the every other year plan so we spend most of the evening at one family. Last year we stopped by my family's before spending the night on his side and this year we did the opposite. Well we still went to my family Christmas first, but we spent more time there. This was also the first Christmas in many many many many years that a little kid has been there. It was the first Christmas with my nephew since my brother and sister-in-law adopted him. He was so nice and polite watching everyone open their presents when it wasn't his turn to open one. And he even got excited for other people; like when his dad, my brother, opened up some socks. I have never seen someone so excited about socks.

It was good to see my family again and hang out with my nephew, who seems to love me for some reason. I have no idea what I did for him to always be seeking me out, but for some reason he always does. I also got to see both of my cousins, yep on only have two on that side of the family, one was back from college and the other back from Iraq.

After my family fun and present giving Ando and I headed over to see his family for a little bit at the end of the night. The festivities were still going on and I don't even think anyone had left yet. We didn't partake in the "present" giving, but we were still almost sucked in. His family does a white elephant; everyone gives each other crap. Luckily we managed to not come home with anything "tacky". There were a bunch of kids running around at this Christmas, as there usually are, and more kidtastic fun was had.

Pictures of Christmas Eve for all.

My nephew opening up one of his many gifts.

My Grandmother got this scarf head thing for Christmas and I was showing her how it worked when I got pulled from behind by my aunt.

I loved this dog when I was a kid. All you did was drag it along side you and the feet moved, but oh how I loved to drag that thing with me everywhere. If you are wondering why it is out it is because my mom got out a bunch of our old toys for my nephew to play with. I found out that night how far toys have come over the years; from this wooden dog to a talking Elmo that knows when it has fallen and that you picked him back up.

My mom and I handing out presents. I was fired from the job shortly after this picture was taken.
A fabulously tacky gift!

I was around a lot of kids Christmas Eve; I don't have one on the way to add to all the fun.