'Twas The Night Before Christmas........2009

Our Family tradition is that we all get together on Christmas Eve with the Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins. We started this the second Christmas after I had moved out of the house. I wanted to spend the time with my family and so I had suggested we all gather at my place which we did, and have been doing every year since for the last 18 years I think it is. We always do the meal potluck style so no one person has the burden to feed all 25-30 of us. We usually have it at my house or my parents house. We usually do a gift exchange too.
I didn't get alot of pictures not very many wanted their picture taken.......
Here is part of the group getting ready for the presents.

This year we had it at my Mom's house again. Since the economy has hit everyone bad this year we didn't do a gift exchange the kids opened their gifts from Grammy and Papa so that Grammy could see each child as they opened their gifts. Grammy puts alot of effort into picking just the right gift for each child while still staying in her budget and I think she did great in getting a special thing for each child. Kennedy loves her Snow White Barbie doll.
My Dad one year surprised us "Kids" with a present this is not the normal though. That year all the girls got this Salsa chopping machine because he had one and just can't live without it so he got all us girls one. He got all the boys Leather-mans that year. Ya know keep it all even and fair! This year with him serving/working at the Cannery we got jars of jelly/jam to add to our year supply. I got Peaches, Strawberrys, and 1 Raspberry Blackberry. I thought the Strawberry would be my favorite but the Raspberry Blackberry was most delightful!!