Christmas Eve 2011

Christmas was FINALLY here my 4 kids were beyond excited for this day to come.... The girls this year came to me and asked if Santa was real.... The DREADED day had finally come. I was sooooo sad the girls were very cool about it as if they had known their entire lives.... I on the other hand cried like a baby all day! It made getting things ready for Christmas a lot easier with the girls knowing.... I was able to wrap and not have to stay up all hours of the night so nobody would hear me, i was able to go do some shopping while the kids stayed home and watched a movie. It was a hard thing to swallow.... my girls are growing up :(

This is what our tree looked like right before we went to bed.... all ready for the kids to get up
With light.... there were plenty of gifts for everyone! It was suppose to be a smaller Christmas since we had just gotten back from vacation to Florida in October, but it wasn't as small as planned!!!
Our house Christmas Eve, Lined with luminaria's ..... i had never seen these until we moved to New Mexico and it has become one of our little traditions to do on Christmas Eve.... right before the sun sets and we go look at Christmas lights as a family.
A luminaria or a farolito is a small paper lantern (commonly a candle set in some sand inside a paper bag) which is of significance in New Mexico and some neighboring states at Christmas time, especially on Christmas Eve.
Traditional Christmas Eve luminarias are made from brown paper bags weighted down with sand and illuminated from within by a lit candle. These are typically arranged in rows to create large and elaborate displays. The hope among Roman Catholics is that the lights will guide the spirit of the Christ child to one's home.
Santa Fe and Old Town Albuquerque, New Mexico, are well known for their impressive Christmas Eve luminaria displays.^[3] Luminaria displays are common throughout New Mexico, and most communities in New Mexico have luminarias in prominent areas such as major streets or parks. Residents often line their yards, fences, sidewalks, and roofs with luminarias.
Drew and all the kids lighting the last of the Luminarias..... Another family traditions the kids all get new jammies on Christmas Eve and this year the whole family got them... so this is the only picture i have of them sporting the new Christmas jammies.
We have our BIG Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve (well something nice other then ham and potatoes).... This year Drew smoked 3 full racks of baby back ribs along with them we had pasta salad and rolls.... i've gotta say he has become quite the master at smoking ribs!!! I never liked ribs and now they are one of my favorites!!! Christmas morning i had made the traditional dinner Ham, Potatoes, rolls, veggies, and salad!! We had some close friends come over after church on Christmas to have dinner with us and play games until 2 the next morning!!! It was a ton of fun and made being away from family a little easier to cope with!