Waiting for our guests to arrive Saturday night

Merry Christmas Eve friends and family! The shopping is done, the gifts are wrapped, the cookies are baked, the groceries are done, the advent calender is full of pompoms, the Christmas bread bought, and the kids are EXCITED.

Our annual holiday party on Saturday was another success. Spending time with friends; warmed by cider, egg nog, rum, and of course the holiday spirit made for one beautiful night. Clara and Chloe were able to catch up a bit after seeing each other so rarely during the past few months.

The girls catching up

Leo and Max were inseparable especially singing backup during the RockBand exposition at the end of the evening. Marc and I were free to chat and catch up with friends, our kids are really growing up!

Rock Stars in the making

Auntie Dorothy extended her visit by an extra day and as a result we put her to work. She helped me accomplish some last minute baking and helped get the apartment in shape for our 50 odd guests. I realized how handy an extra adult is around here on Saturday afternoon.

Tonight we are off to celebrate Christmas Eve and Jim and Jayne's new kitchen with a meal of Tourtiere and Gratin Dauphinois (scalloped potatoes). Sounds yum huh? Then, Clara and Leo will go so bed in their new green striped pajamas and tomorrow morning we'll open our stockings, eat Portuguese fruit bread, snack on clementines and mango, and open the gifts under the tree at a leisurely pace. We'll likely stay home in our pajamas unless the mood strikes us to out for a walk or to do some sledding.