christmas eve eve eve

I am a big fan of celebrating Christmas over and over and over again all December long.
We have some long standing party traditions with different groups of friends and every party has essentially felt like Christmas Eve.
I love it.
We typically celebrate Christmas Eve at my parent's house with all of my siblings and their families (when they can get here).
This year we decided to put together a little Christmas Eve two Sundays before Christmas.
Since my parents are obviously not here and Julia was leaving to see them on the 20th and my brother and his wife were leaving to see my grandparents in DC a few days before Christmas, an early celebration was in order (longest sentence of all time. My apologies).
With a big feast, candles, simple presents for each other, a tiny little Christmas tree and cuddling up by the fire to watch Elf, we were all ready to hear jolly old St. Nick up on the roof in no time.
It just really felt that much like Christmas.
And it was no surprise that Minnie loved helping everyone open their presents (a girl after her mama's heart).
I can't wait for actual Christmas morning with this girl.


Although we won't all be together for Christmas this year, I was so grateful to be able to celebrate it with half of my family this night.
I just love them so much.
And gosh, we'll be lucky enough to spend real Christmas Eve with my sister and her cute family.
And next year at this time we will ALL be together again in SLC.
Gah!
I know my parent's will be sad to leave their mission, but man oh man, I am ready for them to come home.
July can't come soon enough if you ask me.