Christmas Eve

We hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas.  We had another wonderful holiday with family and friends.  Here is a re-cap of what went on with the Stringfellow clan on Christmas Eve....

We started off the day with a cake decorating session - a birthday cake for Jesus.  This is a tradition we started last year but this year was the first year she was totally into it.  It was fun stuff.

The finished product - I pretty much let her have her way with the cake.  I just helped with the words.  Not the most beautiful cake but fun, nonetheless.

Then, it was off to Mass with my mom (as is our usual Christmas Eve custom).  Then we headed home for dinner, fun, and presents.  We had a cookie decorating contest this year.  This is Elaina preparing to make her cookie.

My sister Kate, and her daughter, Alexandra decorating their cookies

Nephew, Quentin, decorating his

Sister, Nell, decorating hers

Nell's hubby, Dave, decorating his

Mom, Carl, and Gale decorating theirs - this is a serious crew right here.  Our dear friends Carl and Sabrina joined us again this year.  They are big cake decorators so they provided the professional cookie decorating tools.  It was very cool.

Sabrina was the judge but she took a few minutes to decorate her own cookie

Here are the Stringfellow cookies - Elaina (reindeer), Erin (weird eyeball looking cookie), Erik (ornament)

The Gates cookies, Kate (Santa), Alexandra (love cookie), Quentin (icing piled cookie - he was going for tallest cookie)

The Smith's cookie - Dave ("S" cookie???  No idea), Nell (Christmas tree cookie)

Sabrina (snowman), Carl (Santa - he put 2 cookies together. GENIUS), Gale (wreath), mom (candle)
The winners in the following categories:
Elaina - best little kids cookie
Alexandra - best big kid cookie
Nell - best adult cookie
Mom/Carl/Gale: Best Group of cookies

Then it was present opening time....  Elaina got a cheerleader outfit from her Granny

We did stocking stuffers only with everyone this year - this is Elaina with her bath soap stuff that you paint on.

Dave and Nell played the part of the reindeer

A pose with Erik and I

Then it was home to get ready for bed and put out cookies and milk for Santa...  Elaina was super excited about doing this.  It was fun for Erik and I too ;)

Stay tuned for Christmas day adventures with the Stringfellows.......