Christmas Eve and the silly monkeys

Since I left you hanging in suspense about my Christmas Eve festivities in my last blog, here's the update.

The tradition is for Andy's brother's family to host Christmas Eve and everyone meets there for dinner and the gift exchanging. This year, thanks to a couple of flu bugs going around, "everyone" meant me and Andy and Andy's folks. Sick kids forced Carrie and Chuck to sit this one out and Grandma Mac was a little under the weather too.

Dinner was nice, and it turns out Andy's brother makes a pretty good lasagna. No, not as good as my mom's, but very tasty. And to be fair to Dan there is no such thing as being as good as my mom's lasagna so for me to call it very tasty is a BIG compliment. Way to go Dan!

The gift exchange was fun -- it's always great to watch little ones tear through their gifts. Eddie and Abby were all dressed up in their Christmas best too, which was too cute. I got a good pic of Eddie, but Abby was a little camera shy this time.

Isn't Eddie looking rather dapper?

After the festivities at Dan and Jen's, we headed over to visit Carrie and Chuck . They were pretty bummed about missing out on the dinner, so we wanted to stopy by for a little Christmas cheer. Ellie had a nasty little bug (which I think Andy and I are starting to enjoy now - a late Christmas gift), but you never would have known it. She was climbing all over me (hence the silly monkey headline) and I knew I was probably doomed to catch her bug. To be honest, I could care less. I'll get over it, and it was worth it. Ellie and Phoebe are ridiculously cute. And you can see for yourself as they are not the least bit camera shy.

There's one of the silly monkeys now!

The girls, Phoebe and Ellie

Phoebe took this one all by herself

We spent the bulk of the time there trying to put together the Mouse Trap game we got Phoebe for Christmas. Yeah, I remember it being a lot easier when I was a kid. We finally got it all put together and it turns out building the trap is actually part of the game. So we took it apart and put it away for later. Chuck and Carrie say they'll play it later, but I have my doubts. And I don't really blame them if they don't. Next time I'll get her Operation. No assembly required.

We left a little later than intended, and I'm pretty sure I heard Santa's sleigh bells in the neighborhood. At least that's what I told Phoebe just before she darted away to jump into bed. Good times.

Next we hit Lights on the Lake for one last shot of Christmas cheer before calling it a night. For you Georgia folks, it's a lot like the Lake Lanier lights. Very festive!

I don't know why this looks so trippy.

We finally got home around midnight and watched a little of the Christmas Story marathon before calling it a night. And that's the story of Christmas Eve and the silly monkeys.

Tune in tomorrow for "Christmas Day and Rocky Balboa."