Finally posting all of the Christmas Eve madness after the Mr Jerry Christmas (he was the winner for the second year in a row) contest footage- we had a great night with my mom's family Christmas Eve at Jannie and Grampa's house. Always a great tradition with cracked crab, games galore and Santa coming after dinner. My photo documentation was still lacking in quality- but here was the night in review!

The Kreeft Kids- Claire, Drew and Connor in their very festive outfits. Claire made her skirt from a Target tree skirt and glued on "Merry Christmas" as the trim- very impressive Claire :) Connor found his sparkly shirt and won the title of the Croatian Ice Dancing Star. Drew was looking very handsome.

Emmy B and Mr Jerry Christmas (the godparents :)

Francie with Luke and James ~ Maisie with Claire and Emmy

Pretty Ella

Maisie Moo the little Christmas Elf (in her size 6 month outfit)

Francie told Jannie "there are PRESENTS under your tree with my name on them!"

SANTA came to play!! (10 year old version of Santa- and my cousin Luke disappeared to take a nap during the same time) Francie was 100% smitten with the "little Santa who came to play with me" and was stuck to his side all night. She never even questioned it and was so sad when he had to go back to the North Pole!

Cute cousins with Santa (love the girls' faces)

The first time Santa has ever sat on Uncle Jerr's lap!

Santa pile up

James and Em with Little Santa

Claire in a recent college grad sandwich (Congrats Em and now Johners!)

Santa Babies

Besties

Mimi and her college kids (Connor is a freshman at Georgetown this year and Claire a junior at BC but going abroad to Africa next semester!)

ABA and Pat- Ann found this black dress up in Jannie's dress up closet- she thinks it belonged to great aunt kay or margaret!

Maisie showing off her photography skills- notice Mr Jerry Christmas and his alterations to the sign behind them

We are all very thankful for another Merry Christmas!

Noodle fun at the kids tables

After Cracked Crab dinner Jannie started a new tradition… "Box or No Box." The youngest person started and picked a door to find either Hershey's kisses, a pick a prize ticket or CASH :)

Luke picked the grand prize $50!

Ella got the next best - $20

Then we heard some hoofs on the roof- everybody upstairs while Santa comes!!

Too cool for school crowd hiding in ABA's old room during the Santa waiting…

SANTA has left the building…

Then present exchange - everyone drew a name. Kim had Maisie and Ella made her the cutest Fluffy Dog from build-a-bear with a dress that matched Ella's! Maisie Looooooooved it.

Twinsies!

Then time for the Big Swap. This year's theme was a "re-gift" but the catch was if it was lame you gave it back to the gifter to take home as their prize :)

"HA! These people are all crazy!"

and then Christmas Contest Time- thanks to our judges for staying awake until midnight for the big competition!

They took their jobs very seriously

awww family love

Behind the scenes- I think this was when Drew made Jerry download "You Can't Touch This" for his act

Francie doing rounds with her new trailer on the the trike and new Jessie doll "riding upside down" in front of her… hold on Jessie!

Uncle Jerry was Emcee and Jannie had to get the hook out for her other brother John who kept tap dancing his antlered way on stage

That's just what big sisters do!

Brian had been up since 4:30am with a puker Maisie (so was I but at least got a nap) so he was a trooper staying up and still smiling into the wee hours of family comedy