christmas eve

we always celebrate christmas with my family on the 24th. it's always crazy and chaotic, much like the pictures below. but this is how the nguyens roll.

here's elf again.

i let aaron and dylan open a gift from me early so they could have something to play with while we ate. i love the look on him here. and if i recall correctly, he may or may not have shot someone in the face. after that, he was instructed to aim for the ceiling.

em was checking out all the gifts. she was really good at handing them out to her cousins (and keeping hers, of course). she can spell their names and loved looking for them on the gifts.

the tongue! she's "thinkin' about" if there is anything good in this one.

so many kiddos and so many gifts! to think that there will be one more cousin for em next year. and a boy, at that. whew, things are about to get even busier!

our only family picture. ignore the size of my pompa please.

hahaha. what is she up to?!

oooh, fancy nancy slippers. thanks auntie tina!

dylan did not take this cape off (for weeks i'm told). i love that he loved it so much.

back at home, getting ready for santa's visit. aunt steph gave these dishes to em on her first christmas and we have used them every year.

so that i won't forget, here is a brief summary of em's loot this year: a beauty bicycle (among other things) from auntie tina and (uncle?) trey; a doll house from ong and ba; all the disney princess barbies (plus lots more) from auntie elna, uncle todd, and aaron; lots of clothes and princess toys from uncle and auntie phi and dylan, including a cute t-shirt that says, "aaron did it"; kid friendly nail polish, puzzles, books, art supplies, sticker books, more books, games, personalized luggage, you name it, she got it. thank you everyone!