'Twas The Night Before Christmas

Christmas Eve is the big day in my family.  Since my sister has a couple stops to make on Christmas day, our family does our celebration on Christmas Eve.  Usually we come in jammies or armed with jammies, so we can rush home, set out cookies for Santa and sleep for a very short time before we all do it again.

Some fond memories have been made at these gatherings.  Like the time when MJ was 2 and I was videoing him playing with his Monsters, Inc. Scare Factory and he informed me he was pooping.  You can't forget moments like that.  Ever!

Or moments like this:

T-Dog is always ready to pose for a picture for me.  I spent most of the night trying to get a smile out of him.  It wasn't until he opened an MP3 player that I got the golden nugget I was looking for.  Rather than this type of golden nugget.  I'm just sayin'!

For my first two nephews, my sister had a strict no guns or swords policy.  She didn't want anything that promoted violence.  The two older boys, MJ and T-Dog go for the disgusting instead.  While CJ has different rules.  Maybe my sister has just been worn down with all the bodily functions that she doesn't have it in her anymore to enforce the rule.  We got CJ a sword.  That makes noise.  He's already a pro.

I'm pretty sure it's like that Red Rider BB Gun and he did put someone's eye out before the holiday was through.

None the less, it was a great time had by all.  I even got to try out my new camera a bit (a Canon Rebel XSi).  For a brief moment got the whole family to look somewhat in my direction and smile. 

Except for CJ because he's defending the family and you can't let your enemy think you're soft.

Because that picture turned out so well, I wanted one of N, Zoe and me.  T-Dog somehow flashed that smile I begged and pleaded for and asked to take our picture.  I handed over the new camera, ran to the couch and got ready for our big smiling picture.

I think he caught our best side.