It was a Very Merry Eve & Day...

 We began our Christmas Eve by attending Saint Bernard's 4pm Mass.
The church was packed (we arrived 30 min early and got the last seats!), and the spirit was full. We sang lovely Christmas Carols, and blessings flowed. Father Rick ended the Mass by putting on a hysterical battery operated Santa hat and handed out gifts to all the children in attendance.

On our way out, we stopped to peek at the creche outside the church....

We were delighted to see my brother

 

and his family waiting for us when we got back. Molly and Rebecca helped Taylor with appetizers, while I made Pomegranate Martini's for Lyndsay and I :)

We nibbled on appetizers while opening presents...

 Scarfs for Taylor; a new nonstick pan for (mountain man) Joe.

 T Shirts for Dan...

 Taylor gave Joe at least a month's worth of coffee from Kevin's Coffee and Starbucks...

 Lyndsay opened a much needed Lowe's gift card for her and Dan from Joe, while Dan got sleepy just thinking about all the home improvements Lyndsay has planned...

 We ended the evening as usual..with Jim reading The Night Before Christmas from a really awesome new book this year.

 Christmas morning found us sitting in front of a blazing fire, pulling fun surprises out of our Christmas stockings, and ooing and ahhing over our breakfast: 

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls from Pioneer Woman

and an Egg Strata that was soooo delicious.

Taylor made this scarf for Lyndsay...beautifully knitted from someone who just learned to knit a couple of months ago!

Dabi (my mom) loved all of her gifts, but especially the head massager!

 Joe loved the head massager too!

After breakfast we headed to Jim's sister's house for more present opening and dinner.

 So much fun being with family for the holidays....

 

 As of Christmas morning, our mountain man Joe was gone, replaced by collegiate Joe :)

 A VERY merry time was had by all....