I love my family's Christmas Eve gathering for several reasons. I love to see my family - they see each other often but being 4 hours away we don't usually get to see all of them on our trips home (shouldn't be too difficult since everyone except my oldest cousin Jeremy lives within about 3 miles, but somehow it always is!). On top of seeing my family, our tradition is to have chicken pie. Its no ordinary chicken pie. It is quite possibly the best chicken pie in the world. My Nannie Helen used to make it and luckily my dad can make it nearly as good as she could. It has become a new tradition for me to help assemble the chicken pie every year. We were running a little late this year but we made it in time for Payton to help "drop dumplings" too! He was most excited because he thought he was "scoring!"
As usual, the chicken pie was delicious. So good, we make 2 chicken pies - one to save for Christmas night...my two favorite meals of the year...even better than North Carolina BBQ!
The family time was great too! Between myself and my 4 cousins (one of whom doesn't have a wife or children yet) we now have 7 kids. Seven kids under the age of 7 makes for an interesting holiday! They have lots of fun running, screaming, jumping and playing in a very NOT kid friendly house! Somehow, we always survive!
My dad with Madi (my cousin Jeremy's daughter)
Our best attempt at a family photo:
Only Connor is missing in the 1st one
We've lost a little focus here...and Rachel has decided to lay down, backwards....her Mom never did a good job with family photos either :)
Now everyone is looking but we lost Wil and unfortunately, Noah is missing in this shot due to a quick trip to timeout!
Last chance - Say Cheese! Wil (3), Payton (21 m), Moses (4), Connor (7), Rachel (3), Madi (10 m), Noah (4) - not pictured :)
Payton has a few more presents to open...again, taking it slow!
Payton and Uncle Hub aka Uncle Alfred
Moses, Uncle Alfred and Payton
Noah made his way out of timeout and cheered up in time for an adorable picture!
Another White family tradition - Martha Washingtons - peanut butter candy - luckily my Cousin Leslie makes a few each year - Payton loved them!
After family time, eating and opening presents we all headed to church for Christmas Eve service. We enjoyed desert after church and then got Payton into his Christmas PJs and hit the road to head back to East Bend. We continued our tradition of reading "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" as we headed to East Bend. Payton really enjoyed the book this year. Once I finished reading, he fell sound asleep!
Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight!
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