Round One

So often I say how blessed I am to have married a man with such a wonderful family. The Turza's are so much fun and this really is shown on Christmas Eve. They gamble (like always!), eat, drink and are the merriest crowd around. What else makes Christmas Eve special? The appearance of Hipster Santa, of course!! Last year was the first year that Santa came and in order to disguise Matt better for Santa to see well, they threw some glasses on him and called it a day...this year was even better because Frosty the Snowman came too! So cute.

{party in pete's basement!}

{grandpa frank and finney mac}

{finn's first time gambling, trying to get 5 of a kind to win the big money!}

{eddie's turn! no luck for us this year, though}

{Maryanne won!!!}

{wait, notice that Pat looks a little suspicious?}

{poor Maryanne, tricked by her brother with the fake dice...it was an amazing celebration while it lasted, though!}

{no joke, this is where Eddie was all night, obsessed with the slot machine. When he started to go around asking people for change, I told him that he hit rock bottom.}

{cousins! eddie, makayla, shelby, finn, ellie, michael and leah}

{when the cousin picture goes wrong...ellie bumped michael with her head, michael starts crying, ellie darts off, leah is crying, shelby is over holding finn....i was surprised we even got one good picture!}

{michelle had the adorable idea to do christmas light limbo. it was so cute!}

{eddie wasn't into it, though!}

{these two were so cute - shelby and makayla were inseperable all night}

{michael, makayla and shelby}

{typical eddie, sauce all over his face}

{frosty and santa have arrived!}

{santa was hilarious this year....strangely similar to Uncle Pat....}

{Finn was obviously enthralled}

{Leah, however, was NOT amused by Santa. Her face was so funny the whole time}

{eddie, of course, loved every second of it}

{ps, don't you love his new short hair? so much better than the long....it does show his scar like crazy though}

{Isn't this picture the cutest? Leah was having to much fun bouncing on Michelle's legs}

{Wendy won for the funniest white elephant gift....the dog purse!! it was hilarious. There were some really good ones this year including what I snagged - a huge tub of Garret's popcorn!! Frank really made out with his massive Vera Bradley bag. He's obviously in love}

{I had to include a picture of my amazing dessert - white chocolate gingerbread trifle with a cranberry compote. NOM!}

{they also did an ugly sweater contest this year and Jamie went the Lady Gaga route and sewed glitter poinsettias to her shirt, lol!}

Then of course it was time to go and get ready for Santa. Eddie picked out his cookie to leave for him, the fancy glass for the milk and diligently sprinkled the reindeer food on the driveway. He went down with out a peep and Santa went to work leaving some great surprises for the morning.

{frankie and finn caught snuggling by the tree}

{and finally at midnight, finn and I gave into sleep. visions of sugarplums and all...}