Twas the night before Christmas...

...and all through the house, the sound of a screw driver echoed out loud. More on that in a minute!

The Bruces celebrated Christmas Eve by baking cookies, visiting with neighbors, friends & family and finally, setlling down for a long winter's nap- without a binky (pacifier, whatever.)

While T went to work for a bit to prepare for a trip to the PapaJohns.com Bowl (work, not pleasure) E & V lovingly prepared sugar cookies. V liked the sprinkles the best. Here's an action shot of her putting approximately 1/2 a bottle of sprinkles on ONE cookie. Mmmm, good.

She also loves standing on her ladder overseeing all the action in the kitchen. Here's a funny Jingle Bells moment:

After cookie time my BFF since 3rd grade, the lovely Paizhe, came by for an annual Christmas visit.

She showered V with gifts, and V brought her every blanket, stuffed animal and book in the house to show her appreciation and affection. I think the tiara may have been just what V has always needed. Here is the 2009 Little Miss Tater Tot to be:

We then headed out to my parents' house and then off to church, where V managed to pull every pledge card out of the pew, tried to draw in the Bible and had a great time using her mother as a trampoline during the scripture readings. Luckily, T has less patience than me so he got to take her home early and I got to stay for the fun part where we all light candles and sing "Joy to the World" accompanied by trumpets.

After a delicious snack supper with my parents and 2 brothers my mom unveiled the 2008 Christmas pajamas. As is the tradition every year, Mom gets pajamas for everyone to wear Christmas Eve night. Now, let me just be up front in saying I picked out the ones I wanted for V this year and called mom from the store to tell her about them. I had no idea she'd wander over into the women's section and find...

...that's right, matching pajamas for me. Insert the smart-alecky comment of your choice here. :)

We made it home, had V sprinkle reindeer dust in the yard and then prepared milk and cookies and BINKIES for Santa. Now that V is 2 is seems like a great time for Santa to take those binkies and give them to other babies around the world, right? If V asks, say YES!

Sprinking reindeer dust so Santa can find our house...

Literally kissing her binkies good-bye!

She went to bed without a fuss so keep your fingers crossed she'll be able to break the binky habit cold tofurkey.

As I type T has entered hour 3 of assembling Santa's big gift to V this year- a toddler size kitchen. He's still smiling now and it is almost 11 p.m....

...so Merry Christmas!