santa's dress rehearsal

8:57 PM

every christmas, for as long as i can remember...santa has always done a trial run a few days before the big night and stops by cessie's house to leave some special presents. in case you are new to the blog or not close to the family...cessie is my second cousin but has always been more like another grandmother to us. she has been there for us since we were born and would do anything and everything for us. including taking not only lisa & i...but ali as well over to ireland! she is wonderful to us and even more wonderful to our kids.

growing up i looked forward to this night every christmas. it was like our official kick-off to the festivities! when we were younger we would always manage to get to cessie and auntie's house right as santa was sneaking out. we would hear him (aka my uncle johnny) rustling about in the room where they had their tree and it would scare (yet fascinate) the "you know what" out of me. i love, love, love these memories of christmas at cessie's. i am so happy we are able to continue the tradition with the next generation. we headed over on monday evening to see what santa dropped off for the kiddos...

i think these might be the very first "elf on a shelf." cessie has had these little guys for a long, long time. ryan loved them and named them bobby, robby and eddy.