Christmas Eve and Skyler's Stocking

On Christmas Eve the Klatt/Hafen family delivered Skyler's Stocking to a family.  Skyler's Stocking is in memory of Pete's little brother.  Every year the family gets together to pick out gifts for a family who could use the holiday cheer, or would otherwise go without many Christmas gifts.  This year we delivered the stocking to a family of a single mother with 7 kids with ages ranging from 1 year to 14 years old.  I always love this tradition because it puts Christmas back in perspective for me.  And I always get a little teary eyed at their reaction.   It makes it even more worth while when you hear how grateful they were.  It's such a great tradition, I can't wait until Harlow really understands it more. 

Afterwards we headed to my parents house for dinner with my brother and sister-in-law.  We also exchanged our gifts and watched Harlow open her and baby sister's presents.  She was thrilled with everything she got and wanted to play with it all.  Then it was time to head home and leave out cookies and milk for Santa and get snuggled into bed for Harlow.  She was pretty excited this year, I think she really understood Christmas more this year so it was fun to get her excited about it.  After she went to bed, Pete and I put in an extra few hours helping Santa as his volunteer elves...

Harlow standing in front of the stocking.  It's HUGE!

Aunt Jessi, Harlow and Cousin Amelia

The family gathering before we went to the door.

Making our way to the front door.

Christmas Eve dinner at my mom and dad's house.

Harlow opening her presents. And opening baby sister's too.

Uncle Dev and Lennox.

At our house in front of the tree on Christmas Eve.

Harlow's cookies and milk she left for Santa.

Harlow must have been on the Nice List, Santa brought her a scooter!

We don't have a chimney so we leave Santa a magic key to get into our house.