Christmas Eve...

We hosted our annual Christmas Eve party.  The original goal of said party was to get the entire "fam damily" together.  That way, if Trevor and I didn't see all of our in town relatives on Christmas Day, we still got to see everyone the night before.

This system worked flawlessly for the first three Christmases our marriage.  But then…well, Banner happened.  Since we are now currently in possession of the only grandchild on both sides, it is no longer possible to get away with only seeing everyone on Christmas Eve.

Not that Banner has a problem with this system.  Christmas Eve is now an excuse for the little guy to stay up way past his bedtime (9 PM), and act drunk off of family, attention and ginger snap cookies.  

Case in point.

And then he got to repeat the whole thing today.  Only with presents, stockings, homemade cinnamon rolls and multiple car rides as we trek all over the metroplex visiting grandparents, aunts and uncles.

Banner is in heaven.

But back to Christmas Eve...

Our party also provided my father with the opportunity to sit in my study and peruse my collection of history books on 20th century dictators.  Because nothing says Merry Christmas like Hitler.

And before you judge me on having a collection of books about mass murdering dictators, it is important to note that I am a history nerd.  My focus in graduate school was on 20th Century US foreign policy.  Dudes like Hitler, Stalin, Mao and Pol Pot came up.  

Although, thanks to Trevor, most of my books on this subject are now stored in the back on the lowest shelf.  Because apparently it makes people feel uncomfortable to walk into our study and see the word "HITLER" prominently on display.

Merry Christmas, everyone!