'Twas the Night Before Christmas

Christmas Eve is a pretty tradition packed day for the Scholl Family! This year was no different! We take care of the last minute things, grocery store, a little wrapping, and the annual Christmas Eve photo with Santa! We visit Santa at the mall - this year it was Stonebriar. Santa was looking especially cute and healthy with his rosy cheeks! The best part was there was NO LINE!!

Just the kids get in the picture. We missed Ashley, Sam and Parker this year, but were happy to have Rachel join us!

We wandered the mall for a bit, picked up our Chicken Nugget party tray at Chik Fil A and made our way home (in a snow storm- more on that later).

Our traditional Christmas Eve meal is fondue! We've had all kinds of variations over the years, including - oil, broth, cheese, and chocolate! We kept it simple this year, but had a great meal with way too much food.

Rachel, Jon and Drew enjoying the fondue!

Then later, Santa stops by and leaves some packages. One for each of us. We can count on Santa each year to bring us some new jammies to wear to bed on Christmas Eve. This year, even with the blowing snow, he made it to our door!

Molly and Will with the Christmas Eve gifts.

Santa showed great Prosper Spirit this year with matching PJ Pants for everyone!

Plaid Prosper Eagle pajama pants were a hit with this crowd!

We finished the evening with our traditional reading of the beautiful story of the birth of Christ. Jon and I were happy to get to bed earlier than is past years! What a wonderful day.

It Was A Merry Month!

2008 has been a wonderfully eventful year.  It's fitting that we wrapped it up with a wonderful Christmas season.  Here are some highlights.

Karen's Mom and Dad arrived mid month and are staying a whole month.  They are blessed to be in such good health and we enjoy having them in our home.   Dad turned 80 this year and Mom isn't too far behind.  Don't they look great?

We hosted our annual Chili and Chowder party in our new home!  We loved having old friends from Plano and our new Prosper friends all together.  The food was de-lish and the company was even better!

Our great neighbor Mike Koster and the Morleys, new church friends.

Prosper church friends the Platts and the Fergusons.

Long time Plano friends Rhoberta Blankmeyer, George and Heather Nail and Cindy Bell

Ashley had fun visiting with college roomate Kristin Willardson and her sister Jenny.

On Christmas Eve, we headed for the mall for our traditional kids photo with Santa.  We've done this since Ashley's first Christmas.  There are a few more people in the photo and for the first time, a second generation is included.  Parker was remarkably cooperative!  We actually had a harder time getting everyone else to pay attention and smile.  

The photo Karen took looks pretty good, too!

Will and Molly looking picture perfect!

The professional image - pretty good looking family, I think.  Nice socks, Santa!

Everyone had a great time!

After the photo, we all (except for Drew who had to go back to work) headed to the Original Pancake House for a yummy breakfast - Breakfast AFTER Santa.

Molly's Swedish Pancakes were as big as she is!!

Ashley and Sam

Grandpa Jon and Ashley

Beautiful Lucy and Adorable Molly

Perfectly adorable Parker!

We had a fun visit with an old friend from Karen's YW Prez days.  Charlie Thiot served on Stake Youth Committee, along with Ashley.  He's married now and has a really cute (and itty bitty) daughter, Keelie.  I managed to only take pictures of the babies. 

The standoff.

We also were able to celebrate in other ways of which we didn't get photos - school parties, a choir concert, an ornament painting party, seeing Christmas lights in Highland Park, playing games and visiting with each other.  We've had a wonderful time with family and friends and appreciate so much all who add so much to our lives.  

Up next - Christmas Eve and Christmas Day....