Christmas Eve with the Cleavers

The pie trick - how many are there? 3 or 6?

Every year, the Cleaver clan gathers at Grandma and Grandpa's home for Christmas Eve. There's a planning committee that meets before Thanksgiving to organize who brings what. A few of the annual hits are Grandma's Noodles - which Lisa has become a pro at, pies pies pies, Reona's chicken enchiladas, my mom's sweet and sour chicken and the usual mashed potatoes and gravy. You've never had so much fun eating before!

But the food is only part of the evening. Afterwards, Santa Claus sneaks in through the back door with gifts for all the great-grandkids. They are finally old enough not to be scared of him.

Caralynn helps Grandma distribute presents from under the tree.

Then Grandma sits by the tree and yells out which gift is for who. The grandkids usually have fun helping her, racing back and forth between Grandma and the receiver of the gift. While we open gifts, the boys steal our wrapping paper. Once the last gift is distributed, someone starts a paper fight that goes on for a long time. It's broken up for the white elephant gift exchange among the adults. By this time, you're stomach has a little more space for seconds on pie.

We sit around and visit, take pictures, enjoy each others company. Then we leave for home, with your heart full of happiness - that is the best Christmas gift of all.

My favorite girls with Grandma. We are missing a few, but this is most of us. Top Left: Stacy, Grandma, Rachelle, Suzanne, Andrea, Nicole, Me. I'm proud of my grandma for taking off her cute little hat for our picture. Some of her hair is growing in a little after the radiation treatment. She's a great example to the rest of us.

Here is the next generation of crazy Cleaver girls. L: Jessica, Nikki, Lauren and Natalie.

Telly's little girl Estelle. She is SO cute!

Valista and Jill finishing up their dinner.

Derek with the Zoolander look, eating some pie. Behind him are Grandpa, Nicole, Ron and Grandma

A group shot during the paper-tearing frenzy.

Telly with Estelle and Price to the right. Lara is on the floor with one of her sons.

Andrea taking pics with Nadia on her lap and Pat on the chair. Stacy and Reona are to the left.

And there you have it, the Cleaver family Christmas Eve party. It was my favorite day of the year when I was 4 and it still is now, nearly 20 years later.