Noche Buena 2015

Noche Buena is what Cubans call Christmas Eve. We always serve pork for dinner. Traditionally you'd have an entire pig roasted in a "Caja China" in a pit, but we made due with some well-seasoned pork tenderloin in the oven. Also, yucca in garlic sauce, rice and black beans, and salad.

Christmas Eve Clous

My mom, her boyfriend Bob, and his daughter Jen joined us this year. It was our first Christmas at the new house.

Mom, Bob, Miranda, Jen, James

Miranda loves Bob

Kevin making my mom feel awkward before dinner.

James actually helped me marinate the pork the night before. It came out great!

Dinner!

As usual, Miranda started dinner in her baby chair but...

... ended up on our laps.

We exchanged a few presents too. Usually just the adults do presents Christmas Eve (the kids have Christmas morning) but Jenny had to leave so she gave the kids an awesome Mr. Potato Head and a tiny mechanical puppy.

James re: Mr. Potato Head "We have like this at school!"

Puppy wearing Mr. Potato Head's glasses.

Hugging my big 4-year-old boy!

After I put Miranda to bed, Kevin, Bob, and I took James on a short little walk around the neighborhood to see people's Christmas lights. Did I mention it was like 70 degrees?

Christmas lights walk

Christmas Lights walk

Then it was time to prepare for Santa! 

James put out the milk and chocolate chocolate chip cookies we made together.

And then Kevin and James opened the chimney flue so Santa could come down.

And off to bed because Santa won't come unless you're sleeping!