Our Christmas

WARNING: Very long post ahead. :)

The Thorne family had such a fun Christmas this year. We started off Christmas Eve with the family service at our church. 

I always try to get a photo of the family in front of the church Christmas tree. This was the best we got this year after SEVERAL attempts.

This year Tuttle was old enough to participate in the Nativity walk during the reading of the Christmas story. He was less than thrilled with his assigned role of a sheep. I know this picture will have us laughing for years to come!

The service was perfect, and we could not wait for the Nativity walk to begin. Tuttle was the cutest sheep that ever walked the aisle of Peachtree Road United Methodist Church!

The service ended with the singing of traditional Christmas hymns complete with candlelight. I would be lying if I did not admit to tearing up watching our too big babies hold their little candles. They just looked so innocent and sweet. :)

After church we headed over to Aunt Peach's condo for the annual readings by Grandaddy and Daddy. We ate a yummy dinner and enjoyed a peaceful evening before the craziness of Christmas the next day. Everyone looks forward to the poetry and scripture every year, and Tuttle and Maggie are really starting to recognize a lot of the readings now, too.

Jay and I were expecting the kids to be up extra early the next morning to check out their Santa loot, but surprisingly everyone slept until almost 8:30! Maggie and Tuttle were thrilled with their presents. Maggie was most impressed with her bike and helmet while Tuttle loved his Lego kits (big surprise!) and his costumes.

Grandmommy and Grandaddy stopped by for a few minutes before heading to Athens. Tuttle and Maggie were not shy about showing off their new presents!

We arrived in Athens at Granny's house about 2pm. I brought my predictable Rotel cups to share. The house quickly filled up, and we had a great time playing the White Elephant game. 

Maggie and Tuttle really feel at home at Granny's house, and that was exactly our goal. Neither met Granny before she passed away, but they talk about her like their know her. She continues to have a big impact on our family even today. :)

We ended our busy Christmas Day with presents at Grandmommy and Grandaddy's house. We are totally overwhelmed with everyone's generosity every year. Even Holland received several gifts this year and her own stocking. Next year will be so much fun with three babies on Christmas!

Tuttle especially loved his new scooter and his Star Wars action figures. Maggie could not get enough of her Bitty Baby Twins and their doll-size salon chair to style their hair. The star of the show was my new pair of Frye boots!! We were all definitely spoiled!

The next day I took advantage of pretty weather and an even prettier front porch to snap some photos of my little girls. I am in love.

We drove home late Friday evening with two tired babies that quickly feel asleep before we hit the interstate road. 

We ended our Christmas celebration with the Corbitt clan at Larry and Beth's house. I was itching to get everyone outside to take pictures because the light was PERFECT.

We missed Gwen at Thanksgiving, so Tuttle and Maggie were eager to play with her the whole time. They have really started to play independently together, and it brings back a lot of fond memories of playing with my cousins at the same house as a child.

Jay and I rarely take a photo just the two of us. I love this man. :)

After devouring a delicious lasagna made by Beth, we started opening presents. The amount of presents grows every year, and everyone was really exhausted after all the gifts this year! I guess that is a good problem to have! I was so excited to give Grumps his gift this year. He is 100% Republican and not a fan of Obama to put it mildly. I found a huge blanket printed with Obama's Inauguration Speech word for word. Now he can snuggle up to Obama whenever he wants! Hahaha

Gram did not hesitate trying on Maggie's Strawberry Shortcake wig from Anne. I foresee this photo making the family calendar next year! It is not the best quality, but the content makes up for that!

We had the best Christmas filled with family, laughter, and way too many presents! The best part is that if you ask Maggie and Tuttle why we celebrate Christmas they know the real reason: Jesus.