Well our tree and decorations are still up, but I guess officially Christmas is over. I might be in denial (I never take down my stuff before New Year's), but until next year the fun and anticipation of Christmas is over for now.
Christmas was a lot of fun with Gabbie this year. Being mobile made a huge difference in how much she understood what was going on. I taught her to say "ho ho ho" a few days before Christmas and I caught her saying it over and over. When she "met" Santa on Christmas eve, she was NOT a happy camper. Today, however when I was uploading the pictures she saw him and just pointed and started saying "ho ho ho" over and over.


Hopefully next year she'll be a little more fond of him and maybe we'll get a smiling Santa picture - ha.





We started our Christmas festivities by opening presents here at our house on Thursday morning with just Brent, Gabbie, Fletcher, Fiona and me. I don't think she really understood what was going on, but I think it was a good way to start the crazy four day period so by Christmas day she finally understood she got to open presents and play with toys.
We kept our Christmas pretty simple - I posted earlier about using the "Something you want, Something you need, something to wear and something to read" and I kind of used that this year with keeping it simple. We got her Christmas pajamas when we were in Gatlinburg with our friends back in November, she got a few books and a girl doctor set. Brent and I bought each other Garth Brooks tickets and a new radiator for our car :) I think we both would have rather had a doctor set and books and new pajamas vs the radiator.




We headed to Chattanooga Thursday, stayed with Brent's parents, then headed to my grandparent's house on Christmas Eve for the annual Thornton extravaganza. (read:: crazy)
We got to meet the newest member of our family, Hunter, who Gabbie was intrigued with. She did such a good job not poking his eyes out or petting him too hard.

We took a really funny picture of all the girls in their robes that my grandfather gave us - last year, he gave all the guys robes and we took a funny group shot of them,


this year it was the girls' turn...


Next up was Christmas morning with my parents. This is what it's all about: waking up on Christmas morning, having had Santa come the night before and get to open your stockings and presents with your family. We had an extra special gift for us on Christmas morning: SNOW!! And I'm not talking just a light dusting, it was a serious, 4-5" worth of snow. WOW it was beautiful.

Gabbie opened presents from my parents and she loved every minute of it - of course! She got a lot of fun things, but I think her favorite might be the little people doll house, the sit and spin and a little monkey finger puppet. She loved it and just giggled the entire time she played with it. Check out the video to see the puppet in full action (thank you to my hilarious husband).

The Pelfrey gang came over a little later in the morning, we opened more presents and enjoyed a special family poem written by very talented, very funny husband. Gabbie got even more gifts including some adorable outfits, pajamas and books.

HILARIOUS video....





We had originally planned to head back to Brent's parents house that night, but the snow and 26 degree temps were not conducive to us making the drive up to their house.
We finally made it to their house on Sunday and rounded out our trip with a final Christmas celebration with the entire Whitaker/Jackson clan - complete with a meal at El Meson and presents back at the Whitaker's.
Gabbie got more clothes, PJs, toys including a creepy baby doll that she LOVES and an adorable singing bear.
Another successful Christmas - hopefully you all had an equally wonderful Christmas!