Christmas Eve

Luke and I are very lucky that all of our parents and siblings live in the same town (although we'd feel even luckier if we lived in that town, too!) Because of this, we never have to choose where to spend holidays -- we always head to Chapel Hill and get to see everyone! The small downside is that our holidays are extremely busy. This Christmas Eve went much the way it usually does. We started with a lunchtime celebration with my parents and brother and my mom's whole side of the family (grandma, aunts, uncles, cousins). Amelia adores my girl cousins, so she was in heaven with Elizabeth and Rachel (we missed you, Katy!), and Isaac tried his best to be social, although he's going through a major Mommy attachment phase right now.

The Moore family in their paper crowns at my parents' house

Amelia enjoys the ham

Isaac demonstrating his love of straws (and Mommy)

Soaking up the family love as the only great-grandkids in the family (so far)

Amelia demonstrates her preferred location for her paper crown

Great-Grandma MeMe opening gifts -- she must've been good this year!

After opening a few gifts together, we headed over to Luke's mom's house where we had dinner (more food!) with my brother, Luke's mom and sister, Luke's stepdad, and his grown children and their families. Among us, we have seven kids ranging in age from 8 months to 7 years, so the gift opening portion of the evening was more than a little hectic! Did I mention the box brawl?

Isaac and cousin Davis (one month older) wrestling already

Christmas Eve dinner at Luke's mom's house

The whole blended family (pre box fight)

After opening way too many gifts, we rushed out the door to get to church by 7pm. Miraculously, Isaac snoozed peacefully in his car seat during the service and Amelia behaved as well as can be expected of a two-year-old who has only been to church a handful of times in her life (Cutest part: Amelia repeating "Lord, hear our prayer" AFTER everyone else in the congregation each time a prayer request was mentioned).

Once kids were in bed dreaming of sugar plums, "Santa" got to work filling stockings and leaving out gifts for the kids. An exhausting but wonderful day!