Tinsley Christmas Eve

Christmas eve evening is always reserved for the Tinsley Christmas.  I think this tradition has gone on for some forty years.  We are blessed to have our grandparents still around and they so enjoy seeing everyone.  This is the only time of the year that some of them get to see grandma and grandpa.  Josh and I figured up this morning that out of a possible 81 people we had 53 there last night and were missing 28.  Most of the 28 were out of state in Tennessee, Florida, Missouri and Georgia so I guess they have good reason not to be here.  We did miss everyone who was not able to be there.

Some of the traditions that we have, started by my grandpa is every year we do family pictures.  Most of the time we dread them but when you look back over the years it is always fun to see how much we change and how much our families grow.  We also read the Christmas story from Luke, sing Christmas carols and end the singing session with 12 days of Christmas.  The 12 days are divided up and we all make up our own motions...needless to say there are endless laughs and righfully so.

Rigley at the beginning of the night...looking all handsome in his shirt and vest.

 Aunt Anita and Uncle Morris were missing their 2 kids and their families so they borrowed Paislee and Rigley so they would have someone to sit with them.

 Uncle Marvin's family (he passed away in 2005)

 Aunt Cheryl & Uncle Wayne's family (uncle Wayne was sick and her other 2 girls were out of state)

 Aunt Linda & Uncle Ken and three of their kids (the other 2 girls and their families are out of state)

 Grandma & Grandpa and the girls

Mom, Doug and our crew (this year Olivia was in Florida with her dad and Madison joined the picture)

 I had to put this picture in here for a few reasons. One, my mom can hardly take a picture without closing her eyes and having the goofiest fake smile there is.  We were all laughing, telling jokes and probably doing some inappropriate gestures behind the scenes and between pictures.  Two, this picture turned out really well with us all smiling and, well, looking beautiful as always...if I do say so  my self.

  Mom & Rigley (another successful picture with a real smile and eyes open)

Each year Grandpa chooses someone to read the Christmas story and he chose Grandma.

Rigley at the end of the night.  After a big meal (or in his case a few meals, pictures, singing and his first round of 12 days of Christmas I think he was done.  Or at least thought so when I took this picture.  After a cat nap he was back up until about 11 last night.)