Christmas Eve at the Thorntons!

Summer and I built a Gingerbread House!

Making Cookies and fudge for Santa

Guess who licked the beaters???

Stir the fudge...don't stop!!

Granny Mary buttering up the dish:

Rolling out the cookies with Grandma Cella:

Cutting the cookies:

Granny Mary, Summer and Grandma Cella after Church:

Rich, Summer and Michelle after Church:

Summer and Daddy read The Christmas Story:




Opening Gifts!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!

Thanks for the goodies!

Hill Country Christmas Tree Lighting

Sunday, December 21, 2008
We went to Johnson City, out to the LBJ Ranch, for a tree lighting ceremony hosted by the
Johnson Family every year. They had a short ceremony giving the history of the tradition (started 39 years ago by President and Mrs. Johnson), and a prayer and reading of the Christmas Bible Story. If you recall, a front blew in that day, and it was FREEZING COLD! In the 30's with a stiff breeze! We skipped the candlelit farm and a visit with Santa Claus after the tree lighting. Brrrrrr!!!

Here we are by the cedar tree.

Poor Summer was trying to get sick.

This is at PEC Headquarters in Johnson City. Awesome!

Family Christmas and Meghan's Birthday 12/20/2008

On Saturday, we spent time with my Dad's mom and my cousins to celebrate Christmas, and Meghan's 3rd Birthday!


My mom with baby Maddie


Can we eat the cake already????


Meggie: "I'm WAITING here!"


Hula dancin' Summer:

Christmas Lights! 12/19/2008

December 19, 2008
On Friday night, we visited the Walkway of Lights

Summer visited with Santa!

Afterwards, we drove around looking at lights.

These people had about 30 trees in their yard!

We found Santa trying to phone home...

Playing in the Leaves!

December 19, 2008
Playing in the leaves!

The girls romping in the leaf pile:

12/13/2008 Sonny and Liz's 50th!

Happy Golden Anniversary,
Sonny and Liz!

Celebrating at the Manchaca VFD Hall

Greeting family and friends


Mary


Jeanette


Summer, entertaining the crowd with her freestyle dance


Their original wedding cake topper

Sonny says he waited 50 years for his groom's cake!

Proud Grandpa, with Christina

Dana

The toast

Liz gave a nice speech

Sonny just listened. (The secret to 50 happy years???) ;-))

The official first dance

Awwww...

Daddy dancing with his girl

Thanks for a great party, and here's to many more happy years!!

12/9/2008 SNOW!

It actually snowed! Of course, by the time I found the camera, it was stopping! It snowed pretty heavy for about 10 minutes or less! We got Summer up to see it- she was SOOOOO excited! Here's a video of when it was almost over with. Look close! ;-)

12/1/2008 Getting Ready to Decorate the Tree

Summer with some of the ornaments


Summer showing Daddy her new books.

Dixie getting ready to read "The Night Before Christmas." ;-)

Thanksgiving 2008

Summer made herself a Rudolph costume while lunch cooked!

She taped a gumball-machine prize lid to her nose, and taped a pair of sunglasses upside-down to her headband.


Grandma Cella telling Granny Mary a "big fish" story!


Summer decided the napkin made a great elf hat.

Happy Thanksgiving!