We are happily enjoying our annual Christmas trip in Michigan this week, which means lots of sledding, ice skating, cousins and good food! In fact, as I type I’m snuggled under a blanket while my awesome Mother-in-law makes awesome supper, my kids are playing with their Michigan cousins, and Ryan is dozing on the sofa next to me. We’re headed to see Saving Mr. Banks in a bit (sans kids) and there is a big pile of boots and hats and gloves at the front door.
We look forward to this every year!
And every year, after the Christmas whirlwind in Franklin is over and we are safely in The Mitten State, I finally get time to sort through photos and share some of our favorite images from Christmas back home.
This was truly my favorite Christmas yet. Ryan and I decided not to exchange gifts (isn’t growing up funny?), though he still surprised me with something (aren’t husbands funny?), and we loved sitting under the tree with the kids Christmas morning and telling them that we had five hours to be together before it would be time to leave for Grandma’s for lunch, so we could go slow with gifts, take time to read and play and soak in Christmas without the rush.
And more or less, they got it. It was just one of the sweetest mornings of our year.
I didn’t pay too much attention to taking photos that morning, but I did pick up my camera once or twice when something struck me as especially magical. Some of these photos are from that, and the rest are from the afternoon at my Mom’s house. Such precious memories!
“Mom’s Bucket Fillers” was a gift from Oliver. We talk about how we can empty one another’s “buckets” with unkind words or actions, but that we have the power to refill each other’s buckets with loving words or actions. He filled this little jar with pieces of paper bearing handwritten kind words and ideas for me to pull out whenever I might need a pick-me-up. He said that of all the gifts, he was most excited to give this to me. Such a sweet treasure.)
Oliver put together a lego kit at the dining room table in his new robe, while Hazel pranced around in her new tutu, setting up her new dollhouse. 
We enjoyed Christmas lunch with our family, and Hazel lost the ability to smile straight. 
And we enjoyed our annual tradition of photographing the cousins all lined up on the hearth. 
It’s always so fun to see how everyone has grown!
Boy, this was a sweet year. Breathing it in, and just so thankful.
Now this just makes my heart happy! The cutest photos over the years.
Holy buckets… I swear I was just looking at newborn photos of little Rowan… WHERE did the time GO? :)
This is nearly exactly how we spend our Christmas, give or take a few miles on the way to the grandparents. Lovely, all of it – Happy holidays to you & yours, Rachel!