MMerry Christmas, friends! By now the celebrations have settled and I hope you are enjoying time with loved ones or savoring a quiet moment. We didn’t want the day to pass without sending warm wishes from our home to yours. We are grateful you follow along as we create a home and life — your support means so much to us.
These are simple snapshots from our phones and Instagrams, but they capture little moments from our day that we wanted to share.
Our family spent a quiet, cozy Christmas at home this year. The kids rode the ferry from Seattle to be here, and it warmed my heart to see everyone — including our son-in-law — laughing together again.
The dogs joined the fun, too. They spent the day chasing each other, grabbing ornaments, knocking garland down and opening presents — all the typical puppy mischief. Jack is the eldest at three and a half, so the house is full of fluffy, playful youngsters. It’s delightful to watch.
Santa always makes an appearance here, and this year we actually caught him in the act. No doubt remains about who fills our stockings.
We held a lighthearted White Elephant exchange where everyone had $25 and 45 minutes at the mall to find a surprise gift. We’ve also been enjoying good food and festive drinks like our Winter Cider Sangria, which is always a hit.
All our animal ornaments ended up clustered near the top of the tree to keep them safe from curious paws. We did have one close call: a sweet bunny ornament was rescued from puppy jaws and is now quietly recovering on the dish cabinet. Its tail was nearly detached, but it’s okay — still here with us.
Today we decorated gingerbread cookies, enjoying the simple pleasure of being together and making memories.
We brewed coffee and lingered on the couch, appreciating the luxury of not rushing anywhere or doing anything fancy.
Bella celebrated her first Christmas and had the time of her life playing with Jack and Lily.
We love holiday music, whether from an iPad or played live on guitar. Courtney received a guitar for her birthday this year and has become a lovely singer. With my husband’s musical talent, our home is filled with music and joy.
Gifts were simple this year. Both of my daughters began building cookbook collections, and a few beautiful volumes became part of their libraries. My oldest, Kylee, is an incredible cook and treats us to the most delicious meals — a gift in itself.
Tonight we gathered around the dinner table to share a meal and read the Christmas story from the Bible, taking turns reading different parts. After dinner, with full hearts and happy bellies, we curled up on the big couch to watch Father of the Bride — a movie that still makes us laugh and cry every time.