{christmas}

PHEW!  What a week!  

(and because I'm lazy tonight, you get unedited pictures!)

We headed back to our hometown for Christmas last week, came home, and had our own little Christmas as a new family of 3 4 (Sadie counts!).  

Parker got to see all his grandparents and got to meet his great grandmas! 

He also got to meet Uncle Brad!  

I won't lie....it was nice to spend a quiet Christmas at home with our new little family.  New traditions took place and it was just so humbling.  

Was it quiet? Yes. Did we miss our families? Yes. Was it relaxing? Yes. Was it worth it? Most definitely. 

It isn't that we don't enjoy spending time with our families.  I just don't think it's fair to have to miss out ON the holiday itself...You know..all the families eating, playing, making memories???  Who really wants to sit in a car and travel ON Christmas Day??  I would rather travel, celebrate and see family early (or late), and then spend time as our little family.  Sure we'll hit up the hometown ON the holiday itself if the weekday allows, but when it falls in the middle of the week and Chad has to work the next day we'll spend it as a little family.  

Chad said he grew up spending time with pretty much his whole family every holiday.  I grew up spending Christmas Eve with my dad's side and Christmas Day with my mom's side--even before my parents were divorced this is what I remember.  We almost always got to wake up in our own beds on Christmas morning and see what Santa brought to OUR house.  So, we will have to combine our memories and do a little of each =)

Every year that we've spent along on Christmas Eve (which hasn't been many) we have always made Taco's.  So, every year we are alone we will eat taco's on Christmas Eve and a bigger lunch will be had on Christmas Day.

One tradition that we started this year is probably my favorite.  We decided that we will buy new pajamas, wrap them up with a movie or game, and then open them on Christmas Eve to enjoy.  Chad picked out all of our pajamas this year and wrapped them up for Parker and I to open up.  He did a good job! I love my new pajama pants and Parker's sleeper is SUPER cute!

Next year we will be doing the same thing but adding in 25 stories.  We I will wrap up 25 books and Parker will get to pick out one to open each night that we will read.  He may not understand fully, but it'll be fun none the less.

We are so thankful for everything that we received this year.  We didn't ask for much and were given more than we imagined.  

Chad was able to spend time making Krumkake with his grandma...

And we were able to spend time with my grandma and hear some of her stories of just moving to our hometown.....

A few gifts really do stand out though.  Not because of who they are from or because of what they are, but the meaning and memories behind them.  

Chad's parents put together an amazing picture frame about brothers and included a more recent picture and pictures of them growing up.  Priceless.

  

My dad made Chad and I each something as he does most years.  Earlier in the summer this year Chad played anti-Johnny Appleseed and chopped down our flooded apple tree in the back yard.  He cut up the wood and my dad took some home for projects and other things.  

My dad made Chad a pocket knife out of wood from our tree and me a pepper grinder from the wood from our tree.  

We will always have a part of our first home with us now. Priceless. 

We hope that you all had a blessed holiday and were 

able to spend it with your loved ones.  

Memories were made with the big family and with our little family.

Merry Christmas.

"Are you done taking my picture yet, mom?"