Christmas Snapshots

I spy a hedgehog, a soccer ball, and Big Ben-

So this was the situation here earlier today. Ugh. I'm not a fan of taking it all down and putting it all away and the sweeping and the dusting and the sawing that needs to happen. Yup you read that right. Without his future son-in-law here to help get the tree outside and down the stairs hubs got creative and sawed it in thirds. Job well done! 

Normally the week between Christmas and New Year is my favorite because everything is bought and wrapped and cooked and done. It's when I like to exhale, sip my tea beside the twinkling tree lights, and savor the small things. Except we're traveling early in the new year and I could not face the idea of coming home to a house still decked out in all her Christmas finery. 

So how was your holiday? Take any blurry pictures? We always seem to have a couple, but what's Christmas without some out of focus photographs?

Hubs mom was with us for Christmas this year, and his sister and her family also made the trek south from several states away.

Lest anyone's confused, they did not come by kayak-ha! My mother-in-law has been here several times, but this was my sister-in-law's first trip to the lake.

It might be December and the air might be cool, and they might have jumped in anyway.

I think this will be a new tradition, our own version of a Polar Bear Plunge. I volunteered to wear my winter coat and take the picture because somebody had to.

Along with new traditions there were also some of the tried and true. Like too many cookies, new board games played around the dining room table, stockings filled to overflowing, and your mom waking you up way too early because she doesn't want you to miss the gift of a Christmas morning sky-

This girl might be getting married in 120 days, but a daughter is never too old to snuggle up next to her Daddy for the annual reading of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas...

120 days!!

I know!! 

photo cred: my sister-in-law

Hope your Christmas was merry and bright!