We had two Christmas celebrations, one with each of our families. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, we celebrated with Nicholas' family. My SIL gave all the girls matching pjs (organic cotton and so comfy) so we wore them on Christmas Eve. We watched online Christmas Eve service, enjoyed a dinner of biscuits and gravy, and opened stockings and played cards...

It's the week of Christmas! Advent has felt different this year, faster and slower than prior years. There are a million things to say about this year, but on the best of days, it highlighted the joys of being still, living a quieter life, being at home. Here are some other little bits of joy in the last couple of weeks: A room lit only by the tree. So beautiful...

Other happy little things in these days of anticipating Christmas:Christmas twinkle lights at our coffee brewing stationcauliflower soup, simmering on the stove (I eat a bowl of it topped with 1/2 an avocado)a fresh haircut(!) First one since October 2019.And fascinated with batteries (don't worry, he was never unsupervised with them ;)marveling at our first snow on the ground, all while having snuggles with breakfast prepCooper wants to be helpful every chance he can. (and honestly, he's surprisingly good at dusting and wiping down his high chair tray, all without prompting). He will push a kitchen chair over to the counter in an effort to try to climb up and help me...

This year, Christmas was simple and lovely. It can feel natural to rush past it, once December 25th has come and gone. But I want to linger a little, take note of some of my favorite tiny moments. 2020 will have it's own center stage for a full year, after all...

Since our move back to the Midwest this past spring, we are seeing a little more of my family. But it never feels like enough, so it's so special to spend in-person time with them, and even more sweet this time of year. My brother, parents, and Grandma Donna arrived last Friday night. On Saturday, they came over and my Grandma met Cooper for the first time! Goodness, that was so special to me...