cheer

We are well into starting the New Year, but I couldn't move into it without taking a moment and emptying out some leftover holiday cheer. This year we stayed home for Christmas, drinking up new traditions, decorating the new house, and finding ourselves nostalgic for it all.

We certainly missed seeing loved ones in Kansas this year. Baking cookies without Grandma was tough, Holiday light sight-seeing was not up to par ( Kansas brings it), and sharing meals across the table with people you haven't seen all year. We missed it all.

I'd like to think we made the most of it though. Buying our first Honeybaked Ham...

Opening our Christmas Eve PJ presents and watching endless Christmas movies with cocoa...

We do a good job savoring. Bringing ourselves to moments that fill us up. Because whether you are sitting right next to your loved ones, or sharing Eggnog over Skype...it's the little things that bring us together. It keeps us close.

Christmas morning was magic. We told both of them this year about Santa. I think I had it built up in my head to be this big monumental thing. Katelynn was relieved someone wasn't watching her while she sleeps. Caleb didn't mind because he was still getting presents.

It was okay. We made our own kind of magic.

For New Year's my dad and sister came with their families. It was so wonderful to bring in 2017 with loved ones. We had some sporting rivalry too...

And plenty of cheers! 

Lego sets for days...

Earlier this week, we packed our decorations and twinkling lights back into boxes. Vacuumed pine needles and put the last of the leftovers away. I always have mixed feelings this time of year. Taking down all the remnants of the holidays. Making room for new beginnings. Saying to myself over and over again that I'll miss it. And then realizing that it's been within me all along. Each year I make promises to myself to keep the magic swirling around us everywhere we go. New adventure awaits. We get to keep this feeling, these memories and laughter and excitement tucked in...ready to grab us at any moment. There's so much to be grateful for. Near and far, we are sending you love and light for what is yet to come.