Christmas catch up

brb my landline is ringing

One of my favorite memories from childhood Christmases was calling my best friend to chat about our gifts. Once the dust from Christmas morning settled I would grab the landline and plop into our sage-green armchair to dial my friend’s number that I knew by heart. We swapped stories of Breyer horses still in the box, riding boots smelling of new leather, and gifts our siblings got that made us jealous.

Actual footage of my husband as a child

Soo… what did everyone give and receive this year?! Our big gift to the boys was tickets to an NFL game. They are so hype! Other than that we just did their stockings—Play-Doh, colored tape (IYKYK), a book, and their favorite candy. Josh and I filled each other’s stockings and he knocked it out of the park with all my favorite ~treats~!

I also did something a little different this year and bought myself a few gifts. It felt weird at first but then I was genuinely excited to open them?? I got myself a necklace from GLDN, some Dae heat spray, and a sewing book. I’ve had some serious sewing energy lately! This month I made a couple Christmas buntings (using this tutorial) and am in the middle of a new Amy top. I also tried and failed to make a cardigan. I think my next project will be some pillowcases for our room.

Ok but backing up to Christmas eve… at the last minute I decided to ransack Trader Joe’s and put together a charcuterie board! I think this will be our new tradition. We ate that as an early dinner, then went to our church’s candlelight service. It was so beautiful (and, of course, complete chaos when the candles came out). When we got home we ate dessert and put the boys to bed.

This morning (Christmas day!) I popped a breakfast casserole in the oven that I had prepped the night before. We opened stockings, ate breakfast, and listened to Sufjan Stevens’s Songs for Christmas. Then we loaded everyone in the car to go visit my in-laws.

We had an hour-plus drive so we started listening to The Wild Robot audiobook. It’s so sweet! We’re about halfway through. After this I really want to watch the movie.

We had a blast with the fam, opening presents and playing outside and reading the nativity story. Plus eating a delicious feast of roast beef, mashed potatoes, carrots, rolls, coconut cake, etc etc! I’m still full.

As I write this, Alden is asleep and the big boys are baptizing their new toy dinosaurs in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In the background is some kind of… roaring volcano blasting smoke? They’re loving it.

I think we will wind down with a book and call it a night. We recently started reading Little House in the Big Woods and everyone is really into it. My oldest son’s remark after the first few chapters was, “Wow, they’re always busy!” Ha.

So that was our Christmas in a nutshell! Thanks for hanging out with me for a little catch up. It’s not the same as the landline phone calls from childhood, but it’s special in its own way. I really love writing in this space and appreciate all the love and encouragement, whether I’m posting something light and chatty or a more serious essay or poem.

What I’m trying to say is: I’m so grateful for each and every one of you reading right now!!! Wishing you a beautiful Christmastide and a happy new year. xoxo