This season has been a learning experience for me. Last year was technically our first year in this house for the holidays, but this year really feels legit. We actually have couches to sit on this year and things on the walls ;-)
The holidays have changed since I was a kid. I know many say they change because we're now adults, but honestly, even the way the kids treat Christmas is so different than when I was a kid. The magic of Christmas Eve was so thick in the air. Now it feels like with the "track Santa" app and Elf on the Shelf that makes them feel like they know what Santa knows, I get the sense that Christmas is more about proving things and expectation of gifts rather than gratefulness and joy. Still, we tried to bring the spirit of Christmas here with family events and church programs so the kids could feel something other than greed.
We decorated the week after Thanksgiving
We got the kids their own lit trees this year for festive night lights
Mitchell's
We did our first tradition of the Festival of Trees early in December. It was beautiful this year!
I think a favorite for the kids is always the gingerbread houses
Owen and I have a nice time too
Then there's the family parties starting with Grandma Esau's party where we had an ugly sweater contest.
Owen and Ben won ;-) but we all participated 
Friends and family all showed up
The kids had a great time and got fun stuffs
Then we did the walker party the following day. Jessica learned as I have loved you on the organ and played it for the program!! She rocked it!!
Which of course made everyone want to play!! ;-)
And then of course the traditional Christmas Eve party at the Anderson's!!
This was definitely a moment where I hate the whole "blended family, share the kids" thing :-( but it was still fun. Christmas Eve was intense. We were up super late. I'll put that in a separate entry for the sake of organization though :-)
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