singing to 'oh christmas tree' as we 'deck the halls.'

we ain't got snow, 

but we got us some christmas spirit.

i think i've been saying it over and over and over again, but it is so good to be home with my family for the holidays. and i'm not talking about flying in from Chicago a couple days before the 25th. i'm talking about being a part of ALL OF IT! this is such a gift. it's something i have longed for every single year. my heart would ache (i'm not exaggerating!) when i would remember our family traditions and i was disappointed that i couldn't be a part of the whole experience.

but this is a different year.

 

 

come on. don't tell me i'm the only one that likes to lay underneath the tree and look up at the lights? i used to do this with kristine when we were little. though it's a bit awkward to slide underneath it now, it's still fun and reminds me of childhood days.

i wish i could show you all the ornaments on our tree. pretty much every single one has a story. we've collected one a year since we were little kids, so it makes tree-decorating super fun. some seem so random when you look at them, but then once you hear the story, you're like oooooh, i see. there is the ornament from japan when we lived there - or the one i brought back from the Philippines - and even ashley's first ornament as a baby. when you look at our tree, it's almost like a peek back to our family's history. i love it so much.

do you have any cool family traditions? 

or is there one you want to start with your own family one day?

i'm especially fond of this tradition and hope to be able to carry it on with my own little family one day. maybe ryan and i can even start our collection next year when we share our first christmas as husband and wife! 

one quick thing:

oh, and don't forget to enter sweet shawni's giveaway if you haven't yet! 

[happy tuesday, friend!]