One Tradition.

I didn't mean to, but I guess I started a tradition our first Christmas and I've had fun carrying it out every season since. We just happened to take this picture of our first Christmas and ever since have made a point to take a "family photo" in front of the tree each year. I love how they're not fancy or planned, but more spur-of-the-moment "Let's take that picture now" sort of photos. It's so funny to look at the progression of where we started and see where we've come so far. Makes me giddy thinking of what these pics will continue to look like in the future as well.

Christmas 2006.

Looking at this picture makes me admit that this was a really hard Christmas for me. It was the first one I spent away from my family and if I recall correctly, I believe we spent most of Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with me being mean to Grayson, followed by me crying because I was so sad. Grayson's family did an amazingly wonderful job of making me feel welcomed, loved and included, but it was still tough being so far away. If you'll recall, I had just experienced almost every major change possible in one month: graduated from college, got married, and moved miles away from my "normal". Needless to say, this was a challenging Christmas. Even though I don't think I admitted it at the time, it was hard. Not to mention we had no furniture at this point. Literally, NONE! No couches, no chairs, no tv ... nothing. We had been married only 2 months and were yet to be settled. Our home was not quite "homey", but that's okay. That's what the first few years are all about right?

Christmas 2007

By this point, we had made a few friends in Ruston, I had a job and we were getting settled into married life. I believe we were heading to a bonfire at a friend's house to celebrate New Year's. You will notice a couch in the background (yay), one of the walls is now green and Grayson is wearing camo? I think that shirt was an attempt by my brother to get Grayson into hunting. I'm also wearing my Peach Fest shirt which means that the previous year we celebrated June by running in 100 degree, 100% humidity for the Peach Festival. That sparked our first interest in running.

Christmas 2008

Please notice, window treatments, a little fancier Christmas decorations, an end table in the background and Ashley in running clothes? This was when we were training for our half-marathon, which a few weeks later Grayson actually completed. It was also right before our amazing 2 week Christmas cruise, right before I would switch jobs and we would decide to switch churches. Little did we know all the changes that would lie ahead for 2009.
Christmas 2009
A new house, a new job for Ashley, a new church home, a new goal for Grayson to take the CFA and plenty to be thankful for. Not sure what 2010 holds for us, but we are very excited!

I'm usually not very good at starting traditions, but I'm excited to see how this fun little one will continue. It's so neat how pictures bring back so many memories of what was going on at that exact moment in time. Definitely makes me remember and reminds me to be so thankful for all the many blessings the Lord has bestowed on us!