January 5, 2021

Christmas 2020























Hello, my friends! I hope your Christmas season was filled with all you wanted it to be. Our Christmas was cozy and blessed and fun. It was also a Christmas of firsts and lasts. It was the first Christmas all of my children were not snuggled in under my roof. Madison and Nicolas had their first Christmas in their new home! They hosted all of us on Christmas Eve, which is when the Danish celebrate Christmas. Nicolas and Madison prepared a traditional Danish Christmas feast complete with roast duck, red cabbage, caramelized potatoes, and rice pudding. It was delicious! We also shared many of the Christmas traditions Nicolas holds dear, like dancing around the Christmas tree and watching the traditional Disney Christmas show. It was a wonderful evening.

This year was also the first year that we didn't sprinkle reindeer food on the lawn or track Santa on the computer. We did, however, make sure to leave him some fresh baked cookies and milk. Because Santa always needs cookies. This year we also started a new tradition for our Christmas Eve pajamas. Gone are the days of me picking out matching jammies with names on them for my little ones. I wanted to continue the tradition, so I came up with a fun way that was a big hit. I randomly assigned each person, including Steve to make it even, someone to pick out pajamas for. That's it. Then, they sent me the link, I ordered them, wrapped them, and on Christmas Eve, each person unwrapped a new pair of pajamas and tried to guess who chose them! It was so much fun! 

Christmas Day was lovely and cozy and quiet. We enjoyed checking our stockings, a delicious brunch of coffee cake, kringles, and fresh fruit, presents, naps, and dinner together.  Far too soon, the day we all wait for came to an end. And the excitement we felt just an evening earlier was replaced with a sense of melancholy, no doubt aided by exhaustion.

This Christmas was the last before my Peyton is married. And as happy as I am for her, I felt a sense of sadness as the day unfolded, a selfish sadness to be sure, but a sadness just the same. I know it is time for her to go out on her own and start new traditions with Chris, and I am excited for her to do just that! But it is hard to see your children grow, isn't it? 

Christmas is a beautiful time of year. We wait for it, plan for it, dream of it, and far too soon, it is over. I always tell my children they can revisit those precious moments anytime they want, in their heart and mind. Christmas always comes back around, and until then, we have many wonderful memories to make together.

Have a cozy day, my friends.
Happy and Blessed New Year, too!










 

23 comments:

  1. Awww, sounds like an amazing Christmas and I love the pictures. Christmas is such a magical time. I wish it didn't end as quickly as it does.

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  2. What a wonderful Christmas you had with your family. Beautiful family and great pictures. I hope you have a wonderful 2021, too! xo Diana

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  3. Hi Billie Jo~

    What a beautiful family! What a fun new tradition with the pajamas! I love new traditions, I love new family members and I love that you share all this goodness with us! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

    Hugs and Love,
    Barb

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  4. I love all of this. A beautiful Christmas, with beautiful people. And I even love your honesty of the bittersweet nature of the last official-Peyton-at-home Christmas.

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  5. I love all the pictures, they make me feel like I was with you all! But I am so glad to hear you had a wonderful holiday! ❤️

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  6. Lots of great pictures and memories! I love the pajama idea. When the kids get bigger and some of the traditions don't fit anymore, you just make new ones. Enjoy your day dear friend and wonderful thoughts of the exciting things ahead in 2021! HUGS!

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  7. It is hard letting them go, but know in your heart that they love you enough to keep coming back. Sounds like an amazing Christmas, blessed with you all spending time together.

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  8. I always enjoy any holiday or actually just any day at your home but this year was special for many reasons. Time goes bye too fast and our little ones grow up and move on. It is both a sad moment and happy too. Wishing only happy times for you in 2021.

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  9. And you can all revisit them, in your blog!!!!!

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  10. Sounds like you had a wonderful Christmas making the most of it. It's always a bit bittersweet as these kids get older. Strange to sleep in on Christmas morning, still not used to that over here having a son who for years used to be up super early (think 4am) to get started with things. Love the new pajama tradition! Hope you are enjoying this first week of 2021!

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  11. Lovely post, beautiful photos that tell the story of a cherished family Christmas!💖

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  12. What a wonderful Christmas you had, Billie Jo. I understand about everything changing and your mixed emotions. It all happens so fast, and soon you will have to take on some of the new traditions that the children and their spouses have. Strange, isn't it? But it all works out, and I know it will for you too. Madison looks so cute in her red apron, and Peyton looks so lovely in her red dress. I love wearing red. Your Rudolph stockings are the cutest. The cookies look Yummy, and Jess made those same cookies with the kisses in the middle. You have set a beautiful table. Everything looks so nice. I hope the new year is being kind to you, my friend.

    ~Sheri

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  13. Rhett's girlfriend's pajamas.... so cute- is that his face on them??:) I love the new tradition you came up with- that's going to be fun over the years! :) Glad you had a wonderful time with family!!

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    1. Yes! Peyton's finance Christopher picked those out for her! Aren't they so funny!

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  14. Rhett's girlfriend's pajamas.... so cute- is that his face on them??:) I love the new tradition you came up with- that's going to be fun over the years! :) Glad you had a wonderful time with family!!

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  15. Rhett's girlfriend's pajamas.... so cute- is that his face on them??:) I love the new tradition you came up with- that's going to be fun over the years! :) Glad you had a wonderful time with family!!

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  16. Such a lovely Christmas...I just can't believe Peyton will be married, where has the time gone? smiles

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  17. Sounds like the perfect way to spend time with family.
    Your pics tell a great story and will hold wonderful
    for everyone.

    Happy New Year!

    M : )

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  18. Me again.
    Left out "memories" for everyone.

    M : )

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  19. Love the warmth and love coming from those pictures. Your family sure is growing, and oh how i love the Christmas Jammie idea how fun! As time evolves I guess we just have to go with the flow and switch things up a bit but it looks like you have a new tradition in the making. The stockings are adorable as is little Mocha. You have a beautiful family and its obvious they adore you!
    Happy New Year and great job on the blog make over - stuff like that is way out of my wheel house haha.

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  20. Oh gosh...these pictures from your home! Amazing!!! And Madison's dress...that blue velvet made me swoon. It is bittersweet...this growing up business that our children do, but it is so obvious that you and Steve have done such a beautiful job. I loved that pic of all your children and their spouses along with sweet Flynn.

    I am so glad to be back to blogging. I was gone for far too long...and this past year I just really needed to heal...still healing but feeling much better. Happy New Year my dear friend. Thanks for dropping by and leaving your kind comment. HUGS

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  21. Hi Billie Jo, what a lovely blog you have! Thank you for inviting me over. Your have a beautiful family and a warm, cozy home. The new pajama exchange is a great idea. Now that my children are all married with families of their own, I made up a few new traditions this year as well. I think it helps in letting go of the old, while keeping them as good memories.

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  22. Thanks for your visits to my blog. Your Christmas looks amazing. You were so fortunate to be able to celebrate it with all your lovely family.

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Thanks so much for saying hello!

Billie Jo