Journeys›Photograph

The Christmas Season at Home, 2011

·San Francisco, California·#bay area#christmas#family#holiday#winter-2011
A dark Christmas tree adorned with numerous bright, sparkling lights and diverse ornaments, including a cross and a doll.

The house always feels different once the Christmas tree is up. This was early December 2011, and the living room was filled with the glow of colored lights. We pulled out all the old ornaments, each with its own story. It's a quiet kind of magic, watching the room change.

We got out for a bit during the day, where the kids were just full of that pre-holiday energy, all smiles and hugs. Back at home, the real cozy feeling set in. The girls posed in their pajamas in front of the tree and the fireplace. There's a certain ritual to taking these photos every year, documenting them as they grow against the backdrop of the same traditions.

Of course, there were plenty of candid moments too, just a blur of motion in front of the glowing tree. One of my favorite parts of our decorations was this simple wooden nativity scene with peg-doll figures. We'd set it up on a chair, illuminated by its own string of lights. It was a quiet, handmade corner in the midst of all the excitement.

Two smiling children hug in the foreground, with other people and a paved outdoor area in the background.Two smiling children sit in front of a brightly lit Christmas tree and a fireplace with a fire.A smiling child in a pink dress stands in front of a brightly lit Christmas tree with a star topper.A young child in a pink dress stands in front of a brightly lit Christmas tree with ornaments and a star.A child in a red dress stands in front of a brightly lit and decorated Christmas tree with a star topper.A child in a patterned dress smiles in front of a brightly lit Christmas tree with a star topper and colorful ornaments.A wooden nativity scene with peg doll figures is illuminated by colorful string lights on a wooden surface.A handmade wooden nativity scene features peg doll figures and a stable, lit by colorful lights.

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