The Christmas Season at Home, 2011

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.