12 Dec
Finals Are Over, Christmas Celebrating Begins!
Finals are over, thank goodness, and it’s our last looooooong Christmas break we’ll probably ever have. A 3+ week Christmas break is the best part of being a student, and we’ll be celebrating ours in Washington with my parents (we leave today). We’ve been spending time with friends before we leave, and Saturday was our most jam-packed day yet. I woke up, did Ripped in 30, showered, put my swimsuit on (and the baby’s too), we went down for family swim time, came up and made Mexican Wedding Cookies (a big hit) and we spent the rest of the day/evening at a Mexican fiesta hosted by our favorite friends. We really just ate Mexican food and our friend wore a sombrero, but it was the best kind of party to have with 4 kids under 5 present.
I haven’t been photographing much lately, and between this day and the pictures I took the next day of my pregnant friend, I’m feeling renewed. Something about photography, this craft I’m so passionate about, rejuvenates me and helps me feel excited about life. I hope my family is ready for me to have a camera pointed at them all the time over the holidays. 
When we went downstairs for our family swim time, our favorite friends were there as well! T1 LOVES these two. The little girl, B, is like a big sister to him.
That Husband took this one of me, and I’m so proud of him. Look at this framing! Multiple action layers going on, great lighting. I have high hopes for our vacation photos in the future.
A few hours later, our fiesta began. Matt kicked it off, and told everyone present they had to dance if he was going to play. It was awesome.
While we finished preparing the food, the kids ran around being rather crazy.
After dinner we had hours of fascinating conversation topped off with some snuggling whenever the kids wandered near.
T1 has a new love. The flash on my camera (or my iPhone).
When the babies were tired and it was time to go home, we wound down with some Christmas carols sung by the light of the tree.
It was the perfect way to kick off the holiday season. I’ll check back in as often as I can while I’m living with my parents for the next few weeks. I’m considering a Day in the Life over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Wouldn’t it be fun to see in detail how other people celebrate Christmas? Maybe we could turn it into a series, and have other people submit their Christmas experience as well! I’d love to feature posts like that.
Also:
I'm a farm-raised almost-crunchy stroller-pushing picture-taking lifestyle-blog-writing gastronomy-obsessed divine-seeking thrift-store-combing cheese-inhaling pavement-pounding laughter-sprinkling lover of individuality and taking chances.
Enjoy the fun break! I miss those long three week breaks. I hope you get lots of naps and hot chocolate time!!!
I would love to see how other people celebrate Christmas. We are doing the Jewish thing this year: Chinese food and a movie.
1I would love to see the other Christmas celebrations as well! I’m going to try really hard to do this too. I also haven’t been using my camera as much since I got my new iPhone and I really want to get back to using it all the time like I used to.
2Oooh, I would love to see a new Day in the Life, and how other people celebrate Christmas. I think other traditions are fascinating; plus, I’m nosy.
I like the pictures of T1 in the water: does he like swimming now? My daughter loves it (she must have gotten it from her father; I hate getting wet).
Jenna Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 10:10 am
He likes being carried around in the water and watching the other kids splash, but that’s about it. I wouldn’t categorize him as a water baby or anything.
that looks like a lovely weekend!!!glad you all enjoyed it, T1 looks like he’s having a great time!
4Jenna! T1 is looking less like a baby and more and more like a little boy every day. He’s darling.
I’m glad you liked the Mexican Wedding Cookies. I’ve had some before at a Mexican wedding and I found the flavor kind of flat. I might check out the recipe you used.
Have a great time in Washington!
5I ADORE the Christmas Day-in-the-Life idea!! Would love to be a part of it! I think it’s fascinating to see how different people celebrate! I think I will have to do that this year - and would love to be a part of a series if you decide to do one!
6I love the Christmas day-in-the-life idea. I’ll try and remember to take lots of photos so I can offer you a secular New Zealand summer Christmas if you decide to run the series.
7I’m jealous. I wish my finals were over. I’m not done until the 19th. Boo.
What a super sun day, though! That B is seriously cute girl. She has such an enchanting little face.
And I’d be totally down to join in the Christmas day blogging. Sounds like a really fun idea.
8Adore that last set of pictures of the kids. Dreamy! The kind of photos any parent would want of their kids.
9One up from the bottom - those two photos of the little girl? Beautiful! I’m sure her mom would treasure a print of those!
Jenna Reply:
December 14th, 2011 at 12:49 pm
I already made her a CD with all of the pictures on it
Oh that could be fun (the day in our lives for Christmas). I’ll try to take notes and pictures for it. Especially since I’m going home
11Any advice?
I would do a day in the life Christmas for you! My photos will be sub-par (and probably on an iphone) but I think it’d be fun to show what a Catholic Christmas is like! Also it’ll be my first Christmas with the in-laws so it’ll be an adventure.
12I’m not Christian but love seeing how other religions and ( cultures / denominations) within those religions have difft traditions. Would be a fun series seeing as how diverse your blog readership is!
13I used to live in your apartment complex! The pool is unmistakeable. It was great. And having a bus to take me directly to Booth was convenient. Enjoy the last few months of the program!
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