our first Christmas tree!

Stephen had four days off between interview trips, so we spent one of them in the mountains of Idaho cutting down our very first Christmas tree with friends after church. Chili, donuts, cookies, sledding, snowball fights, amazing company... Pretty ideal, right? Even more ideal that our sweet and gorgeous friend, Hailey, is a very talented photographer...! So the pretty pictures are courtesy of her, the other not so pretty ones, my iPhone (thanks, Hailey!)

No one could believe that it was our first tree, but the story is true! Each Christmas since we've been married we've been lucky enough to spend with family, this year included! But our travels have always taken us away from home either too long before Christmas or too long after Christmas to justify a tree. Yes, we could have gone with a fake one, but I refuse, and I didn't want Christmas in my house long after Christmas passed. So, on our fourth Christmas married, we finally have our tree, and it couldn't be more perfect! I keep the lights on far longer than they need to be and I often find myself just staring at it... It's covered in my Nana's old ornaments along with my favorite ones from childhood and Uriah's very own two. Seriously, it's perfect!

Uriah got to cut down his own tree, too, which he thought was just about the coolest thing (and oh my gosh, it was so cute!). He's still talking about saws and cutting trees and loves pointing out "Ziazah's tee" every time we open the front door.

We are so grateful to have been invited into the mountains with this group of friends. See, we're the only ones with kids in this group, and I realize we're kinda a lot to take on, our little mini hoard, but they all adore Uriah and we so appreciate their friendship and community!