Happy New Year!!
I hope your holidays were filled with much joy and love, as mine were.
I hope your holidays were filled with much joy and love, as mine were.
It's been a while since I have taken the time to blog, so these quick takes are filled with an update...
{1}
Michael & I were blessed to spend some quality time with our families over the holidays. Our first stop was with Michael's family in Michigan. It was a beautiful white Christmas there for us.
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| {a white Christmas dream come true} |
{2}
We arrived just in time to miss a large ice storm that came through Michigan right before the holiday.
We arrived just in time to miss a large ice storm that came through Michigan right before the holiday.
Everything was covered in ice, and snow quickly followed. It was quite a sight!
{3}
It was my first Christmas with Michael's family (we were in Ohio with my family last Christmas).
I enjoyed sharing their family traditions. These pictures were taken after Mass on Christmas Eve.
{3}
It was my first Christmas with Michael's family (we were in Ohio with my family last Christmas).
I enjoyed sharing their family traditions. These pictures were taken after Mass on Christmas Eve.
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| {Michael and his parents} |
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| {Michael, me, and my brother & sister in-law} |
{4}
The day after Christmas we headed south to Ohio to celebrate with my family. It was such a blessing to have my family together. As I have mentioned before, my sister lives in California and I live in New York, so for us all to be in one place is a rare and cherished event in this season of our lives.
The day after Christmas we headed south to Ohio to celebrate with my family. It was such a blessing to have my family together. As I have mentioned before, my sister lives in California and I live in New York, so for us all to be in one place is a rare and cherished event in this season of our lives.
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| {my parents' Christmas tree - glowing beautiful & bright} |
{5}
One of our most cherished gifts this year were these hand-crafted pillows, designed especially for us. My grandmother (my mother's mother) passed away in January 2013, so this was our first Christmas without her.
In Ann Arbor, MI, there is a beautiful shop called Red Shoes. The owner, a gifted artist, was commissioned to make each member of my mom's family one of these pillows. No two are alike - they were personalized with the knowledge of our interests and the relationship we had with our grandmother. All of the fabrics used to make the pillows were my grandmother's clothes.
The pillows are true treasures.
One of our most cherished gifts this year were these hand-crafted pillows, designed especially for us. My grandmother (my mother's mother) passed away in January 2013, so this was our first Christmas without her.
In Ann Arbor, MI, there is a beautiful shop called Red Shoes. The owner, a gifted artist, was commissioned to make each member of my mom's family one of these pillows. No two are alike - they were personalized with the knowledge of our interests and the relationship we had with our grandmother. All of the fabrics used to make the pillows were my grandmother's clothes.
{6}
Before I knew it, it was New Year's Eve. We got all dolled up and went out to dinner with my family and some dear family friends for an evening of celebrating.
Before I knew it, it was New Year's Eve. We got all dolled up and went out to dinner with my family and some dear family friends for an evening of celebrating.
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| {with my wonderful parents} |
{7}
After dinner our friends brought over the supplies to make a German holiday drink: Feuerzangenbowle
(Flaming Fire Tongs Punch). Click on the link above to read more about this Christmas & New Year's tradition. It was certainly a memorable one!
We also shared a traditional glass of champagne -
so many blessings to celebrate and give thanks for in 2013!
Linking up my takes with many more at Conversion Diary - thanks for hosting, Jen!
We had a big snowstorm come through NYC overnight - we got almost 7 inches of snow here!
I am hoping to stay cozy & warm this weekend, catching up on all the blog posts I have not yet read. I'm also hoping to reflect upon 2013, and resolve for 2014, which I haven't quite had the time to do with all our travels. I look forward to being back on my blog more regularly in the new year -
it was a nice break, but I enjoy having this space, too!
After dinner our friends brought over the supplies to make a German holiday drink: Feuerzangenbowle
(Flaming Fire Tongs Punch). Click on the link above to read more about this Christmas & New Year's tradition. It was certainly a memorable one!
so many blessings to celebrate and give thanks for in 2013!
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| {cheers!} |
We had a big snowstorm come through NYC overnight - we got almost 7 inches of snow here!
I am hoping to stay cozy & warm this weekend, catching up on all the blog posts I have not yet read. I'm also hoping to reflect upon 2013, and resolve for 2014, which I haven't quite had the time to do with all our travels. I look forward to being back on my blog more regularly in the new year -
it was a nice break, but I enjoy having this space, too!
So happy to see you back, Elise. : )
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful holiday season you too had!
And those pillows!!!! What a treasure.
Enjoy your cozy weekend!
These pics are all so great! Happy new year!
ReplyDeleteThose pillows sound like real treasures!
ReplyDelete