Christmas this year was less about presents and more about family.
It was less about giving gifts wrapped in pretty paper and more about hugs and kisses.
We stayed up late and ate chocolate, and we laughed despite our broken hearts.
We discovered simple joys: a cardboard box and bubble wrap, wooden spoons, blue tape mustaches.
We dug our hands into sugar cookie dough and let messes linger longer than usual.
We clinked our glasses together and felt genuinely thankful for the opportunity to spend another holiday together.
The kitchen was constantly crowded. Piles of golden dog hair collected in every corner. And our squealing toddler tried his best to be louder than the Christmas music.
But there was a warm glow in the fireplace and snow on the ground, and it was exactly what we wished for our first Christmas in our new home.