christmas cheer.

Holy moly! I can hardly believe it's December 26th...and that both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are behind us. Our first married Christmas proved to be a perfect one...which could have only been made more perfect if we could have spent it with both sides of our families. I'm SO excited to get to South Carolina later this week and see my folks!


I thought I'd share a few photos from the past few days...the first of which is an "action" shot while we passed over the border from New Hampshire into Maine on Thursday. We spent Christmas Eve's Eve with a smaller crew from {cv}'s extended family. 

Christmas Eve was a rather low-key day, though it did require a crazy trip to the grocery store before we caught a fantastic Christmas mass. I may be a Presbyterian, but I don't discriminate on where we celebrate Christmas Eve. Ironically, the parish was named after St. Ignatius, the founder of the Jesuits {near and dear to our Georgetown hearts} and the church itself was named after St. Martin of Tours. Tours, France is where I studied abroad during the beginning of long-distance years--and we visited his cathedral in Tours on our honeymoon! Must have been meant to be!


From mass, we made the quick drive to his uncle's home to begin the evening's festivities. We had to check our phones at the door {pretty good rule, I think!}, so the photo below is the only one I have from the evening. Though we're clearly on our way home, you can catch a little glimpse of something sparkly under my coat...it's the Milly dress I rented from Rent The Runway! I had initially wanted to wear it for NYE, but I thought it would be perfectly fun for our Christmas Eve celebration :)

Once we got back to my in-laws, "Santa's elves" quickly prepared the living room for my 18-month-old nephew's enjoyment the following morning. Santa was definitely great to all of us this year...

I felt especially blessed when {cv} and I exchanged gifts quietly upstairs {we wanted to have a little private moment to enjoy with each other!}. Being his generous self, the husband gifted me with an incredible piece of photographic equipment that I've been eyeing f.o.r.e.v.e.r.  Good news is that my dad is a phenomenal photographer and can show me a few tricks during our visit to Hilton Head. 

I. am. still. so. excited.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

Later that day, I couldn't help but snap a picture of the calendar {cv}'s parents still have hanging in their stairwell. It is hard to believe it's been more than 20 years since this photo was taken! I have to say that my husband's a handsome little guy ;)

After a day full of presents, eating {LOTS. of. eating.}, and general happiness, our first married Christmas came {all too quickly} to a close. Before it did, I had to snap a shot of my nephew's new ride under the tree...

{cv} and I woke up this morning, fully intent upon leaving Maine after the Patriots game {my husband really loves his Pats}. After watching a few weather forecasts, however, we realized that might not be the best plan and hopped in the car to beat the storm. Crossing the bridge from Maine to New Hampshire, the snow just looks imminent, no?

We hit the snow just outside of Framingham, Massachusetts and it just got heavier as we continued south toward Rhode Island...

We rolled into our building at just the right time...{cv} caught 3 quarters of his beloved Patriots on TV. Now, we're settling in for the night--and watching the snow fall outside the window. No complaints from me!

I know I'm looking forward to a cozy tomorrow to catch up on how all your holidays went. I hope and pray you all created a few special Christmas memories! I can't wait to hear about them! 

Much love, {av}