A Christmas to Remember: Our Family's Journey

Christmas this year looked a lot different than it used to. Before kids, I thought Christmas was just… cute. You know? Cozy pajamas, slow mornings, maybe some hot cocoa, and everyone smiles peacefully while soft Christmas music plays in the background. Now? Christmas is more like: “How can I keep everyone alive, fed, dressed, and relatively happy while also remembering where I put the diaper bag?” And somehow, we still had a really good time.

Traveling Chaos: The Reality of Family Holidays

We did a lot of traveling this Christmas season, which always sounds fun in theory. Like yes… let’s pack up the whole house, load up the kids, and hit the road! But then you actually start packing and realize: traveling with kids is simply moving your entire life to another location for a few days.

And you can’t forget anything. If you forget pajamas? The world ends. If you forget the special stuffed animal? Immediate emotional damage. If you forget wipes? Straight to jail. 😂 So we spent Christmas traveling, seeing family, doing all the holiday things, and making memories the messy way—the way it really happens when you have littles.

The Candle Incident: A Lesson in Vigilance

One of my favorite moments from Christmas this year happened at church… and I’m laughing even typing this. We went to a candlelight service which sounds so peaceful and magical, right? Everyone holding candles, singing Silent Night, the glow, the vibes. I LOVE those kinds of services. But I also go into them knowing good and well that my children do not understand the seriousness of holding fire.

We’re sitting there, and it’s going fine. The kids are doing decent, no major meltdowns, I’m feeling proud. We’re making it. Then we get to the candle part. We’re lighting candles, passing the flame down the row, and everything is quiet and calm and sweet… until it’s not.

At one point, I truly thought we were about to catch something on fire—whether it was hair, a sleeve, a coat, or the pew… I don’t know. It was one of those slow-motion mom moments where your brain is like: “Oh no. Not here. Not in the Lord’s house.” Thankfully, we made it through with no actual flames outside of the candle, but I’m convinced I lost three years off my life during that service.

Silent Night: A Toot Heard Around the World

Now. Let’s talk about Silent Night. We made it almost to the end of the service without a meltdown. Like… almost. Which is basically a Christmas miracle. But right before Silent Night, when it is DEAD quiet, Stetson lets out a little toot. And I mean little, but also loud enough in the silence that it might as well have echoed.

I froze. Kendell froze. I looked around like: “Did anyone else hear that? Please tell me that was just my imagination.” And then we all started giggling because I’m sorry… I will always think toots are funny. When your kid lets one rip right before Silent Night? That is peak comedy. It honestly made the moment even better because it was so perfectly “us.” Chaos in the calm.

Western Kansas Christmas: A Snowy Sendoff

We spent a good part of Christmas in western Kansas! We always love seeing everyone out west. When we were headed home that Sunday, we got a little snow even. Not a blizzard. Not a huge snowstorm. Just enough to make everything look pretty and magical. Enough to make me say: “See? THIS is what Christmas is supposed to look like.” Because man… I miss Christmases with snow.

I feel like every year it’s warmer and warmer and warmer. It’s wild how quickly the weather seems to be changing. I swear growing up we almost always had snow around Christmas… and now it feels like we’re lucky if we even see it once.

It makes me wonder sometimes… will my kids ever really have a true white Christmas? Like the kind you see in movies? Snow on the ground, frosty windows, bundling up in big coats? Or will Christmas eventually just be 55 degrees and muddy boots? But that little bit of snow we got before we left western Kansas gave me that nostalgic holiday feeling I’ve been craving. It was the perfect sendoff.

Selah Ruth: Our Sweetest Addition

Now for the sweetest part of all: Selah Ruth is officially 2 months old. I genuinely cannot believe it. I feel like I just had her, and at the same time, I feel like she’s been part of our family forever. She has fit into our crew so perfectly. And honestly? She is the easiest baby. Like… the kind of baby that makes you think: “Wait… is this real?” She’s sweet, calm, and just goes with the flow, which is good because our house does not slow down.

We are loving her so much. She’s starting to be more alert, giving those little baby faces that melt your heart, and she’s just such a bright spot in the middle of all the chaos. Watching Stetson and Stella with her has been the best. Seeing them love on her, talk to her, and accept her as part of the family makes me emotional. Even though the days are long, I know I’ll miss this stage one day.

Fighting Sickness: The Uninvited Guest

Okay, now for the part I’m over: sickness. Since Thanksgiving, we have been battling sickness nonstop. And I’m not being dramatic when I say: I am so over it. It’s like as soon as one person gets better, another person gets sick. And then once that person gets better, somehow the first person gets sick again.

I don’t know what kind of germy curse is floating around, but I would like it to LEAVE. This year’s cold and flu season has been aggressive. The kids are bringing home germs, we’re traveling, we’re exhausted… it’s the perfect storm. And taking care of sick kids while also being postpartum and breastfeeding? Whew. I’ve never felt more like a zombie. So if you’ve been feeling like your house has been sick for 48 straight years, just know: same.

New Year Goals: A Fresh Start

Even with all the chaos, Christmas was a reminder of what matters most: family, faith, laughter, and being together. And now we’re heading into the new year with goals. Not the pressure-filled “new year, new me” kind of goals… but intentional goals.

Goals like:

• protecting our peace

• loving our babies well

• showing up more present

• staying grounded in our faith

• and continuing to build the life we want as a family

  
  

I’m excited for this year. I truly believe God is doing something new in this season—even in the messy parts, even in the exhaustion, even in the sickness. And I’m just thankful. Thankful for the memories, the laughter, the snow, the tiny toots in church, and our sweet Selah girl turning two months old. So here’s to a new year… with hopefully a LOT less illness, a lot more rest, and a lot more moments that make us laugh until we cry.

Because honestly… that’s the good stuff.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from our family to yours!

-Bailey