Christmas Tradition

We don't have many Christmas traditions that have held through the 12 years Walt and I have been together. One tradition has been around since Year One.. taking a picture in front of the Christmas tree before opening presents on Christmas morning.

Days of old...


1996. Our first Christmas together. We were at the apartments then, young and in love. Well, we still have the "in love" part going for us.


1999. I was pregnant with Josh. We were house hunting to no avail. There are our cats, Mark (aka Lazy) and Murphy.


2000. Josh's first Christmas. Our first Christmas in our own house... with pink carpet and awful wallpaper. Alex was living in the area and stayed Christmas Eve with us.


2004. Carley's second Christmas but the first one she was able to open her own presents. Walt and his beard.


2005. Gemma and Emma were here for Christmas. Anyone who is at our house Christmas morning has to participate in the Christmas morning picture.


2006. Shelly came for Christmas. We were both quite sick Christmas morning from partying with my cousins on Christmas Eve, it's cousin Doug's birthday. This was the only year we put the tree in front of the fire place (still without a mantle) because the refridgerator was in front of the living room window.


2008. Just yesterday.

There are some Christmases that we spent away from our house. I guess only two. In 2001 we went to my mom and Dave's house for Christmas. Josh was one year old. My Grandma Tandy was also there. We must not have taken a family picture in front of the tree but we got a generational picture instead.


2001. Four generations.

And in 2002 we were with Walt's mom and sister in Carpinteria for Christmas.


2002. We went to the beach on Christmas day and it was so warm. That was a first for me.