Christmas 2014

This Christmas season was a refreshing, full, busy, and bittersweet few weeks as we celebrated with family and friends. 

We started Christmas Eve with our little Harvest Church family for its first Christmas Eve service ever :) After church, we continued our tradition of chili and family time with the Branches. 

Christmas morning was magical this year. Liam was old enough to understand that something special was happening and his excitement was so fun to watch. More than the excitement that comes with giving and receiving gifts, he was mostly giddy just being able to spend time with his aunts, uncles, and grandparents. 

The best and hardest part about this Christmas was the Craven duo: 

We had been spoiled by a later than expected departure date for Will and Caroline, which I think made the reality of them moving to Japan a little bit harder to grasp. 

Will has been living this Navy life for as long as I've known him, so the fact that we were able to get some quality time with him before he left was so special. Watching him play with Liam and hold little Bennett was something our family will always cherish! 

We said our goodbyes to Will so that he could get to his family early that afternoon and prepared to pack up for the mountains while we squeezed in as much time with Aunt CaCa as possible. 

I'm not sure what I expected my reaction to be when we said goodbye to my sister because I hadn't really allowed myself to believe it was real. Well, lets just say it got real pretty quick! 

What started out as little tears here and there throughout the morning became ugly face, gasping for air crying when we said our official goodbye in the driveway. As we all watched her hug and kiss Liam and Bennett, everything I am thankful for about Caroline was right there in front of me - the way she loves our kids, how selflessly she cares for family, and her heart to serve are just a few of the things I am going to miss terribly for the next 3.5 years.    

So finally after 1 million hugs and kisses, we headed to the mountains for Christmas with the Wrights. A cold Christmas night at Windy Gap with 5 cousins in matching pajamas - it doesn't get better! 

We had beautiful weather the whole time and had so much fun exploring and playing with family, cousins, and a few fun visitors! 

The day we packed up to head to Nan and Pops' house, we stopped at Claxton Farm. Liam was in HEAVEN running around with the animals and fell in love with Martha Claxton while she gave him a private tour :) 

Back at the Cliffs there was lots of swimming, hiking, lounging, baby nursing, and cousin time!

One morning, we got to meet Ryan, Christina, and Carson for breakfast before they caught a plane back to their new home in New Mexico. It was such a treat to catch up with them, to hug Christina's pregnant belly, and to see Liam and Carson majorly crush on one another #arrangedmarriage

It was so much fun getting to spend so much time with the entire Wright clan at Nan and Pops' house. We stayed all the way through New Years, because really, who actually does anything for New Years? This year we were determined for the hyped up holiday not to be a let down and ringing in 2015 was perfect - family, a fire, and lots of food! 

2014 was a good one!