Before we took down the holiday decorations, we decided to snap a couple better-late-than-never seasonal pictures, since this will likely be the last time we can take a photo like this in front of the tree.
Kinda crazy to think that this was our last Christmas with just one little one (well, two including Burger – and about 30 if you count all of Sherry’s ceramic animals). What’s even crazier is that Clara stood still enough for this long of an exposure! If you want to take a photo like this, our tips are: use a tripod, lower the lights in the room so the tree glows, and use a long exposure and stand as still as possible. The results are so cool!
What did you guys wrap and unwrap this year? Do you do big gift exchanges with your other half, or just little fun things that you’ve been eying? Sherry and I like to keep it pretty low key, but we love hearing about giant surprises (were there any bows on any cars in any driveways?) and little thoughtful things alike.
Update: You can check out all of our favorite holiday decor finds here – many of which are under $15!
Kristen H. says
It totally melts my heart how sweet and appreciative Clara is!
And the big Christmas surprise in our family this year was the Disney cruise my boyfriend’s mother bought for her husband. He may be 50+ but he turns into a 10 year old anytime Disney is mentioned. It was awesome to see his reaction when Goofy called the house and told him he would be taking a Disney cruise in a few months!
YoungHouseLove says
That’s so exciting! Holy cow, the Goofy call is hilarious too.
xo
s
Carolyn Ellsworth says
Yay Sweet Spot! My brother got us a gift card for Christmas. We were a little more than thrilled!
YoungHouseLove says
That place is so much fun, right?!
xo
s
Inkatha says
Ok I am late with this comment, but I have to say there is NOTHING better than the stair shot so Clara! All the excitement bottled up in that smile says it all. wishing you a happy and healthy New Year!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw, thanks Inkatha!
xo
s
jeanna says
Hey guys-
Just had a quick question for ya. Painting a laminate bookcase, and just finished priming with Zissner. I noticed you guys always let it dry for a full 24 hours. It says you can cover in 45 minutes- what is your recommendation? I haven’t done this before, so I will take your word for it.
Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
I say go for it if the can lets you! Sometimes we just tackle projects a little at a time since someone is due to wake up from her nap at any minute, but if you have the time and stamina I’d keep going!
xo
s
Emily Ehlers says
The year I got my American Girl doll will forever be my favorite and most memorable Christmas. I can still remember sprinting into the room after church to discover that Santa has brought exactly what I wanted. I’m so glad Clara got the same experience, she’ll remember it forever.
YoungHouseLove says
That’s so sweet!
xo
s
Sarah @ 702 Park Project says
I love the tradition of the photo on the stairs! We had the same tradition…my brother and I had to sit down at the top of the stairs and yell down for my parents to come take our picture so we could see what Santa brought. I’m married now, and my brother is engaged, so trying to fit all 4 of us in this year was pretty hilarious! It’s definitely a Christmas “must” for us!
YoungHouseLove says
So funny that you guys still do the stair thing! I’m totally going to beg Clara to do it for eternity. Even when she’s 52!
xo
s
Lindsay says
Aww Clara’s PJs match the raindrops on her wall! It must be a favorite color combo at your house. Hope your family enjoyed the holidays!
YoungHouseLove says
Isn’t that funny? They’re from John’s mom! She knows those are three of Clara’s favorite colors… and since we have deer outside all the time she thought they were fitting!
xo
s
Caroline says
The video absolutely melts my heart! Clara is so precious!! She will be a sweet big sister. :)
Christine S says
For the past few years, we have been trying to get more creative and give “experiences” to our children. Last year we planned a trip to Disney World and surprised them in a fun way. This year, we gave my son (who is a ginormous football fan) tickets to the New Orleans Saints game, his fav NFL team. He was beyond thrilled and while walking into the stadium, he said,” mom, this is the best Christmas gift ever!”. I will always remember that and I hope he does too! For my daughter we built her the cuckoo clock that you guys made for Clara. She loved it! We put some led lights on the roof for Christmas lights :) Santa brought her an art easel loaded with supplies (she loves to draw,paint and craft).
YoungHouseLove says
Such sweet ideas! Sounds like they had an awesome Christmas!
xo
s
Meire says
Hi Sherry and John, I just recently found and started following your blog, which I really love and look forward to reading every day. Sherry, this picture of you in front of your Christmas tree is absolutely beautiful. I wish you guys, Clara and baby boy a wonderful 2014 and that your posts continue to make our lives creative and happy as always.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw, thanks so much Meire!
xo
s
Abby says
So cute! those last photos are precious! In my family, we always go around in a circle opening one present at a time, from youngest to oldest, until we are all out of presents. That way everyone gets to enjoy each other’s excitement of opening their gifts. So much fun!
Abby
http://thepreppycoxswain.blogspot.com/
YoungHouseLove says
That’s so sweet!
xo
s
Jenn says
Love the photo of you and Clara. Beautiful subject and nice photo work. Really touching.
Vanessa @ Love This Crazy Life says
OMG, I have those Cinderella ornaments too. They were Micky D’s happy meal toys… Happy Meals were the BOMB.com in the 80s ;) And I LOVE those final pics in front of the tree
Sarah @ The Simple Home says
Hey guys! So cute! I love how excited Clara is. She is so sweet. A few things!
1. Is there any way that when you respond to a comment, there is an email alert? I have to locate my comment to see if you have replied, so I think it would be helpful to a lot more people than me :)
2. Are you going to do a family yearbook any time soon? I was just looking at a previous post of one and was smiling so much… I love them!
3. (Totally random) If suddenly all of your sponsorships were pulled, books stopped selling and all of the readers in readerville stopped reading (which won’t happen because I’m pretty sure that my views alone are making you the big buck$) I was wondering, what would you do for a living? Would you be some sort of home expert or would you go back to being financial people?
Just wondering! Haha,
Sarah
http://www.thesimplehomeblog.blogspot.com
YoungHouseLove says
Good questions! When it comes to comment notifications, we’d love to offer that feature, it’s just that every time we add that plug-in our site slows down/crashes, so we’re not sure what’s going on and are always trying to get it working, but so far we just can’t get it functioning properly. In the meantime, just noting what page you’re commenting on (ex: page 5) and then coming back to page 5 and doing a “command F” search for your name can get your comment (and any reply under it) to hopefully pop up right away for ya. As for family yearbooks, yes, now that the year’s over John loves going through the photos and laying out the book, so sometime this month we’ll be ordering it I would think! And if we could no longer blog for a living, I think we’d end up back in advertising. We just loved it so much, and maybe we could still do other fun “house things” on the side, like helping with local showhouses or volunteering to makeover a space like we did for the hospital, etc.
xo
s
Lauren says
I have the SAME Gus Gus and Jack ornaments!!!!
They get hung on our tree EVERY YEAR! My daughter just loves them :)
YoungHouseLove says
Love it!
xo
s
Pamela says
So funny – I thought of Sherry when I saw those ornaments at Crate & Barrel!
Lauren says
I just wanted to say that Clara is a doll. She is so cute and her personality is adorable! You guys are catching great moments on film :)
sarina says
Our gift to each other was a super long vacation in Florida. We have a place down there and haven’t been able to get away much in the last year.. but we spent 10 days there over Christmas. It was nice weather, the seafood was great. We got to do a few traditional holiday things like taking a big speedboat excursion ride on “the screamer” in Clearwater and taking a trip to the Homossassas State park wildlife center.. which is pretty much like a zoo and open on Christmas day!
YoungHouseLove says
Sounds so nice, Sarina!
xo
s
Staci @ My Friend Staci says
About two weeks before Christmas my hubby and I upgraded our iPhones from the 4 to the 5c for our present to each other, so that was a bit anti-climactic. I did manage to surprise him with a new pair of TOMS (his old ones had fallen apart) and he totally came out of left field by gifting me the Hunger Games trilogy! I was (and am) so excited. Glad you three, I mean four, I mean five, had a great Christmas.
YoungHouseLove says
That’s fun! Those gifts sound awesome to me!
xo
s
Penny says
It’s only right that I share this here since my love for Kendra Scott jewelry began years ago upon seeing a gorgeous pair of earrings you got. I got my own Kendra Scott earrings this year!! I was telling my sis how exciting it was that they opened a Kendra Scott store here and she mentioned she had gotten some a bridesmaid gift to which I replied I was totally jealous. So she surprised me with some for Christmas with gorgeous sea green stones (my fave color!). I also got a beautiful necklace from my mom–not Kendra Scott– that sort of matches with a big green stone and gold tree branch pendant (for my tree obsession). Love both!
Sherry, I know this sounds weird since you can barely see your face in those last couple pics but somehow you look just like Emilia Clarke in them (Daenerys, sp?, from Game of Thrones).
Also, love the ceramic ornaments. I’ve noticed more white ceramic popping up at my house and I’m usually all about color (and all about only buying things with a purpose, not statues) so something must be catching. Wouldn’t a tree with all white ceramic ornaments be cool one year?
YoungHouseLove says
Aw, congrats on your KS earrings! That was so sweet of your sister and I’m completely giddy for you just hearing the story! As for a ceramic ornament tree – uh, that would be amazing! Someday I shall have one! And I’ll have dragons like Emilia Clarke! Haha!
xo
s
Stephanie says
Clara’s PJs are adorable! She looks like she’s in heaven with her doll(s). And what a lovely picture of Sherry in front of the tree! Great job with that one!
Karin / Going Dutch on Decor says
What a merry, merry Christmas you had! The picture on the stairs is great. My daughter (who is six, lives in The Netherlands and has no clue who or what Young House Love is)
has the same exact socks as Clara is wearing. Exactly the same, isn’t that crazy! We live miles, miles and a big ocean away :-)
so greetz from overseas :-)
Karin
Jane says
Please don’t ever feel like – for this reader, at least – you have to justify buying a nice gift for your child. She seems so charming and unspoiled, and you guys are such frugal and responsible parents (and even if you weren’t, it’s not anyone else’s business to judge) … I realize you have some readers out there who would make snide comments about a spendy doll, but those people need to chillax. You’re generous enough to share your lives with us, and I think most of us appreciate the heck out of that. Plus, it’s Christmas, and it looks like you had a beautiful one. Happy holidays!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Jane!
xo
s
J.Mill says
I had those cinderella mice ornaments as a child too!! Oh the nostalgia!
YoungHouseLove says
So funny!
xo
s
Helen says
Oh my goodness, I’ve been super busy so hadn’t read your blog in a while, and was so shocked to see your bump photos! A very belated congratulations to all of you :-)
YoungHouseLove says
Aw, thanks so much Helen!
xo
s
Lisa says
I know you guys hate the blue trim, but it’s a sweet nod to your baby boy in these photos since I know it will be gone next year!
Also, the picture of John with the reflector looks like it’s begging to be doctored up with some text in the you’ve-inadvertently-created-a-speech-bubble kind of way!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw, it’s true about the blue trim! The funny thing is that his room is the only one in the house that had mauve trim when we moved in!
xo
s
Amy says
How funny to see the Avery’s Soda bottle in the pic on your site! My great grandfather started that soda company in the early 1900’s. With more traditional flavors though–do they sell it in Richmond?
YoungHouseLove says
That’s so cool! Yes, a local candy shop called The Sweet Spot sells it!
xo
s
Kat says
Cooper’s Cave is made in the town where I used to live. Good stuff!
Jess @ Crunchy Hot Mama says
LOVE LOVE LOVE the picture of Sherry in front of the tree and the one with Clara. John, I hope you will treasure them forever…you’re a smart man, so I know you will ;)
You guys are bringing tears to my eyes thinking of your expanding family. It was such a joy bringing our 2nd daughter into the world, and I pray for a safe labor and delivery with the barnacle ;) Blessings, Petersiks!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks so much!
xo
s
Penny Smith says
I love hearing about everyone’s traditions!!
We do one Santa gift that is unwrapped and ready to go when they come down. (I have 3 kiddos). Then 2 more from us. (though on occasion “one” has a few things in the bag). We use reusable fabric bags (a friend had this all through her childhood, and I so admired it, that her mom made me a TON of bags. Some cotton gingham. Some large stretchy material… I have not had a year where something didn’t have a bag that worked. Each child has a different colored ribbon each year. Let me tell you-no wrapping stress or cost and my kids could care LESS that there is no paper!!)
ANYWAY… 3 gifts. Went with the Jesus theme there. :) Helps keep costs down. Especially since gifts get so much more expensive as they get older.
YoungHouseLove says
That’s so sweet Penny!
xo
s
Sarah Page says
Where did you get the diffuser? I’ve been looking at a few, but not sure which one to get…
YoungHouseLove says
Here’s the link (I just grabbed it on amazon for him for Christmas).
xo
s