Celebrating Christmas 2025

Anticipating the arrival of our sweet Arlo just before Christmas, we planned ahead for a rather quiet Christmas. My family visited in early January for a belated family Christmas (a separate post coming soon for that), and so Christmas Eve and Day we celebrated with our immediate family on Nicholas' side.

On Christmas Eve, my sister-in-law Katelyn, and her fiancé, Devin came over in the morning. They met Arlo for the first time, and we worked on a Christmas puzzle and snacked on some cookies fresh from the oven (these chocolate crinkle cookies, subbing in peppermint extract for the vanilla and adding 2 tsp cinnamon to the dry ingredients).

We stayed home the rest of the day, Finn took a rather late nap and the boys had an early bath, and then after the rest of the family went to Christmas Eve service, they came over for biscuits and gravy. I made sourdough biscuits ahead of time and froze them, so this was a rather straightforward meal, paired with eggs. It's been our tradition to make this meal on Christmas Eve for the last four or five years.

All day, Cooper wore the sweater he picked out at the store as his "Christmas sweater." And he wanted to wear it again on Christmas Day (and so he did, as you can see in the photos below for Christmas Day).

After dinner, we opened stockings. Katelyn and Devin gave Cooper a clicker counter, which was a favorite item. We took turns trying to see who could click it the most in 15 seconds (Nicholas won). And Cooper really loved a little crocheted turtle that I made for him. His joy from handmade gifts is second to none. So special for me! Both boys got some mini Lego sets and art supplies and bath bombs and lots of fun little items and treats.

On Christmas Day, we woke up and ate homemade sourdough cinnamon rolls for breakfast (I always leave off the icing, and we ate these alongside our usual eggs and sausage, for Nicholas and I). We read the Christmas Story in Cooper's Bible and then exchanged gifts between the five of us. The boys received some Lego sets they were especially excited about.

My father-in-law, Bob, Katelyn, and Devin came over a little before lunch to finish preparing our midday meal at our house. We had ham, dinner rolls (I made these sourdough ones), steamed carrots with maple syrup and salt, and mashed potatoes. Bob, Katelyn, and Devin made all the food (thanks, guys)!

While Finn napped after lunch, I made coffee to have alongside the chocolate crinkle cookies and some peanut butter blossom cookies that Katelyn made.

Katelyn took some photos of me holding Arlo, and they might be some of my favorite photos ever. A scene from motherhood. What used to make me feel like I was missing out–leaving a room to nurse or soothe a baby–now, I cherish those moments to slow now and snuggle a tiny babe for a few minutes.

And then we exchanged gifts between all of us. So many thoughtful, useful, and fun gifts given and received. Finn stayed rather close to Arlo throughout the day, which is a daily trend around here. Both big brothers can't stay away from their baby brother for long (so many enthusiastic kisses!). And everyone took a turn holding Arlo.

It was such a sweet Christmas! The boys really enjoyed it (and Nicholas and I did too). It was special to celebrate with Devin, anticipating his and Katelyn's upcoming wedding. And what a gift that we got to celebrate with our newest little family member in our arms.

I didn't manage to get that perfectly posed sibling photo on Christmas Day, but I did manage to take a photo the day after! They're holding gifts from their great grandma – soft stuffed animals that have lavender that can be warmed up and cuddled with. They love them.

In the few days following Christmas, the boys spent so much time assembling Lego sets and playing with other gifts, and I knit away on my second pair of Christmas socks and on Nicholas' sweater. We went on our first family walk since Arlo was born, as well.

And I did manage to finish the self-patterning Christmas socks on December 28th! Not in time for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, but definitely within the Twelve Days of Christmas, and before the end of the year, so that feels like a success to me. Details on these socks can be found on my Ravelry page.

And that wraps up the first of our Christmas celebrations – more to come in a post about my family's sweet January visit a few weekends ago.