Though I've lived in College Station for about half my life (really?!?), home is still on the ranch near Boerne where my parents still live. They have a beautiful place that is somehow kind of magical. It is comforting to see things from my childhood still around, though mom and dad have done some amazing renovations! I love the place. I love the trees and the house and the creek (where dad thinks kayaking would be great, even though the largest span of water would mean turning around every 3 minutes!). I love my parents and my whole family--and I can't wait to get back there for the holidays in just a few days. We love to sit outside, have a beer, watch football, sit on the counters in the kitchen and talk, watch the kids play, and just be together as a family.
When I was home at Thanksgiving, I got a chance to take some family photos. Really because they needed them for Christmas cards. But I loved it. I love taking pictures and capturing those little times in their lives right now. Looking back at the photo album my mom put together for me growing up, I see those moments, those little glimpses into how we were, what was "cool" at the time, the fashion, the furniture, the way people wore their hair. My favorite pictures are the ones that show "how we were" -not just the ones where everyone is looking at the camera, though those are good, too. The candid ones: those are the ones that really give you an idea of how crazy or fun or serious something was.
I put a few pics from Thanksgiving here--and they are ones that I love (there were many, but I don't know if everyone else cares to see them all! ) I hope to get a bunch more at Christmastime, because my family is by far the most important part of my life. I hope you all get to spend some great time with family this holiday as well. Merry Christmas!
