This time of year is always so hectic.  You’d think with all the parties that it would be easy to relax but parties just mean more baking and cleaning than usual.  It feels unacceptable to spend a night at home without inviting friends over for games or something. 

But one of the things I always love is the way that families feel so much more like a family during the holidays.  For once my brothers actually think it’s a good idea to hang out with the family instead of hiding in their rooms reading and playing video games. 

This year we decided to start a new family tradition of getting our family portrait taken by a local Utah photographer.  Then after we’re going to do the customary drive around the city and see all the beautiful lights.  And along with that comes the routine jokes from my brother who likes to point out how beautiful all the street lamps are when the rest of us are oohing and ahhing at animatronic reindeer.

Maybe next year we’ll actually convince my dad to dress up like Santa in our family picture.