First Christmas on Creekwood Lane

This house feels like ours now. Every room has a memory, and today we’re making the biggest one yet - our first Christmas here.

First Christmas on Creekwood Lane

Sophie still believes in Santa with every fiber of her being, and watching her examine each ornament on our tree like they hold magic makes me want to freeze time. She’s six and perfect and still thinks reindeer can fly.

Meanwhile, I’m in my own kitchen making tamales from Abuela Rosa’s recipe

Making tamales in my own kitchen for the first time

. My own kitchen! With my own island and my own mess to clean up later. Marcus is outside hanging lights on our porch (badly, but enthusiastically), and Theo keeps trying to eat the masa when he thinks I’m not looking.

Last Christmas we were crammed into our tiny rental, sitting on folding chairs around a card table. This year Sophie has room to spread out her Barbie village under the tree, Theo can chase Biscuit around the coffee table, and I can actually cook without elbowing Marcus every time I turn around. Progress, people.

This house is becoming ours one holiday at a time. Next year Sophie might roll her eyes at Santa, but this year she’s pure magic and I’m soaking in every second of it.