My Montana Christmas

In my other life I must have been an elf, there is no other way that I could love Christmas any more than I do. One of the things that I love most about Christmas is The Boy’s family.

Last year The Boy’s mom treated us to facials at Sage Spa and in the hopes that this will be a new mother-daughter tradition I booked us another spa day. She is a recently retired elementary school teacher and I love spending time with the sweetest of sweet people and pampering someone who has spent her life serving others. And I won’t lie- a massage after our travel fiasco was pretty welcomed independent of traditions!

Last year was also the first year I introduced one of my family’s holiday traditions to The Boy’s family. Every year we break a piece of bread into 9 pieces and dip three each in salt, butter, and honey to represent wishes of strength, richness, and sweetness, respectively. Although his family has had nearly 40 years of their own traditions, I was so honored that when I came to their Christmas Eve this year anda fresh loaf of bread was ready for my- now our- tradition.

One of their traditions is waiting for their neighbors and good friends to launch their jet helicopter to fly Santa and his sleigh over Billings. Really. Their neighbors have several jet helicopters and in addition to rescue missions and other incredible things, they built their own lit sleigh that has flown over Billings for over 30 years.

I also have the most gorgeous little people in my life:

Some fuzzy little creatures, too:

We’ve had so much love and laughter that sometimes I feel like I might burst I can’t contain it all. I want to pinch myself because I can’t believe I am so lucky to have found this wonderful family.

And although Christmas is not about the gifts, it was pretty nice to get a beautiful pair of Luccheses under the tree. I have never touched leather so soft and although they’re dress boots and wouldn’t be used on a ranch, they really make me feel at home in Montana. It was clearly a gesture to welcome this city girl home.

And speaking of trees, we got a great laugh out of The Boy’s Mom’s Charlie Brown tree that she found in the Sears’ parking lot while getting a new car battery.

Wishing you and those you love a very happy holidays!