It’s almost The New Year!!!! Before I jump head-over-heels into 2014 I want to make sure I post my Christmas 2013 post. Lord knows I waited WAY too long last year :/

Please enjoy my Christmas Eve with my family and Neil’s…

I finally dug out my late grandfather’s camera bag and what do you know! He had a macro lens that fit my Mark III! I had some fun photographing my rings before I photographed our Christmas decor.

Don’t hold me to this but I’m hoping this will be the last year we decorate a fake Christmas tree. Also, this should be one of last times you see carpet in our living room! OOO suspense!

I decorated the mantel similar to last year because I liked it but next year will different because the mantel will be different! Do you notice a lot of foreshadowing here??

Christmas Eve morning was spent at my mom and dad’s, helping them prepare for my mom’s side of the family. Below is the absolutely stunning red velvet cheese cake my mom made from scratch. Holy cow! I took more pictures of it than anything because I think it deserves to be in a magazine! I’ll be posting the recipe soon – it was not just gorgeous, it was the best thing I ate this Christmas season! No joke!

It isn’t the holidays without the dogs! And Neil stands in for yet another test shot. Love that patient man!

Neil and Benny and my brother John and Aly <3 And John and his dogs, Daisy and Lilly.

My immediate family with my mom’s mom and our little family in front of the Christmas tree.

My mom reading her Christmas Story trivia. Pretty sure I was the only one serious about playing 😉

Fast forward a few hours to Neil’s immediate family’s Christmas. After the church services, we met up at Neil’s brother’s house for Mexican. Not your typical Christmas meal but it was very delicious. I can do Mexican pretty much any day!

Below is the result of my almost 4 year old nephew playing with my camera. I am very thankful the Mark III is so heavy duty because Kolton is constantly asking to use it!

I stole it back to document the opening of presents…

And our annual Christmas tree picture! Notice my sister-in-law about ready to pop? Well, she had baby Khloe on the 28th! YUP! I have another niece!! Who’s birth I got to photograph! More on than later as well!