Christmas in Santa Fe

Despite some rough experiences in my past (due to severe altitude sickness and a minor cat allergy), Christmas in Santa Fe still ranks as a rather magical experience. And this year was doubly so: Oliver's first Christmas AND his first visit to Santa Fe. We couldn't have picked a better time of year. :)

On Christmas Eve, we suited up to stroll Canyon Road:

Oliver was warm and snuggly as Dasher (I realized that he cannot be Rudolph since the nose is brown...):

And he road happily along with is dad and grandparents (while mom took pictures):

The street was decorated with the traditional Christmas-light chilies:

And luminarias (or farolitos, depending on whom you ask):

With bonfires in open spaces:

It was truly magical for our little family:

And Oliver was a good sport throughout:

On Christmas day, we gathered to open the presents from under the Christmas cactus (and no, for those of you who have never been to Santa Fe, this is not how most people do things there... just us):

Oliver and Daddy had a very fun Christmas morning:

Playing Oliver's new favorite game:

We opened presents (more pictures of Oliver to come later):

And the cats played in the paper:

That afternoon, we went outside to enjoy the perfect weather:

And took a hike around my in-laws beautiful property:

We even passed some snow:

And a cool dead tree:

And, my favorite, dried flowers (or, as my father-in-law assured me, dead weeds - but I like them anyway) to photograph in the sunset:

Which was beautiful, by the way:

The next day, we enjoyed some shopping in downtown Santa Fe:

Where all three boys were more than agreeable as we ladies perused:

And, of course, we had to catch a photo in the plaza:

Don't you love three-generation pictures? All those Paxton men... A very Merry Christmas!