After a day of travel, I am back in Myrtle Beach. Bright and early tomorrow morning I will resume my normal routine at Coastal Carolina University. As is the case with most vacations, it is always a little hard to get back on the saddle after having such a fun and carefree time.

I had an incredible stay in Spokane. I could recap the hundred different things I did over the past two plus weeks or I could just briefly describe what made my time at home so memorable. I choose the latter.

I can’t thank my parents enough for providing me with such a great time while I was in Spokane.

This trip I stayed within Spokane limits the whole time. I didn’t pack the schedule with mini trips or Pacific Northwest sightseeing adventures. Instead, majority of my time was spent in my comfy childhood home on Guinevere Drive sitting by the fireplace with my loved ones. We chatted, we played games, we sipped hot chocolate, and we enjoyed each other’s company.

It just really felt like Christmas in Spokane.

This trip I got to do the small but meaningful tasks with my family members. I worked out with my dad at 4:30 a.m. on several mornings. I ran errands all over town with my mom. I went to story time at the local library with my sister and niece. I went “Christmas shopping” with my brother as we visited a couple bars to pick up gift cards (and a drink or two).

I even had the opportunity to spend one-on-one time with my parents. This photo was taken at a restaurant in downtown Spokane.

This trip I welcomed my fiance to enjoy the holidays with my family. Sidney arrived in town on December 21 and did everything with us that incorporates our Reser family traditions. The whole time Sidney was right in the middle of our celebrations from making gingerbread houses to attending Christmas Eve mass to finding the pickle in the tree to opening gifts to watching our traditional Christmas Day movie at the theater to enjoying our New Year’s Day meal.

Sidney got to enjoy the holidays with my family. In this photo she is with my mom, my niece, and my sister.

This trip I got to spend a significant amount of time with my niece. Babies grow so fast and it is tough that I don’t get to see Mikayla that often but we did all we could to make up for lost time. Every single day during the second full week I was there, my sister brought Mikayla over to my mom’s. I got to play with her, hold her, and talk to her. She warmed up to me throughout the trip and I became very attached. It was tough to say goodbye to her last night.

I really enjoyed hanging out with my niece.

This trip I soaked in the special feeling of the holidays. Everything seemed so right. Spokane was covered in snow. Everyone I needed was underneath one roof. All of us Reser siblings had our significant others around. The Christmas spirit seemed to swirl throughout my parents’ household. It was nice.

It was a big deal to have all of us Reser siblings and our significant others together.

Thanks a million to my wonderful family for making my 2015/2016 holiday trip so memorable. I am very thankful for your love and support. Sidney and I will see you in five months at our wedding. Don’t Blink.