For Christmas in 2012 we continued our tradition of driving to the mountains for our tree. Reeves Ridge, the choose-and-cut farm where we get our tree in Sparta, NC, is a hit with the kids because of its fire pit, marshmellow roasting and free-flowing hot chocolate. We are such fans of the fire pit, we built a similar version in our yard.

We also changed the lighting in our tree this year, offering Santa a beacon should he have trouble finding Mooresville in a blizzard. Though we vowed to step up our game with the outdoor holiday decorations, we remain in the planning phase.

For the holiday, we traveled to Atlanta to visit the Sutherland clan. Each year since moving to NC from Michigan in 1998, we have spent time with family during the holidays, the tradition we cherish most.

Alert: Vintage tree farm pics of the kids.

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One of our favorite days in 2012 was a trip with Nani to the mountains in Asheville to see the Biltmore Estate all decked out for the holidays. Rachel and I had seen the estate in the fall of 2004, but not at night, and not like this.

It’s an impressive place any time of year, and the magnitude of the project is difficult to grasp given the era it was built (1889-95), and where it was built (deep, deep in the mountains).

As a bonus, Rachel and I tasted a new favorite wine (the Biltmore house red) giving us an excuse to make the two-hour trek more often.

Should you visit our fine state, the Biltmore (250 rooms, 178,000-plus square feet, jaw-dropping stonework and architecture) is worth a day. It’s ostentatious, but amazing all the same.

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