Christmas is in the air!

Ah, another Christmas has rounded the corner. Christmas!
I suppose the first thing that happens is Buddy Ho-Ho Good-fellow visits us on the night of the 1st. He is just as important and anticipated as the Advent Calendars on this day!

He's baaaaack!

 K~ Before I add more Christmas pics, let me insert some glorious mountain shots I got in the parking lot of Fresh Market. Of course, this doesn't look like anything great in the pictures, but the sun hitting these mountains on this early December eve was stunning. I promise. I wasn't even the only one getting pulling out the camera!

We decked the halls!
I added some red lights to the porch this year.

 Paisley set up the little Christmas Village, and even added some cotton clumps to look like snow along the garland. It looked great.

 The tree! I decided I wanted the tree in the Family Room this year. Not everyone was on board. (tradition, you know) It's the second time I've put it here.  But I really liked it! It kept the front room from feeling too crammed all month.

 You could see it's glory through the house from the entry way. I put the oversized lit wreath in the front window and I'll bet if anyone thought twice about it, they assumed it was a tree.

 I sewed some temporary pillow covers for winter to cozy the place up a little. The bright floral pillows felt "off", and nothing says cozy like plaid!

 The entry way table.

 I found this tall pencil tree~ the last one~ it was the display, and it fits perfectly in the front room tucked between the couch and wall. I love it! It was nice to still have a tree in there.

The kids put together their teacher gifts early because they looked cute sitting under the tree until the break. "We wish you a Berry Christmas!" Get it???? Beary? I'll have Paisley explain it to you...

I loved this random, December evening, being together as a family. During scripture reading I had this strong feeling of peace and gratitude for my family, our safety, health and the feeling in our home. I have so much I'm grateful for, one main thing is moments like this, and I want to remember how it was when the kids were this age, on a school night, and this is just a typical evening for us. Precious times!

Another thing I wanted to capture is the boys- Zeke in particular. He makes me chuckle how he comes home from school and forgets he's wearing his backpack. He's been home for like two hours.

Jon got Star Wars tickets for he and the big boys months and months ago. He was charged twice and didn't bother straightening it out until the day of the movie. Instead of 3 seats, he bought 6 seats and texted me, "You are coming". Ok, why not~ You know what? It was really good!

I have a great memory of Zeke looking up at me during the movie with his 3-D glasses on, a big grin and saying, "MOM! Everything Batman I wanted for Christmas, I now want it Star Wars!!!" And to think we weren't going to bring him.....
I really love a Christmassy, glowy house through the month...

 And I love when the boys clean the kitchen together...

I was delighted they all wanted to put together the Gingerbread house...

Even Adren sauntered in from his leisure morning.

 We wanted to go back to the Spanish Fork lights, we missed last year. (Tradition!)
We ran through on the 23rd. The kids loved it and remember it so well! Since you probably missed it, here you go:

The lit tunnel! The skiers! The jumping frogs! The Santa shack! The ice castle!

 The kids draw names each year and this is the first they wanted to spend actual money on each other. But they don't have any money. I suggested this money-making chart: Once they completed a chore and I approved it was done well enough to earn the amount offered, they put a post-it up so I'd know who to pay on pay-day. It worked out pretty good, and I got some extra chores done for me that month.

So you see? We are ready for Christmas to arrive! With the Christmas break starting a whole week before the big day, it takes a lot of planning and scheming and working hard, but it's looking like it will all come together and be a great one. Just keep opening up that Advent Calendar each day, don't worry~ it will come!