advent: day 23

Let me sneak just a little peek...

This one is so incredibly curious.  I know she is peeking ever-so-sneakily here and there.

advent: day 22

There is nothing like hand-made elf booties to keep your feet warm on a cold day.

advent: day 21

Today, we baked and enjoyed some special treats from our dear neighbors.  I love the tradition of baking for the neighbors for the holidays.

(The above photos are of the cookies my neighbor baked.  She made 6 different kinds from all over the world!  What a treat!)

advent: day 20

Setting up the little train that runs around the tree is so exciting for a 4-year-old!  

Looking at all the details inside is so much fun especially when you're doing it with one of your favorite people!

advent: day 19

We just can't get enough of all the beautiful lights this year!  Driving around after bedtime in our jammies to look at all the lights has become a nightly tradition.

advent: day 18

These little hands picked up pecans like they were candy on an afternoon drive to a sweet little town.

advent: day 17

Dashing around and delivering gifts with your little cousin is the best!

advent: day 16

Handmade ornaments are the perfect touch to the tree this year!  I have never loved them so much!

advent: day 15

Watching this little angel sing on stage with all her classmates was quite the treat today!

advent: day 14

Sweet holiday shows that I remember from my childhood were shared together.  Watching these year-after-year never gets old and sharing them with a new generation is wonderful!

A Charlie Brown Christmas

Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer

advent: day 13

Today they set up the little nativity at the bottom of the tree.  They spoke of the little baby and all the animals and wise men that came to see him.

advent: day 12

Watching these two read together on the couch, unprompted and without arguing is probably the best gift a mother could ask for!

advent: day 11

A special note filled with lots of hand-drawn pictures and a little list was sent to Santa.

advent: day 10

Visiting with these enchanting folks was wonderfully entertaining.  Meeting Ms. Claus was a first and was a great primer for chatting with the big guy.  The amazement and wonder in the eyes of all the children was adorable and so very memorable!

 

advent: day 9

Crude, but whimsical, snowflakes were cut and hung in the window today.  Cutting through layers of folded paper was a bit challenging for the little hands but unfolding the final product was magical!

advent: day 8

Let's decorate a gingerbread house together!

advent: day 7

Toes, like prunes, take a break from a long bubbly soak in the tub.

advent: day 6

 Together, these hands created lovely button-adorned felt wreath ornaments.  They sat around the kitchen table and worked on this for hours.  I was amazed at how art and creativity can so easily bridge the 88 year age gap.

advent: day 5

My kids were super excited to celebrate a very special baby's birthday today!

Hats were worn, cake was eaten and sweet songs were sung.

advent: day 4

The rain boots came out of the closets and were proudly worn out to a holiday cookie decorating party.

These little fingers scraped icing off the freshly decorated cookies.  Icing and candy canes were the only thing consumed at the holiday party.

advent: day 3

Finding that perfect spot for an ornament on the tree amongst the lights and limbs has become quite a science in the mind of this girl.

advent: day 2

Great-grandmother's hands point to illustrations in a favorite Christmas book.  Reading by the tree at night with Great-grandma is a favorite holiday tradition.

advent: day 1

I recently saw a website that encouraged families to document their days leading up to the holidays.  I thought it would be neat to try it this year.  I will probably regret this commitment when things get wild and crazy but it might be fun to try.  It seems that the little people NEVER get tired of pouring sprinkles onto frosted cookies {even if the sprinkles are left over from Halloween--good thing, they don't care about the colors yet}.