Merry Christmas!!

...but the prettiest sight to see
is the holly that will be
on your own front door!



This isn't really our front door, but just about! Thought I'd show some of how Christmas has come to our house. I replaced a welcome sign with the berry wreath, and the kids' stockings make for a warm inviting welcome.

So much is going on at this time of year, but most everything is enjoyable. I got the holiday shopping done a couple weeks ago, am really never doing much of decor, skipping most baking, ignoring the deep cleaning etc.

Despite my lassez-faire attitude about Christmas preps this year, we've got SOME things to get the atmosphere right...











The cabinet that I kept after our bazaar is now home for our Christmas display. The church in the middle can be wound up to play Silent Night. It is exactly like the one my parents' had. This exact one, we got from my husbands' great grandma when she passed away.

The lack of a huge gift pile is deceiving... We decided since we're having a family Christmas with the in-laws this weekend and the kids will get plenty of excitement then, we'd do the gift opening here at home different this year. Every evening after supper this week, they got to open one gift. Four nights, then family Christmas on Friday. Brilliant plan. For me. Kids get entertained by one new thing every evening & it usually lasts through the next day. Yay!!

All our Christmas cards are tacked on the wall above the mirror. A little too high but nice to have them beyond kids' reach.



I have to mention the little gorgeous present right in front... It's from the Secret Santa I joined - I am so excited! It's a matchbox (slide-out) type box that Secret Santa wrapped with fabric. Love it. And it sure looks great sitting there with the other two pretty wraps. (Target dollar section)


















And we decorated the Gingerbread from a kit this year again. Perfect. Kids love it & I love it.

With online shopping, boxes have been arriving for a while now, and it's about the most exciting thing I know!! Didn't get pictures of it, but my husband bought me a sewing machine AND .... in this lovely box right here.... a serger!!! I AM THRILLED!!! And spoiled, I know.

Barely dare mention my next purchase now... I managed to score a gently used Canon Rebel Xsi on ebay - and it came right in time for awesome holiday snapshots! (and ebay sales!!)

I have been viewing tutorials on youtube & reading blogs to learn this DSLR camera in depth. Not happening overnight, but I feel like I'm slowly getting the hang of some settings..

I am already blessed with four wonderful objects suitable for photographs. Problem is they're not as eager as I am. That's what highchairs are for. Ta da! You're stuck, and I am testing every setting I can think of.... click click click click..

 One year olds are officially the best thing on the planet. How squishable and loveable and utterly adorable!!! You can see we trimmed her five strands of bangs - haha... Love it.

That's all for now. Oh, I just realized I managed to forget pictures of the advent candelabras from Sweden that I love. Oh well.  This is what one of ours looks like. Without the green stuff. That got wrecked by who knows what kid, years ago.