5 Stockings

It seems like just yesterday that Jon and I were in our little apartment by the beach with just 2 stockings hanging up. I LOVE that we now have three little girls' stockings sandwiched in between ours. I think it looks perfect.

Pictures with Santa

Starting with Elle's first Christmas, I have gone to the mall and stood in line to get my girls' pictures with Santa. I love it. When Elle was little she would always be so excited in the line and then as soon as we would get to the front of the line sheer terror would overcome her. I would put my screaming child on Santa's lap and then say, "just take the picture"! Maybe I am sick but I think the screaming child on Santa's lap is a classic shot. Elle thinks those pictures are hilarious now too. I put all of our Santa pictures in silver frames and display them all together on our front entry table. Our collection is growing. I even have one in the mix from when I was little.
p.s. how cute is that little santa and reindeer? I find those little guys all over our house throughout the day...I think my girls love them too.

Advent Calendar

Growing up we had an amazing advent calendar. I loved it. Since there were 5 of us, we would have to switch off turns as to who could put the ornament on the tree each day before school. I remember always trying to make it work out so that I could put the ornament on the tree on my birthday (the 7th)...funny the things you remember. I found this advent calendar a few years back and it reminded me of the one we had growing up. Each day the girls get to put an ornament on the tree up until the 24th. The ornaments are so cute and I love that they get to visually see how many more days until Christmas. Today was Gwen's turn...she even dressed up for the occasion in her very fancy, new, pink Barbie dress (a favorite birthday present from aunt shea).

I also LOVE receiving Christmas Cards. The best part of my day in December is going to the mailbox. We hang all the Christmas cards that we receive on our kitchen cabinets. It makes me so happy to see so many pictures of people we love hanging in our home.