Lights!

For ten years, Jeff has decorated our house with icicle lights. Coincidentally, we've always lived on a corner. So, he's always decorated 3-4 sides of the house.

This year we decided to switch it up a little bit. He did the big bulb, multi-colored lights and we love them! It's fun and different (for us), and he's really happy with the outcome.

I would have a picture of all three sides, but it's currently 12* outside, so one's all it's going to be tonight!

Scout

Our family elf, Scout, is back. He greeted us upon our return home from Thanksgiving down in North Carolina.

Scout's powers are strong. Magically, he is able to fly back and forth to the North Pole every night. However, the power of influence is his one power I most love!

The other day Jackson was being a stinker and when all was said and done, he was most upset that he'd thrown a hissy fit in front of Scout. Oh no! Since Scout is in cahoots with Santa, now Santa will question whether he should remain on the "nice list"!

I must say, I can threaten and bribe my kids all year long to try to get them to behave. But, the minute Scout shows up, all I have to do is point to him and the kids decide to be on their best behavior.

Maybe Scout needs to stick around all year long.

Winter Wonderland

The storm did indeed come and brought the promised 4 inches that was forecast. The kids had so much fun playing and helping shovel. This was Addie's first year that she was really excited to get all dressed up in snow gear and get out and play.

Snow Angels!

And a shot of my handsome husband, just because I like lookin' at him!

The Nutcracker

Tonight was Delaney and mine's third year going to The Nutcracker ballet. She has been so excited, anticipating it all week. As she goes to bed at night, we talk about something fun for her to dream about. All week she's been saying she'd dream about The Nutcracker.

Every year we've gone with our neighbors. I'm so glad they initially invited us because I don't know if I would have thought to do it on my own. It's become a really fun tradition. We had front row seats, which was really fun and so fascinating to the girls. The past two years we had first row balcony, assuming the girls would see well when there wasn't any thing in front of them. This year my neighbor decided to do something different when buying the tickets, and it was a whole new experience. The girls loved it!

Here's Delaney, all dressed up and ready to go.


She wanted to wear a red dress this year, but I didn't find one worth buying, so she had to settle for a red jacket.


And because no one can take a picture these days without Ms. Addie jumping in, here's a sisters shot.

Don't you love Addie's dad-dressed-me outfit??

...and Mickey too

We've had a Fisher Price nativity set for a long time now. I would guess 8 years. We got it long enough ago that I ordered it out of a catalog, not off a website. In my mind, that was a long time ago :). It has been the centerpiece of many a Christmas Family Home Evening lesson in our home. And, has kept many little fingers off my nice nativity set.

I was cleaning the house this morning and Addie was playing in the family room. I walked by and noticed she'd taken all the characters and pieces and lined them up next to each other.


The part that struck me as funny? Mickey Mouse found his way into the mix, somewhere in between the angel and Mary (who, incidentally, she insists is a witch).



I guess we'd better have that FHE lesson sooner than later.

Let it Snow!

The ponds across the street from our house.

Two days ago we got our first "measureable" snowfall. Well, it was just a dusting, but Tom Skilling, the Chicago weather guru, posted on Twitter that it was the first measurable amount, so I'm going with him.

This time between Thanksgiving and New Years is the only time of the year when I allow it to snow without getting mad. I love a snowy, white December. In my opinion, it makes all the Christmas lights look better when glowing through blankets of white.

And speaking of lights, Jeff did something totally different this year and we all love it. I'll post pictures soon.

In any case, we're supposed to get a snowstorm starting tomorrow night, through Saturday morning and I say, BRING IT ON!

All Things Advent

I'm not sure why I'm obsessed with Advent. I think it's because I've always felt like the anticipation of something is more fun than the actual event. Or, maybe it's because I grew up in Germany, where Advent began. Or, it could be that I am the daughter of another Advent lover. In a few words, Advent is a big deal in our house.

The kids get their Trader Joe's chocolate advent calendars every day.


They get to rotate getting a chocolate gold coin out of the wall calendar each day.


They also have a toy advent. Every year Jackson's gotten a Lego one and this year I decided to get a Lego one for Delaney too. In years past she'd already gotten the other "girly" ones and I couldn't find anything original, so she's doing Lego too. Addie's still too little to understand the full concept, so she doesn't get the toy ones. However, I don't think one is ever too young to understand the concept of chocolate, so she's fully participating in the chocolate ones.


We also have a cute countdown decoration that Grandma Critt gave us this year. Jackson's the first one up in the morning, and by the time I make it down each morning, he's already updated it.


It's really fun to see them get so excited everyday. Last night Jackson was sure to remind me that Advent started today. It's one of those traditions that I know my kids look forward to every year!

I wish I'd gotten pictures of the kids with the Advents, but the night came and went with a Cub Scout pack meeting, a Young Women's white elephant gift exchange, and a 1st grade homework project. I'll try better tomorrow.

***I'm going to try to post every day until Christmas. Who knows if I'll actually do it, but I'm hoping so. I need to capture our traditions in one place, keeping a memory. So, here's to 25 posts in 25 days!