It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

These are a bit out of order, as I am going to post the tree-trimming/decorating separately. This morning Evie told me he wanted to play with Thomas by the tree, so we set up his track and he proceeded to be the poster-boy for wooden train tracks during the holidays. So sweet.

As a child my mom made a creche from fabric. We loved adding animals to it each year. When Russ and I got married, mom gave us one just like the one she made when I was little. Last year was the first year Evie was interested--especially in the baby Jesus. I must have put it back in the box last year without the baby, because this year he is still missing. Looking over just now it looks like Mary is now on furlong too--maybe she took the camel to look for her baby...

Our stockings, not hanging by the fire, because I am afraid they would burst into flames--our little woodstove gets so hot. I can't take credit for Russ or mine, but I did do the polar bears on E's. This year I will add some more. My mom made our stockings --eventually I got two, because my original became a bit tiny in comparison to everyone elses...

Saint Nick to watch over me while I do the dishes--making sure I am nice, not naughty.

This year I decided to decorate the outside too. Since we didn't put up lights, I substituted greenery.

My flower boxes, now appropriatly decked in red and green!