It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Each year, Tommy leaves the house and does our black friday shopping while we sleep. Then, he returns and while he sleeps - we do our Christmas decorating.

Typically the kids play and investigate the Christmas decorations as I pull them out. This year I was determined that they would do all the decorating. From putting the stockings on the mantel, to the advent nativity wreath on the table, everything.

Here we go:

Mikaela fluffing her purple tree for her bedroom - she decorated it with pearls and princess ornaments

Xander decorating his tree - he used sports ornaments and scooby doo ones

Xman putting together the train track that goes around the tree in the dining room

Mikaela hanging the wreath on the door as you enter our home

Xander decorating our advent Christmas tree - We put up a fake pre-lit tree in our dining room. I HAVE to have a real tree for the living room (which is a whole nother post.......). This tree has purple and white ornaments and nativity ornaments only. We put our advent wreath candles in the dining room - and enjoy both!

Taking a break and reading the Christmas books

Xander's favorite The Little People pop up Christmas book

Back working on their trees again

My favorite - yes, we even own Christmas dress up stuff! I have a picture of Mikael wearing this mask every year since she was 3........an organized mother would be able to find them and post them all at the same time.......

Xander putting our Christmas books out onto the bookshelf. Yes, we have two small shelves FULL of Christmas themed books to enjoy! We put our bean bag next to the shelf and it will be our reading center for the next month.

Last year I had a brilliant idea that the kids could make wreaths for their bedroom doors. I bought wreaths, ornaments and tinsel/beads at 90% off during the post-Christmas sales - and then what a surprise when I found them this year, and remembered what I wanted to do with them (and no those two things did not happen at the same time). These are our wreaths before we did too much to them!

Mikaela wrapping red pearls around her wreath

Xander carrying his wreath to his room

Xander attaching super hero ornaments to his

Xman's finished wreath!

Mikaela working on her Christmas activity book while I cooked breakfast for dinner

Xander coloring in his Peanuts Christmas coloring book

Xander decorating his window with train clings

Mikaela decorated her window with snowman clings

Mikaela's finished wreath - sporting Hannah Montana ornaments and fairies



We're not quite done decorating ......but we made a good dent!