Feeling Festive

I kept telling myself I wasn't going to decorate this year since we're leaving (we're going to Texas and won't be back until the 1st of February) and I didn't want to come home to Christmas in February, but I just couldn't help it! The boys were so excited to decorate and every time we pulled something out of the box they would say, "I remember that from last year!" I love having the house all festive, listening to Christmas music, and ease dropping on all the boys conversations about Santa!! This truly is a wonderful time of year.

I LOVE my nativity scene...just can't afford the rest of the pieces. I think it looks just fine like that!! And I replaced the boys school pictures with Christmas pictures...how fun!

I hung red and silver Christmas balls from ribbon...simple and so cheap, but I like it. And with the Idaho wind I can't hang wreaths on my door, so it's on the coat closet!!

Here are the boys sleeping under the Christmas tree. We started this tradition last year, and they couldn't wait to do it again. We let them sleep under the tree the night we decorate it. We usually don't have presents yet, but apparently when mom was here with the boys they went Christmas shopping. As soon as the tree was up they started bringing out presents from all over the house. Notice the one with the diaper on it...Nolan ripped that one open and Jacks put the diaper under the ribbon to hide the part that got ripped. He laughed and laughed while bringing it down the stairs!!!

We tried a new tradition this year of wrapping up all the Christmas books, and opening one each night. I bought one new one this year and the boys had fun trying to guess which one it was....until Nolan opened all the books!!! So we'll have to give it another try next year!!

Here's Jacks and Austin making their countdown calendars. We put numbers on the front and candy on the back, and they get to cut one number off each day and get a candy. We had to put Nolan in the high chair, for this craft to be successful!

We've already seen Santa, so we can check that off our list. This year the boys aren't really asking for anything specific, so I think we're good in that department!! Our church Christmas party was Friday and Santa came after the kids sang some Christmas carols...Jacks sang good, but Austin picked his nose the whole time!!

I just had to take a picture of this. Last night while doing a final cleanup before bed, I found the kids nativity like this. Jacks loves to arrange the figures so they are guarding Jesus, but I guess he thought the wise men weren't doing a good job because he enlisted the help of some of his star wars guys!! Too Cute.